KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Remote Area Medical, a nonprofit that works to make sure communities across the U.S. have access to healthcare services, said it served around 23,000 patients in 2023. Brad Sands, a clinic coordinator with RAM, also said the nonprofit was able to provide around $7.5 million worth of free medical care.
RAM sets up free clinics in communities across the country, recruiting volunteers and healthcare professionals to treat people without a cost to patients. Those patients may not be able to find access to healthcare anywhere else.
"We're all there to help alleviate the pain and suffering of individuals all across the world. You know, it helps to have a team that's dedicated to that mission and everybody there, you know, in Remote Area Medical, we are all very dedicated to continuing that mission," said Sands.
In 2023, he said RAM had around 16,000 volunteers sign up to help make sure communities had access to medical care.
The nonprofit was started by Stan Brock, who stepped away from a career on television to make sure as many people as possible could get medical care, regardless of where they were located.
"We're traveling all over. We're going back to Alaska again this year. We've got clinics in Florida, we're in Texas, we're in New York. We're all over the place," said Sands.
RAM is also expected to host a free health clinic in Knoxville starting on Jan. 12. It is expected to last through the weekend, up until Jan. 14.
"We're really just looking forward to this kickoff clinic. You know, Knoxville is our kickoff for the year. It really helps us set the tone for what we're going to carry out the rest of the year," said Sands.
