Free medical clinic in Reno September 29 to October 1 to provide healthcare to hundreds

Dental, vision and medical services all at no-cost to patients or taxpayers

RENO, Nevada - Remote Area Medical - RAM™, the largest free mobile medical clinic in the country helping underserved and uninsured individuals, children and families is coming to Reno, September 29- October 1. Parking for patients will be at the Washoe County Health District, 1001 E. 9^th Street, Reno. Clinic parking will open at 12 a.m. midnight on Friday, September 29 for patients to begin the check-in process. Ticket distribution will start at 3 a.m. Patients will then be bussed to the clinic location at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows where they will be seen according to their ticket number when doors open at 6 a.m. The same process will repeat all three days. No tickets or parking will be available at the clinic location. 

Remote Area Medical’s free, mobile medical clinics have been all across the country this year gaining attention from prestigious international and national media outlets such as the Washington Post, NBC News, Time Magazine, and BuzzFeed. RAM clinics reach from the backwoods of the Appalachians to the urban areas of Los Angeles and Dallas. RAM last visited Reno in 2014, serving 860 people or nearly 300 people per day in the clinic. This year organizers are hoping to break the 1,000 patient mark. “This will depend on the number of people who check in for services, but also how efficiently they work with us through the process to access care,” said Washoe County District Health Officer Kevin Dick. “But a lot also depends on the number of volunteers we get for the three clinic days. This year we hope to not only assist over 1,000 clients, but we also hope to better our 2014 number of volunteers which was 300. To do that we need another 50 or more volunteers to step forward. In addition to general volunteers, we’re seeking to bolster the number of dental and vision professionals so that we can maximize our ability to provide services in these areas.” According to Dick interested persons should email volunteers@ramusa.org or call 865-579-1530. 

“RAM’s mission has always been to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, high-quality healthcare to those in need,” said RAM Founder and President Stan Brock. “Unfortunately, in the 32 years since RAM was started, we continue to see more patients at our clinics year after year. We will continue help those in need until something changes.” Health officials hope the Reno clinic will temporarily close another gap for people who are uninsured or underinsured and in desperate need of care. Locally, 16 percent of the county’s population is uninsured with 15 percent considered to be in poor or fair health. 18 percent of children live in poverty. 

Medical services at this year’s clinic will include dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental extractions, eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions, eyeglass production, free eyeglasses, women's health exams, assistance device (walkers and canes) education, osteopathic manipulative treatment and general medical exams. The event is being sponsored in part by Truckee Meadows Health Communities, a collaborative of thought leaders and influencers who seek to make an impact on the health of our community. More at www.truckeemeadowshealthycommunities.com. 

To schedule an interview or phone call for media purposes contact Phillip Ulibarri at pulibarri@washoecounty.us or call (775) 328-2414. For more information about RAM’s mobile medical clinics please visit www.ramusa.org.

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About Remote Area Medical: RAM’s mission to prevent pain and alleviate suffering is fueled by its operation of mobile medical clinics that deliver free, high quality dental, vision and medical services to individuals who do not have access or cannot afford a visit to a doctor. RAM’s Corps of more than 120,000 Humanitarian Volunteers is comprised of licensed dental, vision, and medical professionals who have delivered $114 million worth of free health care services. In 2016, RAM treated more than 30,000 people in need of medical care with a value of $9.9 million of free medical aid.  

About Washoe County Health District: The Washoe County District Board of Health, through the Washoe County Health District, has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Washoe County, Nevada. Its mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Washoe County through health promotion, disease prevention, public health emergency preparedness, and environmental services. The Board of Health is composed of seven members, including two representatives each from Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, and a physician licensed to practice medicine in Nevada.