(Click here for an emeddable version of the video)
The Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corp (RAM) is a non-profit organization that provides free health care, dental care and eye care in remote areas of the United States and the world since 1985. Volunteer doctors, nurses and support workers provide the care at their own expense and the medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are all donated by supporters.
From July 24-26, I attended the RAM event at the Wise County Fairgrounds in Wise, Virginia. The area is in the Appalachian Mountain region bordering Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.
People received numbers and started lining up to enter the health clinic around 4 a.m.
For those who did not receive the full range of health care they needed, they spent the night in their cars and returned the next day.
It was truly a remarkable experience to witness how many people in the United States, ranging from infants to the elderly, have little or no access to healthcare. It was truly the front lines of the healthcare problem in our country.
Editor’s note: On Wednesday, July 29, President Barack Obama discussed his healthcare plans at a town hall meeting in Bristol, Virginia, 62 miles from the Wise County Fairgrounds. He acknowledged the outstanding work of everybody associated with the event.
“People are able to get care because of the great volunteer efforts of people all over the country. That’s great,” President Obama said in front of employees of the local supermarket.
Further coverage elsewhere online:
In Virginia, health fair tends to America’s poor (AFP)
Rural Medical Camp Tackles Health Care Gaps (NPR)
On health care, America looks awfully third-world (Oregonian)
A different perspective on the health care debate (Daily Kos)
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I only briefly wanted to respond to a comment I saw from August 10th: You are absolutely wrong. You can be, and will be turned away from many ERs if you do not have health insurance. Even if you have a severe, life-threatening disorder. You can be, and will be turned away. You’re confused because you cannot be turned away from a PUBLIC HOSPITAL. A private hospital is fully within their rights to refuse you.
The point you’re claiming supports the opposite of your conclusion: do some research.
- Posted by PaulMust be such an organization. According to another can not.
- Posted by StopSmokerMen[...] goal of universal coverage seems as distant as it was in 1969, when he first advocated it. 30 July Uninsured camp out for free healthcare The Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corp (RAM) is a non-profit organization that provides free health [...]
- Posted by Wednesday-Night - » HealthcareNot passing a national healthcare system will be a big win for the insurance industry and a big loss for the american people. What type of society have we become when the average person can’t afford or get basic healthcare services?
Before you start slamming a government run healthcare system maybe you should go to England. Even if you are not a citizen and you break a leg or get sick there you can see a doctor the same day for FREE. Sure, some rare conditions may have a wait to see a doctor but isn’t it the same case here?
Some ask how will we pay for this all? You are already paying for this if you have insurance. It will be cheaper throught the government because you won’t have insurance companies extracting huge profits from the system. Also, government has no plans to ever payoff the debt so let’s finally spend some money on something good for the American people.
How did healtchare get so expensive in this country? It’s because of the insurance companies making you buy health insurance and making doctors buy liability insurance. I have met doctors that won’t practice in certain areas because the liability insurance is too high.
- Posted by JeffThe washington insiders are at it again. What happened to congress coming to the people and asking what there opinion is on the health reform. The people we elect think its there god given right to ASSUME what is best for the voting public. The problem is they ASSUME and when someone ASSUMES it back fires. The health care reform is back firing as it did the previous attempts because of their ASSUMPTIONS. The reason for all the negative reaction is they ASSUMED again. I think we need reform and a safety net. The reform is with the hospital charges, prescription cost and age 55 coverage and children coverage. I too had a mother and father who died of cancer and they had money problems with prescription cost HMM. Just blanketing the public with reform is not good and NOT COST EFFECTIVE. How will my children pay for the debt and will our children be able to have a chicken in the pot,a house over there head and a chevy in the driveway as I grew up. I think not if the debt load keeps growing and our President wanting to spend - spend - spend OUR MONEY on health care without asking WHAT WE WANT. The president started out as a activist lawyer in Chicago and he ASSUMES that he knows what is best for the John Q public. I say NO TO THE COSTLY HEALTH CARE REFORM congress has put forth. I SAY YES TO HEALTH REFORM WHEN IT COMES FROM THE VOTING PUBLIC because we are WE THE PEOPLE and we pay the public servants to make good and honest cost effective reform laws….. GOD BLESS YOU AND ARE FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE OUR USA GREAT.
