Remote Area Medical ‘rocking right along’ this year

BY ERIC HRIN
Gazette Newspapers

SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP – People unable to afford healthcare may often dream about what it would be like to get their medical needs met for free.
But on Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, at Lakeside Junior High School, no one had to dream.
The seventh Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic took place at the school, providing everything from dental care to haircuts to vision care at no cost.
“It’s been wonderful,” Brad Sands, clinic coordinator for RAM, said on Saturday. “The community’s come out. Our parking lot is filling up. We’re bringing in patients. I think the first ones came through the door at about 5:45 this morning. We’re rocking right along.”
As of Monday, April 13, no information was yet available as to how many people were seen over the two days.
But last year, RAM in Ashtabula served a total of 451 unique individuals who were provided more than $336,906 in free care, according to Ashtabula County Commissioner J.P. Ducro IV.
This year, an effort was once again being made to serve the greatest number of people.
“I know we’re going to try and see absolutely everybody we possibly can,” Sands said.
He said there was a lot of demand for vision and dental care Saturday.
“I do anticipate medical picking up as the day goes,” he added.
A total of at least 100-plus local volunteers were helping out with RAM, according to Sands.
“I love it when a community comes out and helps their own people,” he said. “That’s one of the beautiful things about a RAM clinic. Whenever you go to one, everyone there is a volunteer and they’re from the community. Not only do they know there is a need for the healthcare, but they want to be there and help their community members.”
This year, an audiologist was on hand to provide some hearing tests.
This new feature was added to bring more services to the community, Sands said.
“Anything I can bring in here and offer to folks is something that they’re not able to get elsewhere for free,” he commented. “So, the more services I can offer, the more healthcare I can give to folks, the better.”
Cindy Lanning from Reserve Hearing Center in Ashtabula was the audiologist at RAM.
She was happy to be involved.
“If anyone needs to have their hearing checked, we wanted to provide that for them,” she said. “Hearing health is important.”
She thought RAM was a wonderful service.
“And I’m glad we’re a part of it,” she added.
In the dental services area, many patients were being seen as students from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine worked the floor.
Dr. Rebecca Zakelj Moeller, a clinical instructor with the university, said there were about 20 of the students on hand.
She said it was going great.
“This is the fourth year that I’ve volunteered in Ashtabula with this event, and I feel like it just gets more popular and even better organized with every year that I’m here,” she said. “I think that RAM is a fantastic organization because they are a well-oiled machine. It’s really a pleasure to volunteer with them because they are so diligent in keeping everything flowing, making sure everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing.”
She noted that some patients came from hours away, including one person who made the five-hour drive from Illinois because the person didn’t have dental insurance and needed teeth extracted.
Volunteer Julie Horne of North Kingsville was helping out in the mammogram/bone density screening area. She was registering and checking in people. It was her third year at RAM.
“I like what it stands for, and I feel like there are a lot of people in our communities that need, especially, dental and eye care, and it’s just a bonus that they can come and get a mammogram and a bone density,” she said.
She was helping Sharon Loyd of Ashtabula check in.  Loyd was impressed by all the help the volunteers were providing.
“I think it’s amazing what it takes to run this, the volunteers,” Loyd said. “And so well run, I would recommend it to anybody.”
Andy Chiodo, core dispensing lead for RAM in the vision area, said things were going well, noting there was a big demand for eye exams and glasses.
“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “We’ve had a great response from patients.”
He noted there was tremendous support from the area residents for RAM.
Not everything provided was necessarily healthcare.
Jenna Beaver of Madam Barber was providing haircuts.
“I love it,” she said, noting it was her second year cutting hair at RAM.
In prior years at RAM, she volunteered with her mother in the eyeglasses truck.
She said the fulfillment of helping others keeps her coming back.
“I want to be the example for my kids,” she said, noting she wants to show them the importance of helping the community beyond day-to-day contributions. “When an option like this comes up, this is something to be bigger than yourself.”
Her mother, Jackie Sholtis, was also back at RAM this year.
She was proud that her daughter was still involved.
“I love to see her out here, she’s making it on her own,” she said.
The fact that they were both still involved was very special, she noted.
“She’s got the same outlook of helping people as I do,” she said. “I enjoy it.”