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“If I need to see a doctor, I go to the emergency room,” is something many of the patients at Remote Area Medical (RAM®) Clinics tell us. There are many reasons they put off getting healthcare they need: no insurance, no primary care physician, long distances to care, copays, prescription costs, and more.
This is true for RAM Patient Nick, too. Though his construction job offers insurance coverage, he can’t justify the cost. Dental insurance alone would cost him almost $260 a week. Because of that, he goes without coverage and avoids going to the doctor.
High Insurance Costs Lead to Avoiding Healthcare
Before attending the RAM Clinic, Nick couldn’t remember the last time he saw a doctor, dentist, or eye doctor.
“I don’t go to the doctor,” Nick laughed. “I go to the emergency room if it’s that bad.”
The same goes for the dentist; Nick doesn’t go unless he absolutely has to. When his cavity filling fell out three weeks ago, he knew he needed to get it repaired, but he was reluctant. The only reason he came to the RAM Clinic was because his wife told him he needed to go.
He listened to his wife and took the opportunity to get his filling replaced for free. He arrived in the parking lot at 12:30 a.m. and slept in his car, despite the below-freezing temperatures.
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Nick hadn’t been to the dentist since he got the filling years ago. He doesn’t go for regular checkups and cleanings. Instead, he tries to take care of his teeth the best he can at home. Anything to avoid the additional cost of going to the dentist.
Replacing a Missing Filling
One benefit of arriving early at the RAM Clinic was that Nick was one of the first patients to receive care on Saturday morning. He wanted to make sure he could get a dental ticket, have his filling replaced, and find out whether anything else needed to be addressed.
Dental students from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine assessed Nick’s teeth. They determined that the missing filling was the only issue that needed to be repaired. His at-home oral healthcare had helped prevent other problems, such as cavities.
After the filling was replaced, Nick thanked the volunteers and said they were great. He was excited to eat without the discomfort he’d been dealing with for the past three weeks.
Avoiding Necessary Healthcare
Like Nick, many of RAM’s patients rely on the emergency room as their only source of medical care. They put off care for many reasons, including cost, lack of insurance, distance to care, fear of healthcare professionals, and more.
Seeing a healthcare professional at a RAM Clinic can help patients avoid a hefty emergency room bill in the future by addressing health concerns before they become serious enough to warrant an ER visit.
Getting regular dental checkups and cleanings can also help patients stay out of the emergency room in the future. With regular dental visits and healthy oral hygiene at home, patients are less likely to develop infections and other serious dental problems.
Luckily, Nick was able to attend a RAM Clinic and get his filling fixed for free before the problem became more painful and caused other health issues.
Nick is just one of many patients who come to our clinics because a family member or friend encouraged them to. Please share our schedule with anyone who may need RAM’s free services.
Read our blog about overcrowding in emergency rooms to learn more about this problem. And see how RAM helps relieve some of the pressure.
Supporting RAM
- Donate today to help us make healthcare accessible to those who need it.
- Volunteer with us at an upcoming clinic near you.
- Follow RAM on social media.
- Read our blog and download our free magazine.
- Shop our online merch store.
- Make RAM your charity of choice with the Walmart Spark Good Program.
