Residents who need dental, vision or medical care will have an opportunity to receive services at no cost when a Remote Area Medical clinic comes to Grundy in October.
Buchanan County Youth Inc. will host the two-day RAM clinic Oct. 17-18 at Riverview Elementary and Middle School, located at 27382 Riverside Drive.
The clinic is open to anyone in need, regardless of where they live. No identification, insurance or proof of income is required, and all services will be provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dental services will include cleanings, fillings and extractions. Vision care will include eye examinations and glasses, while medical volunteers will provide basic health exams and screenings. Denture services will not be available.
Dental and vision services are limited and may fill quickly. Patients will be asked to choose between dental and vision care, but medical services will be available to every patient.
The clinic’s parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and remain open throughout the night. Clinic doors will open at 6 a.m.
Volunteers will direct arriving vehicles to designated parking areas and help keep patients in order by arrival time. Each patient must be present to receive a service ticket and must remain in the parking lot to keep a place in line.
Anyone who leaves the property and returns will be moved to the end of the line and issued a new service ticket. The policy is intended to keep the process fair for everyone waiting to receive care.
There will be no indoor waiting area before the clinic doors open. Patients should be prepared to wait in their vehicles because the parking area will not have heated or air-conditioned shelter. Bathrooms will be available.
Organizers recommend that patients bring water, snacks, weather-appropriate clothing and any medications they regularly take. Patients should continue taking medications as directed. Blankets, coats, gloves, hats and insulated layers are recommended if the weather is cold. Those expecting a long wait may also want to bring a phone charger.
Clinic closing times may change depending on patient capacity. Weather conditions and the availability of volunteer health care providers could also affect which services are offered.
Remote Area Medical clinics are designed to help remove some of the financial barriers that prevent people from receiving needed care. For individuals who have delayed a dental procedure, struggled to afford an eye examination or gone without a basic health screening, the Grundy clinic will provide an opportunity to receive care without worrying about insurance coverage or cost.
Patients are encouraged to check for updates before traveling because clinic details are subject to change.
For questions about the Grundy Clinic, call RAM at 865-579-1530 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additional information about attending a clinic is available at ramusa.org/frequently-asked-questions.
