RAM Patient FAQ: What Do I Need to Know About A RAM Clinic?  

Are you a RAM Patient looking to attend one of Remote Area Medical’s (RAM®) free clinics anytime soon? Here’s what you can expect to find, what you should bring, and other frequently asked questions. 

When Should I Arrive at the Clinic?  

RAM recommends that patients arrive as early as possible before a clinic. The parking lot for the clinic opens no later than 11:59 P.M. the night before the clinic. Our clinic doors open for patients at 6 A.M. 

RAM’s free healthcare services are first-come, first-served. This is provided by volunteers. This is why we recommend that patients arrive as early as possible. The earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to receive the care you need. This is especially true for patients looking for free dental care.  

While not required, many patients choose to arrive the night before the clinic and sleep in their cars to have a better chance of receiving care. 

What do I Need to Bring as a RAM Patient?  

You do not have to bring anything to a RAM Clinic. However, we do recommend you bring things to make your visit more comfortable.  

What do we recommend RAM Patients bring to a clinic?  

• Pillows and Blankets  
  •  To stay comfortable and warm if you are sleeping in your car overnight 

• Weather-appropriate clothing 
  • We recommend you wear weather-appropriate clothing to the clinic. Make sure you are able to stay warm or cool, depending on the season.  
  • Consider wearing layers. You may be cool outside, but warm inside the clinic, or vice versa.  

• Any medications you need 
  • We will not have all medications at the clinic. If you have medications you will need to take while you are at the clinic, please bring those with you and take them as prescribed. 

• Food and Drink 
  • RAM does not provide food and drinks for patients.  
  • Please bring any food and drinks you will need during your visit.  
  • This includes spending the night in the parking lot, but also while you wait to receive care once in the clinic.  

• Entertainment 
  • Whether it is a book, movie/tv show, a puzzle book, games, or your phone, RAM recommends you bring something to pass the time while you wait to receive services. 

What do you not need to bring to a RAM free clinic?  

• ID Card 

• Insurance Card  

• Money for services 

RAM will never ask patients for proof of insurance, identification, or money. All we need to know is what services you would like to receive.  

Who is Eligible to be a RAM Patient?

Anyone is able to attend a RAM Clinic. You do not need proof of residency, insurance, income, etc. You do not need to live in the same county, city, or state as the clinic to attend.

Children can receive dental, vision, and medical care at a RAM Clinic. A parent or guardian must accompany children to the free clinic. All services are provided at the healthcare provider’s discretion.

What to Expect in the Parking Lot 

RAM’s services are on a first-come, first-served basis; RAM does not offer appointment times. Once you arrive in the parking lot, a RAM parking lot volunteer will pass out numbered tickets in order of arrival.  

The number of tickets given out for each service (dental, vision, and medical) differs for each clinic. The number of tickets given out depends on the number of volunteers we have for each service. While we do our best, we cannot guarantee every patient will be able to receive services. 

Because of limited resources, we only give tickets to patients that are present at the clinic. We cannot give out additional tickets for friends or family who are coming later.  

Once you have a number, please do not leave the parking lot. If you leave, you will lose your spot in line and will have to get a new number once you return.  

Once Inside the Clinic  

Once you are inside the clinic you will go through our patient registration process, where we ask you questions about yourself and your health. (If you don’t feel comfortable answering these questions, you don’t have to answer them!) 

Next, you’ll move to triage where trained nurses will take your blood pressure, listen to your heart, etc. They will also ask you relevant questions about your health.  

Finally, you will move on to dental, vision, or medical areas of the clinic to get the care that you need. Due to time constraints and limited resources, patients will choose between vision and dental services. All patients can receive medical care. 

Patients can return to the clinic the next day to receive the service they did not get before. For example, if you get free dental care on Saturday, you can return to the clinic on Sunday for free vision care. 

RAM Clinics are handicap accessible.  

Services a RAM Patient Receive at a Clinic  

What dental procedures does RAM offer?  

• Fillings 

• Cleanings 

• Extractions 

• Dental X-rays 

What dental services does RAM not offer?  

• Tooth Implants  

• Dental Crowns 

• Dental Bridges 

Does RAM remove wisdom teeth?  

• The answer is: it depends.  

