RAM's free medical, dental and vision clinic coming to Elgin Nov. 13-14
Remote Area Medical, a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision and medical care to underserved and uninsured individuals, will be in Elgin next month to provide free care.
The two-day clinic, in collaboration with members of the local community, will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13-14, at Judson University's Linder Fitness Center, 1151 N. State St. in Elgin.
All RAM services are free, and no ID is required. Dental, vision, and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
"HEAL ELGIN is proud to host the Remote Area Medical clinic in Elgin, Illinois," said Terri Dallas-Prunskis, MD, member of the community host group. "There is such a great need in this area for medical care, and we are glad to be part of bringing these services to the community."
Services available at the clinic will include dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental extractions, dental X-rays, eye exams, glaucoma testing, eyeglass prescriptions, eyeglasses made on-site, flu shots, women's health exams, and general medical exams.
"Remote Area Medical is glad to help bring free services to those in need in the Elgin community," said RAM CEO Jeff Eastman. "This has been a challenging time, and access to health care is more important than ever before. Thank you to all the volunteers who are coming to help those in need."
Due to time constraints, patients should be prepared to choose between dental and vision services. Free medical services are offered in addition to dental or vision services to every patient attending the clinic.
The patient parking lot will open no later than 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, and remain open.
As patients arrive at the parking lot, they will be provided with additional information regarding clinic opening processes and next steps. Patients should be prepared with their own food, water, medicines and clothing when arriving early. Bathrooms will be provided.
Clinic doors open at 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. This process will repeat on Sunday, Nov. 14.
RAM encourages everyone who would like services, especially dental services, to arrive as early as possible. In some situations, such as inclement weather, volunteer cancellations, or other circumstances outside of RAM's control, the parking lot may open earlier or a smaller number of patients may be served.
The clinic closing time may vary based on each service area's daily capacity. Check RAM's clinic FAQ page at www.ramusa.org/faqs-clinics-during-covid-19/ for more information.
In response to COVID-19, RAM has developed and incorporated new disinfecting and safety processes. All patients will be required to wear a face covering and must undergo a COVID-19 screening before entering the clinic.
Guests and family members of patients, including pets, will not be allowed to enter the building. New air flow and capacity limitations have also been put in place to ensure the safety of patients, staff and volunteers.
Since RAM's founding in 1985, more than 863,000 individuals have received free services.
Email RAM's Volunteer Manager Mary Brown at marybrown@ramusa.org, if interested in volunteering at this clinic.
For more information about volunteering at a future RAM pop-up clinic or to donate, visit www.ramusa.org or call (865) 579-1530.
The mission of the Heal Elgin Project is to bring physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual healing to the people of the greater Elgin area and beyond through a variety of programs and events.
The Heal Elgin Project was started in 2018 as a community initiative of Elgin Adventist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Terri Dallas-Prunskis, MD. It is sponsored by local businesses, organizations and individuals from Elgin and throughout the Chicago area, and is supported by dedicated health care volunteers and qualified staff. Learn more at healelgin.org.
Remote Area Medical is a major nonprofit organization that operates pop-up clinics delivering free, quality, dental, vision, and medical services to underserved and uninsured individuals who do not have access to or cannot afford a doctor.
Since RAM was founded in 1985, more than 173,000 volunteers - comprised of licensed dental, vision, and medical professionals, as well as general support staff - have treated more than 863,000 individuals delivering $174 million worth of free health care services. RAM has held clinics in locations such as Tennessee, Louisiana, Idaho, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Guyana, Haiti, and the Bahamas.