ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A group of volunteer doctors, dentists and optometrists will come to Allentown this weekend to provide free services — no insurance or ID required — on a first-come, first-served basis.
The clinic is being organized by the traveling healthcare nonprofit called Remote Area Medical, or RAM — which was founded in 1985 to serve countries including Haiti, Guyana and Mexico, but shifted its focus to the United States, where health care equity is a concern.
"I have no barriers to treating patients whatsoever. All I need is for them to be present, and it's probably one of the most rewarding, incredible jobs I've ever had."Brad Sands, Clinic Co-ordinator for Remote Area Medical
This weekend's clinic is scheduled for at 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20, in Executive Education Academy Charter School, 555 Union Blvd., Allentown.
Services offered will include free cleanings, fillings and x-rays; eye health exams and eyeglass prescriptions; mammograms; and general medical exams.
"This clinic will provide dental, vision, and medical care to those who might otherwise go without these essential services," RAM said in a release.
Logistics
According to RAM, the parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. today, Oct. 18, and stay open for the duration of the weekend clinic.
The organization is asking that patients bring their own food, water and medications.
At the doorway, patients will be presented the choice between dental or vision care — and everyone will be offered general medical care, in addition.
RAM does not ask for any ID, and is not a government agency.
At the door of the clinic, volunteers will give patients a number on a sheet of paper, and that is all the identification they will need for the entire visit.
More information is available on the RAM website, as well as a Facebook event page.
RAM also is looking for volunteers; anyone can call 865-579-1530.
'Most rewarding, incredible jobs'
One of the masterminds behind RAM's visit to Allentown is Clinic Co-ordinator Brad Sands, who spent years working in the medical field before landing at RAM.
"I started in medicine in 2007 I worked for the graduate school of Medicine for University of Tennessee," Sands said.
"I've worked level one trauma center, ambulance, firehouse. I've managed some primary care offices. I've done a lot within medicine, and I started with RAM probably about 3 1/2 years ago.
"And I was actually looking at leaving medicine altogether, just because of all the barriers to care, trying to get patients the things that I know they need, but you call an insurance company and they tell you they don't.
"And then I found RAM, and now I get to travel all over the country. I have no barriers to treat patients whatsoever. All I need is for them to be present.
"And it's probably one of the most rewarding, incredible jobs I've ever had."
Sands is based in Tennessee, and has visited Allentown before for previous RAM clinics, as recent as 2023.
Healthcare inequity
There is a higher percentage of Allentown residents without health insurance than the U.S. average. According to U.S. Census data, 12.7% of Allentonians are medically uninsured — compared with only 8% nationally.
Across Pennsylvania, that number last WAS measured at 6.6% by the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to RAM's website, part of its mission is to deliver "essential medical, dental and vision care to underserved and uninsured communities across the country."
This weekend's clinic has received resources from Global Hope International, a medical nonprofit in Nazareth, as well as the Foxwynd Foundation, a humanitarian philanthropy organization based in Chester County.
