Remote Area Medical Clinics
Wise County
| As the sun rises over the mountains in Wise, Virginia, hundreds of people line up at the Virginia/Kentucky Fairgrounds. However, it is not the county fair that is drawing such large crowds so early in the morning. Instead, these people wait patiently to receive health care, and for most, this is the only time they will receive such services all year.
The 2009 Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic in Wise was held July 24 - 26. RAM is a collaborative effort between several groups and organizations to provide medical, dental, and vision care for those in attendance. While people travel from all over to receive care, patients at the RAM Clinic are primarily from the coal counties of Virginia. This region is home to some of the most medically underserved population in the state. This year, we saw and treated almost 1,400 patients in two and a half days. Our 20-bed clinic saw more patients than a busy Emergency Room sees on average in a 24 hour period. To set up for the clinic, UVA volunteers converted horse stalls into examination rooms by creating "walls" with only ropes, sheets, and clothes pins. Common health concerns of this population include: hypertension, arthritis, poor dentition, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and pulmonary disease. Some patients will travel for three to five hours and sleep in their car overnight just to receive the free medical and dental care. For many patients, this is the only opportunity they have to see a physician for the whole year. UVA volunteers provide several medical and support services such as emergency care; women's health; endocrinology; plastic surgery; general medicine; a limited, on-site pharmacy; lab; mammography; social services; and telemedicine. Each patient seen at RAM is registered and given a UVA Health System medical record number. This has enabled us to track RAM patients and provide better follow-up care. Over 240 University of Virginia Health System volunteers participated in this year's event. Their dedication enabled 1,372 patients to be seen, totaling over 6,000 patient encounters! UVA Health System provided over 135 mammograms, 500 patients received lab work, and 2,000 prescriptions were filled. The total value of care for the entire event is estimated at over $1 million dollars. For a slideshow of the event, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_MYkwSxo8w The 2010 RAM Clinic is scheduled for July 30-August 1. UVA Health System staff interested in volunteering are invited to fill out an application which will be available online in April 2010.
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