Dental care was only one of the many services provided by the Remote Area Medical Clinic at LMU over the weekend. The non-profit group also provided optical, medical and veterinary services for the uninsured and unemployed. Several patients (like the one pictured here) received cleanings, extractions and fillings, free of charge.
This year, volunteers treated more patients than ever and even treated 250 animals, all free of charge.
LMU opened its doors for patients at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, and — as usual — people were already lined up outside.
RAM offered free medical services such as specialist exams, osteopathic manipulations, diabetes screenings and education, cholesterol screenings, pulmonary function testing, pap smears, breast exams and medication assistance.
Volunteering at the RAM clinic at LMU was a group of Pre-Med and Pre-Dentistry students and other volunteers included Lincoln Memorial University – Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) students and faculty, local citizens, physicians, opticians, and dentists.
Dr. Charles Tompkins, who volunteered to open his office to patients in years past because there were not enough dental chairs, once again performed procedures to RAM patients. Available dental services included extractions, cleanings and fillings.
The veterinary section of RAM, which is new to the mobile medical service, provided free spay and neutering to approximately 250 cats and dogs to households with income levels of $15,000 or less. There were several veterinarians volunteering on both Saturday and Sunday. Also volunteering were several members of the community and veterinary technician students from the Vet Tech program at LMU.
RAM provides a wide range of free basic health, dental and optical services to the people of Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee. The Knoxville-based organization also provides services outside the United States. Since its founding in 1985, RAM has provided services at over 550 health expeditions both in this country and overseas. On average, the group conducts one expedition per month in various communities throughout the Southeast, and have begun to expand their outreach since being featured on the CBS News program 60 Minutes a year ago. The segment on RAM won a Peabody Award for CBS and helped to raise $1.7 million for the non-profit organization.
Sarah Miracle is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. She may be contacted via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.
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