Free Medical Clinic Opens This Weekend

Monday, April 27, 2009
Topics: Health
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As unemployment rates continue to rise, so do the number of adults without health insurance. That means there are more people than ever before who can't afford new eyeglasses, a visit to the dentist, or basic medical care. But as ideastream® health reporter Gretchen Cuda found out, doctors and local companies from around the state have banded together to share their services this weekend with those in need -- no charge, and no questions asked.

Zac Ponsky expects people to start lining up at the gates of the Cuyahoga County fairgrounds in Berea as early as Friday night, to ensure they’ll get their chance to see a one of more than 450, dentists, vision specialists and doctors in more than a twenty medical sub-specialties. 

All together, over 2000 volunteers will provide two straight days of non-stop medical care, starting at 6am on Saturday morning.  Services are first come, first serve, to anyone who is willing to wait his turn.

PONSKY: Everything is free - there are no qualification requirements.  No proof of citizenship, no proof of income ...

Remote Area Medical, or RAM, was founded over two decades ago by Stan Brock, a pilot who wanted to bring high quality medical care to remote areas of the world.  When he realized that impoverished people in the US were just as desperate for basic medical services - he began holding free medical clinics in his home state of Tennessee.  Ponsky learned about what Brock was doing after seeing his story on the CBS news program 60 minutes, and then went to see Stan Brock for himself.

BROCK: Several months ago Zac came to visit us while we were doing one of our routine remote area medical operations and um, said, you know, why don’t we try one of those in Cleveland Ohio? And I said well that’s exactly what we want to do ...

So Ponsky teamed up with Brock, and went home and founded RAM Ohio.  The vision he says, was originally a small medical clinic with a few doctors.  But once he planted the seed - the idea took on a life of it’s own.

PONSKY: This really became a groundswell of enthusiasm, and once the momentum started there was no stopping it.

All the major hospitals and medical institutions in Cleveland and around the state were immediately on board, says Ponsky.  Local companies and organizations, and even the US Army are pitching in - and not just to provide medical care. Administrative support, free haircuts, and even legal advice are just some of the additional services that will be provided

PONSKY: Rather than who is involved it became a question of who’s not involved.  We really have been turning people away because we just can’t handle the magnitude anymore as far as volunteers.

And this is no bare bones operation.  There will be x-ray machines, and ultrasounds, a full blood lab, and even an on-site emergency room.

Jeff Hall is director of sales operations at Steris Corporation in Mentor - his company is donating things like antibacterial hand washes and stretchers as well as providing additional equipment on loan.  He says the company has never participated in anything of this magnitude before, but hopes they will be an example for others.

HALL; This is certainly something that I think is setting great precedent not only for the community but for organizations like Steris.

A great precedent too for doctors and hospitals, who often compete to be the best in their field, to work side by side caring for people who need it.  And it won’t end after this weekend; Ponsky says two full tents will be devoted to setting up referrals and follow-up care.

Gretchen Cuda 90.3