USA - Free clinic draws hundreds of patients

Free clinic draws hundreds of patients
Economic downturn fuels greater need
Posted: 06/21/2010
PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Lacking medical insurance, Garth E. Robinson endured the pain of broken and decayed teeth for a decade until he showed up at a free clinic in eastern Kentucky that drew hundreds of patients.
Robinson had all his upper teeth pulled Saturday at the clinic offered by the Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps, a nonprofit group based in Knoxville, Tenn. He was among about 750 medical, dental and vision patients to be seen Saturday morning at the weekend clinic, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Robinson, of Prestonsburg, works as a night watchman at a coal mine, and his wife works for an attorney. They have two children.
"It takes all we can do just to get by," wrote Robinson, who could only nod and write out answers to questions.

Since Pike County's first Remote Area Medical clinic was held in 2008, the size of the endeavor has more than doubled. That's partly due to an economic downturn that reached a low point in the past two years, said Dr. Bill Collins, a Pikeville dentist and Kentucky's RAM chapter leader.

Kentucky is 99.8% fluoridated:NYSCOF