Organizers and participants of this weekend’s Duke RAM pop-up clinic in Henderson are planning to provide medical wellness checkups, as well as dental and vision services – all free of charge.
Duke University senior Saajan Patel has invested a good chunk of his time over the past three years to get the Remote Area Medical clinic up and running. This is the third year that the clinic has been held at Vance Charter School, and Patel said he’s excited for what the weekend holds.
Patients can begin lining up as early as midnight on Friday, Feb. 16 in advance of the clinic’s opening at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. Dentists, optometrists, doctors, nurses and other health professionals are volunteering their services during the two-day clinic. Patients need only show up and get in line for care; no proof of insurance or ID is required, Patel said.
In rural North Carolina, where access to services may be limited for residents, Patel said. “Getting into the health care atmophere is so cumbersome…hopefully RAM makes it easier for patients to connect” patients with services.
Patel said through his participation with RAM, he’s been able to see firsthand the health disparities that exist in areas like Henderson and Vance County. He hopes to be able to continue to serve rural North Carolina in some capacity “and make a difference” after he graduates in May with a degree in biology and minors in global health and chemistry.
The clinic hours are Saturday, Feb. 17 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 18 from 6 a.m. to about 12 noon or 1 p.m. Vance Charter School is located at 2922 Ross Mill Rd.
Other community partners will be on hand to provide information, from how to enroll in Medicaid or Medicare to demonstrations on how to properly use Narcan in case of drug overdose.
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