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Next week marks a week of firsts at Remote Area Medical (RAM®). We’re holding our first clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and our clinic in Verona will be our first-ever clinic in Wisconsin.
The Need for RAM’s Free Clinics
As our founder, Stan Brock, often reminded us, the need for free healthcare exists everywhere in the United States. Expanding into new communities allows us to reach even more patients.
Across the U.S., roughly 29 million people do not have health insurance [DataUSA]. That leaves millions without regular access to care. Even more lack vision or dental coverage, which often requires a separate insurance and comes with additional costs.
Last year, RAM served more than 32,000 patients through medical, dental, denture, vision, and telehealth clinics in more than 20 states, ensuring patients across the country had access to free, quality care.
First RAM Free Clinic in Wisconsin
We could not be more excited to bring our first free clinic in Wisconsin! Since 1985, we’ve held clinics in more than 40 states, expanding healthcare access for tens of thousands of patients every year.
Less than 2% of Verona’s population is uninsured, well below the national average of 8.41%. Yet local leaders still recognized a need for free healthcare and came together to bring a RAM Clinic to their community.
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They understand that having health insurance doesn’t always mean having access to care. Even with insurance, patients face co-pays, prescription costs, transportation expenses, time missed from work, and other barriers that make healthcare difficult to access.
We regularly see patients who’ve traveled hours, crossed state lines, borrowed vehicles, and even sleep in clinic parking lots overnight for the chance to receive care.
That’s why bringing clinics to new communities is so important to us. The closer care is to home, the fewer barriers patients have to overcome.
Headed West, Bringing Free Healthcare to Colorado Springs
The RAM free clinic in Colorado Springs is one of a few clinics scheduled across the western United States this year. While it isn’t our first time in Colorado, it is our first time serving the Colorado Springs community with free dental, vision, and medical services.
More than 37,000 people in Colorado Springs lack health insurance. For many, that means delaying care, paying entirely out of pocket, or going without treatment altogether.
Access is also limited by a shortage of providers in the area. Colorado Springs is surrounded by counties that are considered Health Professional Shortage Areas, for primary care and dentistry, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.
Many communities across the country face health professional shortages, often called healthcare deserts, making care difficult to access. That’s why RAM travels across the country: to help remove barriers to care.
Fun Fact: After packing up in Colorado Springs, RAM’s equipment team will drive nearly 2,000 miles to Bennington, Vermont, where they’ll prepare for our next free clinic.
Expanding Access to Free Healthcare Across the U.S.
Every new clinic helps more than the patients we see that weekend. They introduce entire communities to RAM, making more people aware that free, quality healthcare is available, and it’s at a RAM Clinic near them.
If you or someone you know needs access to free healthcare, visit www.ramusa.org/schedule to find a free RAM Clinic near you.
See all the places RAM has held clinics before on our interactive map!
If you are interested in bringing a RAM free clinic to your community, learn more on our website.
Donate to RAM today and help provide free dental, vision, and medical care to patients in need across the U.S.
We hope to see you as a volunteer at an upcoming clinic! Register to volunteer today.
If you’d like to help us get the word out about RAM Clinics, follow us on social media and share with your friends and family.
Read our blog posts to see patient and volunteer stories.
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Select RAM as your charity of choice in the Walmart Spark Good Program.
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