KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. — Doors open at 6 a.m. this Saturday and Sunday in Kanawha County for the 2nd Annual Remote Area Medical and West Virginia Health Right Free Clinic, but lines are expected to start forming much earlier than that.
“All you’ve got to do is bring yourself and a little bit of patience,” said Dr. Angie Settle, CEO and executive director of West Virginia Health Right.
More than 420 medical, dental and vision professionals along with other community members are volunteering their time to offer treatment at no cost to anyone who needs health services, regardless of income or insurance.
That includes, Settle said, people who may have gaps in their Medicaid coverage, those who are insured privately but have large deductibles and people who can’t miss work to see a doctor.
“We wanted to get an event, kind of like a ‘one stop shop’ together, with a lot of dedicated people — West Virginians who care about our fellow West Virginians — to get out here and show them what we can do together,” Settle said.
This year, the RAM and West Virginia Health Right Free Clinic will be held at Bible Center School in Charleston, located off Route 119 in Charleston.
The exact address for Bible Center School is 1111 Oakhurst Drive, Charleston which is located near the Ashton Place Kroger.
Ahead of the 6 a.m. opening on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22, parking lot access will be permitted no later than 12 a.m. each day with ticket distributions for treatment on a first come, first served basis to get started at 3 a.m.
Patients are going to be admitted in numerical order by ticket number and a ticket is required for admission.
The available services include the following:
DENTAL: Cleaning, fillings, extractions
VISION: Complete dilated eye exams, testing for glaucoma, testing for diabetic retinopathy, glasses made on site
MEDICAL: General medicine
PREVENTION: Breast exams, diabetes screening, physicals, women’s health
EDUCATION: Resources and information are provided throughout service areas
“A lot of specialty services that normally you wouldn’t be able to find, like a pulmonologist, orthopedist, gynecologist and several others,” explained Settle of the available care.
“We’ll also have free hepatitis and HIV testing, flu vaccines and then also Narcan education and also will be dispensing that.”
Narcan is a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses.
More information for patients is available HERE.
The free clinic is open to “anybody in need in West Virginia,” Settle said. “Pretty much, they have no questions asked. They assume if you’re there that you’re in need and we take care of you.”
Established as a nonprofit in 1985, Remote Area Medical’s mission is to “prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free quality healthcare to those in need,” particularly those who are “impoverished, isolated and underserved.”