Remote Area Medical

Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps (RAM) is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based, non-profit, volunteer, airborne medical relief corps that provides free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States, and around the world.[1] RAM was founded in 1985 by Stan Brock, who worked as an assistant to Marlin Perkins on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.[2] The group's work was originally confined to Third World countries, but later shifted towards the US.[3]

According to RAM, the organization has provided $33,079,038 worth of free health care to 357,368 patients with the help of 36,675 volunteers since its inception.[4][5] Approximately two-thirds of this total is in the USA.[6]

According to Brock, local licensing requirements for doctors in many states prevent his group from bringing out-of-state doctors to areas where their help is needed. Tennessee is the only state that has an "Open Borders To Doctors" law on its books.[6][7][8]

Special exemptions have enabled RAM to hold a few clinics outside the state of Tennessee. One of these — in Wise, Virginia — was the largest RAM clinic held to date.[9][10] Held from July 25–27 in 2008, this 3-day clinic had 1,584 volunteers who provided 5,475 treatments to 2,670 patients. The total value of care provided at this single clinic equaled $1,725,418.[11]

RAM is funded through donations and relies on volunteers from the community, as well as professionals including physicians, dentists, optometrists, nurses, pilots and veterinarians to provide care in poorer communities.[12][13][14]

References

  1. ↑ Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps' "about" page
  2. ↑ IMDB entry for Stan Brock
  3. ↑ Pelley, Scott (February 28, 2008). "US Health Care gets boost from charity". 60 Minutes (CBS News): 4. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  4. ↑ Remote Area Medical- Accomplishments
  5. ↑ Hidden Hurt, The Washington Post
  6. 1 2 Brock, Stan (2009-07-22). Uninsured Travel from Across US for Free Healthcare from Relief Group Remote Area Medical. Interview with Amy Goodman. Democracy Now!. New York. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  7. ↑ Brock, Stan (2009-08-21). Stan Brock. Interview with Tavis Smiley. KCET. Los Angeles. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  8. ↑ "T.C.A. 63-6-7 Volunteer Health Care Services". Justia. 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  9. ↑ RAM 2008, University of Virginia Health Systems
  10. ↑ Remote Area Medical Expedition in Wise, County, The Roanoke Times
  11. ↑ VCU Pharmacy Joins RAM, Virginia Commonwealth University
  12. ↑ Remote Area Medical battles language barriers, WLVT News, Knoxville, Tennessee.
  13. ↑ Remote Area Medical can be a lifeline, Chattanooga Times Free Press
  14. ↑ Mobile medical unit aids uninsured, The Washington Times, July 21, 2008.

External links

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