Free medical clinic in Reno expected to serve over 1,000 uninsured/underserved

Dental and vision professionals still being accepted as volunteers

RENO, NV – Remote Area Medical- RAM™, the largest free mobile medical clinic in the country helping underserved and uninsured individuals will be in Reno, September 29 - October 1. The clinic is expecting to provide its medical, dental and vision services to over 1,000 patients during the three-day period. To reach that goal RAM is asking more dental and vision professionals to join the clinic as volunteers at the event. 

Touted by major media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC News, Time Magazine, and BuzzFeed, RAM clinics rely on local volunteers to organize clinic staff and services. “Some of the RAM volunteers actually follow the clinics across the country to help those in need and find it a very rewarding experience,” said Washoe County District Health Officer Kevin Dick. “We are hoping that more local dental and vision professionals will volunteer to experience that same feeling  by helping those in need in our community.”  According to event coordinators, in 2014, approximately 300 volunteers helped 800 people when the RAM Clinic was last in Reno. This year it is estimated that 350 volunteers will be needed to serve 1,000 patients. To do that another 50 or more general volunteers need to step forward. As noted, the greatest need is for dental and visions professionals from our community.  Interested persons should email volunteers@ramusa.org or call 865-579-1530. 

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 Healthy Communities, a cross-sectoral coalition that seeks to improve the health of our community. More at www.truckeemeadowshealthycommunities.com. 

The extensive coordination necessary for this type of event includes registration, check-in, screening, scheduling, transportation, and then medical/dental/vision services. People begin the process starting at 12am, Friday, September 29 at the Washoe County Health District parking lot at 1001 E. 9^th Street in Reno. After initial processing, clients will then be transported to the Boys and Girls Club for clinic services which will begin at 6am. The same process will repeat all three days. “We are very excited about the upcoming clinic and want to thank the scores of people who have already helped in getting this event scheduled,” said Dick. “With a little more generosity we will be able to reach our goal and make this a great event.” 

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.