Free Clinic Patient Returns Year After Year for Care 

At the Remote Area Medical’s (RAM®) free clinic in Willimantic, Connecticut, more than 360 volunteers spent Friday to Sunday setting up the clinic, providing care to patients, and taking down the clinic. These volunteers were able to serve nearly 200 patients. They provided more than $122,000 worth of free dental, vision, and medical care to those in need.  

Like all RAM Clinics, this clinic provided patients with free care. Whether patients have insurance or not, at a RAM Clinic they are able to get access to free, quality dental, vision, and medical care.  

Free Clinic, Quality Healthcare

For many patients, like Amanda, a RAM Clinic is an opportunity to get the care they need for free. Allowing them to save the money they may have spent if their insurance did not cover the cost of care. 

“It does save a lot of money, coming here,” Amanda said.  

Amanda is one of the many patients who attend RAM Clinics who have insurance but need access to RAM’s services because of the costs associated with getting the care. Roughly 46% of RAM patients have some type of health insurance but attend our clinics because their coverage does not include essential services like dental and vision care, their out-of-pocket costs are too high, or they cannot access a provider in their area due to long wait times or provider shortages.

From copays and deductibles to prescription costs, the costs associated with getting medical, dental, and vision care adds up quickly. This is why so many individuals in the U.S. are considered ‘underinsured.’  

This was not Amanda’s first time attending a RAM Clinic. Her positive experience attending our clinic in previous years is why she decided to return this year. She opts to wait to get care until she can attend the clinic. She does this because she knows that she will be well taken care of with RAM. 

“You take more time on your patients,” she said. 

Service Dog in Training

Amanda and her four-month-old service dog in training, Daisy, made their rounds through the clinic. Daisy sat quietly in her purse-carrier while Amanda received dental, vision, and medical care throughout the day. 

Daisy is currently training as a service dog to alert Amanda for a heart condition that can cause her to lose consciousness. Though she is young, Daisy is beginning to learn the signs that Amanda may pass out and has begun whining to alert her that she is showing symptoms. 

“Sometimes she knows before I even know, she’ll start whining . . .,” said Amanda.  

Volunteers at the RAM Free Clinic

Amanda and Daisy made fast friends. Everywhere they went throughout the clinic, people were stopping by to say hi and pet Daisy. Amanda shared that all the volunteers she worked with were helpful. From holding Daisy while Amanda got a dental x-ray to helping her pick out a new pair of frames for her glasses — volunteers were there every step of the way.  

Volunteers make a difference in each of our patients’ lives. From providing them with the medical, dental, or vision care they need, directing them on where to go, providing resources, and everything in between, volunteers directly impact each patient’s experience.  

Remote Area Medical (RAM®)

Click here to read one volunteer’s story on volunteering with RAM at one of our pop-up clinics.  

Do you want to have an impact on the lives of patients like Amanda? Sign up today to volunteer at a RAM Clinic near you! 

Don’t have time to volunteer? No worries, there are plenty of other ways to support RAM and our patients! Becoming a monthly donor is a great way to your show support. For the same amount as a streaming service, you can help RAM continue providing free dental, vision, and medical care to thousands of patients across the country.  

Don’t forget to follow RAM on all our social media platforms. We are constantly posting updates and sharing fun facts about RAM! 

Want to see what else RAM has been up to recently? Be sure to check out our other blog posts!