• RAM can remove wisdom teeth. However, we cannot remove impacted wisdom teeth.  

• Whether or not your wisdom teeth can be removed is up to the individual dentist’s discretion. 

• We cannot guarantee that every RAM Patient will be able to have their wisdom teeth removed.

For dental procedures, when needed, RAM offers local anesthetic. RAM does not use general anesthesia; meaning patients will not be “put under,” or lose consciousness during procedures.  

Does RAM offer Dentures?  

• RAM does make custom dentures for patients; however, this service is not available at every RAM Clinic. 

• Denture services are extremely limited. 
  • If you attend a RAM Clinic where dentures are offered, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to receive a pair of dentures.  

• RAM offers partial and complete dentures for eligible patients. 

• Patients cannot receive an extraction and dentures in the same day or at the same clinic. The mouth needs about 3 months to heal after an extraction before patients are eligible for dentures.
  • All denture patients must be seen by a RAM dentist, who will decide if patients are eligible for services that day.
  • The ability to get dentures is up to the individual dentist’s discretion.

RAM does not offer soft alignments for dentures; however, this is easily accessible at many retail stores (Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, etc.). 

What vision services are available at a RAM Clinic?  

• Complete eye exams 

• Eye health evaluations 

• Prescription glasses made on-site 

• RAM offers reading glasses

• Bifocals are available. However, they are made off-site and shipped to the patient’s home within six weeks after the clinic. 

• Children’s glasses are available; however, they will be made off-site and shipped to the patient’s home within six weeks after the clinic. Children’s glasses are made of shatterproof material.  

Vision services not available at a RAM Clinic 

• High index glasses are not available at RAM Clinics.  

• Transition lenses (glasses that turn into sunglasses in the sun) are not available.  

• Prescription sunglasses are not available. 

• RAM does not offer trifocal lenses.

What medical services are available at a RAM Clinic?  

• Physical examinations  

• Prescription consultations 

• Women’s Health Exams 
  • Pap smears are offered at most RAM Clinics. Check if they will be offered at the clinic you are attending by emailing [email protected] or calling 865.579.1530. 

• General wellness exams  

• And more!

Medical services not available at a RAM Clinic  

• Surgery  

• X-rays 

• CAT/CT Scans

• MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)

• Mental Health Services
  • Mental health services are not available at RAM Clinics.
  • Please see the CDC’s list of mental health resources.

• RAM does not prescribe controlled substances, including mental health maintenance medications

• This list does not include all services that cannot be performed at a RAM Clinic. Services are done at the medical providers discretion.

Do you have any other questions about what you need as a RAM Patient? We are here to help answer all your questions! Please email [email protected] or call 865-579-1530 for any other questions.  

Does RAM Offer Veterinary Services

RAM does not offer veterinary services. All of our clinic operations are focused on serving people in communities across the U.S.

More About Remote Area Medical (RAM®)  

RAM’s free clinic schedule is on our website. You can find a free clinic near you, here.

Read more about RAM and our mission in our blog posts. 

Do you want a free magazine? RAM’s biannual magazine is free to download!  

Did you see RAM’s TikTok video with nearly one million views? Be sure to check out our social media pages, follow us, and share with your friends and family! You won’t want to miss our next viral video!  

If you are interested in volunteering with RAM, come to one of our upcoming clinics! Whether or not you are a healthcare professional, you are needed at a RAM Clinic. Click here to register to volunteer at a free healthcare clinic near you.  

Donations from private donors allow RAM to continue providing free care to our patients. We are able to stretch every dollar — each $1 donated to RAM gives a value of care of roughly $2. If you would like to donate to support RAM, please donate here.  

There is another great way to support RAM — through the Walmart Spark Good program. Every Walmart order is rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the change is donated to RAM. Every donation makes an impact on the lives of our patients.  

Are you located near Knoxville, Tennessee? Do you want to support RAM and not have to worry about dinner plans on October 2? Visit Freddy’s located at 7614 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, on October 2, 2025, from 4-8 P.M. RAM receives 15% of event sales. Just say, “I’m here for the Fundraiser,” in store or use the promo code GIVEBACK online.  

Whether you are a RAM Patient, Volunteer, or donor, we are happy you are here.