Once again the Wise County RAM clinic has painfully demonstrated the need for major healthcare reform. RAM - Remote Area Medical - was created to provide care in 3rd world countries, until it's creators discovered they didn't need to leave Appalachia to find people who are in desperate need of medical care.
Last weekend (July 24-26, 2009), the annual expedition to Wise County, Virginia provided dental, vision, and medical services to 2715 patients.
Here are some of the figures:
Extractions: 4303 teeth
Fillings: 1668
Eye glasses made: 1029
Medical visits: 2653
Estimated value of care: $1,641,636.00
All of this provided by volunteers with donated supplies. The willingness of people and organizations to offer their time and resources is heartwarming. But this level of need is shameful in a post-industrial nation. Even more shamful is the fact that this just one of more than 10 such clinics held in the Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky area in 2009. All of which will be just as busy as this one.
For more information about RAM:
www.ramusa.org
For news and opinions on last weekend's clinic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJM-8nuC8w
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8w9zX_4NeT2B2qNQnjCic-g6Pxw
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111066576
http://www.injuryboard.com/national-news/Bringing-Health-Care-To-The-People.aspx?googleid=268002
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/24/757552/-A-different-perspective-on-the-health-care-debate
http://wwww.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/9/83243/9483/52/657949