- Posted by gary simisonIf the government has a “public option” it will cause people like me who like their current insurance to loose it. It will not make things more competitive, it will make everyone go to the “public option” and thus delete insurance company options. Then we will have a single payer system. The government should stay out of healthcare. Health insurance is a privilege, not a right. And no ER will turn you away just because you do not have insurance.
- Posted by Joshuathe Obama administration agenda is looking more and more like Castro’s agenda when he took power. I was there. First, eliminate free speech and dissention by sending all opposition members to prison or out of the country. Then nationalization of all private businesses, takeover of all media and public services. All with the promise of turning Cuba into a socialist utopia. We know what happened there. Is that what we want
- Posted by CRIOLLAfor the USA? God help us.
NOTHING is free……… and if you do the projections, American will go broke just paying for the health care of slobs who should eat less and not smoke.
- Posted by Imin LyneSome people, pay for as little as they can and get free food, and free healthcare. Some will not work even though work is available, but they do not work. For them they have to find a free clinic. Some of us want a system that is like basic transportation and not a Cadillac and we are willing to pay for it. Even in countries with nationalized systems people pay premiums and higher taxes for an adequate level of care. I cannot afford to wait in line for hours as I have work to do.
- Posted by f belzJean McD - Free Cinics will work with you on cost - when you enter a medical emergency facility they will have you fill out Medicaid papers - whether you can or cant pay you will be treated - outside of that do what I did. I got a good job and rose out of the bowels of a New York City housing project - received my healthcare, retired and maintain my PRIVATE healthcare - it’s called education and labor. Try it!
- Posted by LOD_NYPDGranted there are many Americans who cannot afford healthcare but there are quite a few people here who do smoke and some drive a nice truck and want to get healthcare for free. I went to a function like the one you see here in Welch, WV, which is an impoverished area. What I saw were women who had 2 or more children, not married and smoking like there was no end. Sure they received welfare but when they wanted more money they would get themselves knocked up and receive more federal assistance.
Not all Americans are like that but what I do notice a lot of them do smoke and drink a lot of sodas. I do believe we need healthcare reform but not at the expense of others unless they are willing to be told how to live a much healthier existence. I just worry that Obama’s healthcare plan is going to take away other peoples rights of choice of healthcare for the ones you do manage to be able to pay for it.
To fair and honest I don’t have to worry about healthcare because I receive healthcare through the VA system. My benefits are not taxed and I receive the same healthcare for the most part like some politicians.
I did see my wife’s brother buy a new truck and then take their child who was sick to a hospital for a free checkup rather than go without buying the new truck. My wife’s family is from Whitman, WV. And I have seen the way some people live in those areas and I can tell you they don’t live very healthy but that is not isolated to people in those areas.
We as Americans seem to think we earn the right to have healthcare but I can tell you that is not the way it is. Their needs to be reform in the healthcare system but it shouldn’t be given away freely. I do understand about the elderly and some individuals with certain medical conditions but for the rest there needs to be a sense of accountability. You want to live the American dream, “you need to earn it” and if you can’t, “you sacrifice and go without”…
- Posted by Michael FordThis is what “free” nationalized healthcare will look like. People lining up, camping out to get even basic care. THis is what you want?
- Posted by Thom YorkeTo imply that this apparently successful and purely volunteer generated effort is emblematic of our lack of Gov. managed, nationalized health care is disingenuous. Furthermore, shame on Reuters playing host to this one-sided advocacy piece. Thank you, Robin in Kentucky, for telling a side of the story that is entirely lacking in the video.
- Posted by Chris D.Way too many of these people are nothing but freeloading bums!
- Posted by El gatoThe medical professionals from RAM are worthy people indeed, freely giving their time as charity to those in need. That is profoundly moral.
What a pity the article conflates freely given charity with state imposed medical care that literally takes from some by force and gives to other more politically favoured people because they feel entitled to the money of others.
- Posted by Perry de HavillandMy family is another example of the uninsured. We have 4 kids and are currently insured, but not sure how long we can keep this up. Even though we pay almost $500 each month, just went to the Dr. for a less than 5 minutes, and it cost me $75.
I am not sure how it will go, but I hope that President Obama can make a public option for Americans.
- Posted by Steve