July 26, 2005
For immediate release
Mary Jane Gore
434-924-9241
UVa Volunteers Bring Medical Care to Southwest Virginia
Thousands of people from remote areas of Southwest Virginiaand neighboring states are expected to line up before dawn for free health care this week. A record 140 physicians, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, radiologists and other employees of the University of Virginia will go to Southwest Virginia for three days to offer free medical services to an expected 6,000 people at the Virginia-Kentucky Fairgrounds in Wise, Virginia.
The event is the 6th annual Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic and it happens on Friday, July 29 through Sunday, July 31 at the Fairgrounds. The hours will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 6 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
The attendance at this event – one of the nation’s largest public health outreach efforts - illustrates the lack of medical care for thousands of people, particularly those in rural communities.
In addition to procedures like mammography, colon cancer screening, retinal screening using telemedicine technology, and some gynecological procedures, UVa will this year be focusing on comprehensive screening for diabetes and hypertension. To aid in this effort, physicians will be using retinascopes that take pictures of patient’s eyes to determine how advanced any diabetes is in each patient.
While the event helps thousands of people, UVa is also addressing the question of “What happens we leave?” UVa Health System provides sustainable care in many specialties through its telemedicine program. “Through our extensive telemedicine network in the region, ongoing care is provided by UVa clinicians regardless of ability to pay, underwritten by a generous grant from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in partnership with the Health System,” says Karen Rheuban, M.D., medical director of Telemedicine at UVa Health System.
UVa healthcare employees such as pharmacist Michelle Hobbs also are finding innovative ways to provide continuing care for local residents. Hobbs has developed a prepaid Pain Medicine Voucher System to allow dental patients to receive sufficient medication to alleviate any pain caused by dental extractions. She also led a partnership effort with pharmacies in Southwest Virginiato meet patient needs.
“Our goal is not only to deliver the requested services needed once a year, but to eventually be able to provide these services on an ongoing basis,” says Dr. Claudette Dalton, assistant dean of Community-Based Medical Education at UVa and coordinator of the University's volunteers.
The UVa Medical Center team will be joining other volunteers from the Remote Area Medical Corp, several Lions Clubs, the Virginia Dental Association, St. Mary’s Health Wagon, the Leonwisco Health District and others. The RAM Clinic at Wise was started in 1999 by Sister Bernie Kenny, a Catholic nun and family nurse practitioner. If you would like to cover this event, including the departure of the UVa team volunteers on buses from the Cage area of University Hall on Thursday, July 28 at 8 – 9 a.m., please contact the Public Relations office at 434-924-9241.
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