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Article published May 21, 2009 Free Remote Area Medical clinic to proceed despite swine flu worries
By Rheta Murry Of The Daily Times Staff
A free medical clinic set for May 30-31 in Harrogate will go on as scheduled, according to Ron Brewer, Tennessee state director for Remote Area Medical Program (RAM).
"We have conferred with Fred Adams, director of East Tennessee Health Association, and he said, 'no problems, go for it' so we're going forward with it," said Brewer.
RAM officials had postponed its expedition to the Cleveland, Ohio, area earlier this month on the advice of Ohio State Department of Health and Cuyahoga County Board of Health "due to the widening spread of swine flu in North America," according to a news release. At that time, RAM said the organization would respond "very cautiously" when considering whether to hold the Harrogate clinic.With official confirmation, the clinic scheduled in Tex Turner Arena at Lincoln Memorial University will proceed as planned. An estimated 600 to 800 people should receive care that weekend, Brewer said. Last year, 687 people received health care from the two-day clinic.Doctors, dentists to help
Volunteer doctors, dentists and optometrists will offer care. Medical care will include diabetes screens, physicals and educational assistance as well as treatment for aches and pains. Mammograms will be available during the clinic, but pap smears will not.
Dentists will clean teeth and do fillings and extractions, but will not offer any other kind of restoration.
Full vision screening will be conducted and in most cases, patrons will leave the building with new eyeglasses. Glasses with bifocal lenses will be distributed about a week later.Spay, neuter animals
The clinic also will spay or neuter dogs and cats. This type of veterinary care is offered only three times this year, in Harrogate, Cocke County (July 18-19) and Newport (Oct. 17-18).
Brewer recommended that people arrive much earlier than the 6 a.m. opening. Numbers to gain entry will be handed out after 8 p.m. the day before, but those receiving them must stay on the premises all night. Brewer said that, if the person leaves the premises, he must forfeit his number.
Some numbers will be available very early each morning of the two-day clinic. Not everyone seeking care May 30-31 will get it, he added. All of the numbers normally are gone by 6 a.m.
For more information, call RAM at 579-1530 or www.ramusa.org.