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After recently losing both her parents and her job, Kelly and her boyfriend needed a change. That’s why they moved from Las Vegas to Knoxville, Tennessee in late 2025, to live closer to her remaining family. They knew it would be an adjustment. What they did not expect was how hard it would be to find both a new job and a place to live.
With more than 13 years of experience in property management, Kelly was sure she’d be able to quickly find a new role. But after more than 20 interviews and no success at landing a new job, Kelly was left feeling discouraged.
Unfortunately, her not having a job means the couple are without health insurance. Being without health insurance would be difficult for anyone, but for Kelly, who had been battling infection for two months, not having insurance meant she had to endure this discomfort on top of her other health issues.
Caring for Existing Conditions
Kelly has diabetes and high blood pressure. Since she had not seen a doctor in such a long time, she had stopped taking her diabetes medication regularly. She was taking the pills only when her blood sugar was high. She only had 5 pills left.
Kelly intentionally hadn’t checked her blood sugar because she was scared to see how high the results were. The high blood sugar was causing her infection, giving her headaches, and made her overall just not feel well.
Before coming to the Remote Area Medical (RAM®) telehealth clinic, Kelly did not even know she had high blood pressure. She’s one of the 4 in 10 adults who have high blood pressure without knowing it [The Washington Post].
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After talking virtually with Dr. Laura, Kelly received a free supply of Metformin to manage her diabetes, and a prescription to help with her infection.
Like many RAM patients, the cost of service and prescriptions made Kelly weary to get the care she needed. She was amazed that seeing the doctor and getting the Metformin were completely free, and the local pharmacy only charged $11 for her additional prescription.
“I thought with prescriptions and getting stuff, like, ‘How expensive is that gonna be?’ But no, that’s amazing, $11, we can do that,” Kelly said.
Supporting Kelly After RAM’s Telehealth Program
Kelly had a job interview immediately after the clinic. However, even if she were offered the role, it takes days or even months before she would be eligible for benefits like health insurance. Thankfully, RAM’s telehealth team was able to give her a thirty-day supply of Metformin to help her manage her diabetes.
Kelly hadn’t heard of RAM before local service providers told her about the clinic. But she left our telehealth clinic with medication, an updated prescription, diabetes and high blood pressure education. She also got information about upcoming full-scale clinic in Knoxville, so she and her boyfriend can see an optometrist and a dentist.
“You guys are wonderful at what you do. I just wish more people would find out about it,” said Kelly.
RAM’s Telehealth Program
RAM’s telehealth program holds clinics in East Tennessee throughout the year, often multiple times per week.
The program allows us to bring care directly to where patients are. We often work with community organizations to bring telehealth care to patients who might otherwise go without care. The clinic where Kelly received care was held in partnership with Fig Tree in Knoxville. At these clinics, patients are first triaged by a nurse and then speak to a doctor virtually.
RAM Telehealth Patients are also given a list of local resources to utilize after seeing the doctor, including additional RAM Clinics.
RAM’s telehealth program benefits the doctors and the patients. Patients are able to see a doctor, for free, in a location that is convenient for them. And doctors are able to make a difference in these patients’ lives from anywhere in the U.S. In a short amount of time, physicians like Dr. Laura can help multiple patients from a location that is convenient to them.
Thanks to a law our founder, Stan Brock, helped pass, doctors from anywhere in the country can volunteer their services in Tennessee, making it easier for patients to receive care and for doctors to provide it.
More About Remote Area Medical
Remote Area Medical’s services are made possible by donations. If you would like to help us continue bringing care to people who would otherwise go without it, you can make a donation here.
Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. If you would like to volunteer at one of our telehealth or full-scale clinics, we would love to have you. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or a general support volunteer, your services are needed! Learn more and volunteer with RAM!
Kelly said she wished more people knew about RAM — you can help make that happen! Follow RAM on social media and share with your friends, followers, and family. Help us get the word out that free healthcare and free mobile telehealth services are available.
Did you know you can support RAM through shopping? It’s true, there are two ways to support through shopping! The first way is through buying our merch at our new online store. Buy RAM branded goodies and show your support for RAM in style. The other way is through rounding up the change on your purchases at Walmart through the Walmart Spark Good program!
Do you want to learn more about RAM’s mission, volunteers, and patients? Read our blog posts each week and download our FREE special edition magazine.
If you or anyone you know needs RAM services, click here to see our schedule for our telehealth and pop-up clinics.
