Still Waiting in Line for Health Care

Wise County, VA RAM expedition, 2009

This weekend, Knoxville-based Remote Area Medical makes its first health expedition to Oklahoma City. From the Oklahoman:

Many Oklahomans will receive free dental, vision and general medical care at Remote Area Medical’s first Oklahoma expedition today, Saturday and Sunday at State Fair Park.

Patients must enter the fair park on the east side at the Gordon Cooper Boulevard entrance off May Avenue, just north of Reno Avenue, to receive free health care this weekend, said Tres Savage, Remote Area Medical’s Oklahoma coordinator.

I spoke briefly with Savage last year when this event was in the early planning stages. Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Rice laid the legal groundwork for RAM’s visit. It’s not Tennessee’s Volunteer Health Care Services Act, but it’s a start. Similar language that might allow RAM to come next door to NC is still being studied by North Carolina’s state legislature. Tell Representatives Fisher, Whilden, Goforth, and state Senator Nesbitt you would like to see RAM-style free health clinics come to Western North Carolina, where the unemployment rate is between 8 and 14 percent.

RAM will be holding its annual expedition at the Wise County, VA fairgrounds on July 23-24-25. It’s about 2-1/2 hrs north. If you go — either as a volunteer or a spectator — it will change your life.