Remote Area Medical (RAM)

I have always had medical insurance through my jobs. Once we retired and ready to move to Tennessee I made sure I purchased individual medical insurance through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee for my husband and I. I did not realize then that so many people did not have medical insurance. I am talking about 2001 before this recession hit.

The poor people of Appalachia were, and still are, in dire need of everything. These are people who never had medical insurance or medical care. Nor did they have vision care or dental care. They had nothing, until a group known as Remote Area Medical (RAM) was formed in 1985. Stan Brock is the founder of RAM and their headquarters is in Knoxville, Tennessee.

They started small and have grown large over time and have held over 575 health fairs in the United States. RAM has approximately hundreds and hundreds of volunteers from all over who drive as many miles as necessary to donate their time so that other's can have medical and dental care. There are doctors and dentists who give freely of their time and often a shoulder to cry on. The reactions they get from their "patients" overwhelms the volunteers.

There are often many tears shed by the givers and the receivers. That is more evident now that so many more people have been added to the lists of the uninsured. RAM now ventures out past Appalachia in search of more and more people to help. When news travels that RAM will be setting up a health fair the people head there any way they can and camp out in their vehicles if necessary to wait their turn.

Not all of the people who go to the RAM health fair are without insurance. Some have health insurance but it doesn't cover everything. There are all kinds of reasons why people have no insurance. Just look out your window and you know some of your neighbors don't have coverage, or not enough coverage.

Living in the Knoxville TV market for 7 years I often saw RAM on the local news. They have done so much good for so many people it is hard not to praise them for their work. This isn't something they started in recent times to help out during our economic downturn; this has been going on for years. They do what they can to make sure people get the health care they need for free.

RAM is not a government organization; it is not funded by the government. It is a group of people who care and who have assembled a large volunteer network of medical people. Their yearly budget is $100,000 or less. Some of the volunteers pay for postage out of their own pockets. There was a segment on 60 Minutes in 2008 about RAM and two days after the show aired RAM received over 1.5 million dollars in donations. The money was spent on medical equipment and supplies and a 22 year old airplane to get them to more areas quickly. When RAM sets up a health fair they bring everything they need including tents, tables, chairs, exam tables, eyeglasses, extension cords - everything!

RAM just completed a 3-day health fair in Wise, VA and there are more on the schedule. Their next health fair will be at the Forum in Englewood, near Los Angeles, CA from August 11th through the 18th. Click here for more info on the California health fair. There are plans in the works for one in Chicago. I

RAM is no longer for just the poor of Appalachia; they are helping out as many poor and uninsured in the United States as they can. If you go to a RAM health fair there is no need to take money, no need for medical insurance cards or other identification. If RAM is holding a health fair and you need medical help, or vision or dental - get to the area and get in line. You will be treated fairly and for free. RAM is making a difference - one patient at a time.

Check out their website to learn more about upcoming health fairs. If you do not need medical care check the site anyway. They are looking for volunteers and donations are always welcome. Do your part so that Remote Area Medical can do its part to heal America. Thank you.

Sources:

Knoxville News Channels

Remote Area Medical