Unicoi RAM Clinic Offers ‘First Come, First Served’ Health Services
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Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier
VCU Dental students Harper Thompson, center, and Fawzia Bhavnagri align a digital x-ray machine in the mouth of Justin Day of Dickenson County Virginia at the RAM in Wise back in July. The Remote Area Medical or “RAM” Clinic is coming to the Limestone Cove Community Center in Unicoi County, TN September 20-21, starting at 6am. Five hundred to 800 people are expected to attend.
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By From the Archives
Published: September 19, 2008
“It’s a first come first serve basis so we can only see so many patients over the two day period Saturday and Sunday, “ said Unicoi County Health Department Director Steve Tipton. “So once we’ve seen the limit we just have to stop.“
Unicoi County Health officials hope they can help as many people as possibly this weekend. They are hosting a Remote Area Medical or “RAM” Clinic at the Limestone Cove Community Center and Volunteer Fire Department.
The Limestone Cove Expedition will offer vision, dental and medical at Limestone Cove Community Center September 20-21. Doors open both days at 6a.m. Those needing medical care are encouraged to arrive early as patients will be seen on a first come, ‘first served’ basis.
Vision and dental are the biggest pushes from the clinic. Hypertension, heart disease and stroke are all hot-button health issues across southern Appalachia.
RAM officials approached Unicoi County authorities about bring the services to northeast Tennessee. This is the first time in Unicoi County, although there have been clinics in Mountain City, and Wise County, VA.
Back in July, doctors and nurses treated more than 2,500 patients at the RAM clinic in Wise, Virginia. Many of those traveled from Tennessee and other surrounding states for treatment. Organizers told us they had to turn away hundreds of patients because of the record turnout.
Five hundred to 800 people are expected to come out for this weekend’s clinic. Organizers say it’s going to be a fasted pace, move through the clinic operation.
“A lot of people don’t have the resources to get the care that they need so this is a great opportunity to for us to provide something free so people don’t have to make the choice of seek medical care of buy groceries,“ said Tipton.
The RAM clinic will offer dental cleanings, fillings and extractions. They will also see vision patients for complete eye exams and prescription glasses. Medical exams and diabetes screenings will also be offered.
The RAM clinic is open to children and adults from across the Tri-Cities area.
Officials say you don’t have to show proof of insurance or financial need, just show up early.
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Remote Area Medical - “RAM” Clinic
Limestone Cove Expedition
DIRECTIONS:
Limestone Cove Community Center
4220 Simerly Creek Road
Unicoi, TN 37692
Click the following link for Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4220+simerly+road,+unicoi+tn+37692&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=88.65234,100.722656&ie=UTF8&s=AARTsJrX2DA0Ybz1OBYA7egAs08V9JIUYA&view=map&ll=36.181428,-82.261677&spn=0.008902,0.013733&z=16&iwloc=addr
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Find your local Health Department
Tennessee Health Department
PHONE: (615) 741-7305 Bureau of Health Services
WEBSITE: http://health.state.tn.us/index.htm
Virginia Health Department
PHONE: (804) 864-7001
E-MAIL:
WEBSITE: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/lhd/
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Tenn cowgirl ) on September 22, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Kathy, we were told by a volunteer that R.A.M. are called in by our local health departments. If enough people call the health dept., they, in turn, can get in touch with R.A.M.
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Posted by ( kathypayne ) on September 20, 2008 at 6:46 am
I WISH BRISTOL VA WOULD GET THIS HERE. I AM DISABLE AND HAVE DENTAL WORK THAT MEED TO BE DONE. BUT I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT DONE.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO YOU NEED TO TALK TO TO SEE IF BRISTOL DO HAVE THE SAME THING.PLEASE WRITE ME BACK IF YOU KNOW WHO I COULD TAKL TO.
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Posted by ( Whitey ) on September 19, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I can only hope that the people that work so hard to bring this service to the people that need it the most will come to terms with the fact that it is true that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’. With that thought in mind I can hope that a message is carried to the surrouding schools about to prevent many of the problems they will treat this weekend.
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