hello everyone, just wanted to let everyone know that the Health,Dental and eye care event is free and will be going on for 7 days here in Southern California. This is a great time for anyone needing care to get down there and get your ar,m bands so you can get the care needed.
Free Health Clinic in LA
Remote Access Medical health fair at Sports Arena.
Updated: Tuesday, 27 Apr 2010, 9:06 AM PDT
Published : Monday, 26 Apr 2010, 7:38 PM PDT
- Los Angeles - More than 5,600 people are expected to show up for a free seven-day medical and dental clinic at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, starting today.
Organizers handed out 5,599 wristbands Sunday to people -- some of whom waited in line overnight -- for a shot at getting free medical, dental and vision care during the Remote Access Medical health fair and clinic, which is put on by a Tennessee-based nonprofit group.
About a third of Los Angeles County residents have no health insurance.
The number of people lining up for the free clinic was overwhelming. Organizers agreed to accept additional patients when they realized people were still lined up outside the Sport Arena when they stopped handing out wristbands Sunday, according to James Bolden, spokesman for Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Bolden also said organizers were telling people without wristbands to come to the clinic on the chance that they still might be seen. The clinic will begin at 6 a.m. each day.
RAM hopes to treat up to 1,200 patients each day. Many of its other clinics are held in rural areas or undeveloped countries.
Depending on how many doctors volunteer to help, the clinic could treat more people than those who received wristbands Sunday, Jackie Quintanilla of RAM said, describing Sunday's crowd as "very calm and organized and thankful to get wristbands."
In August, RAM held a free eight-day clinic at the Forum in Inglewood and treated more than 6,000 people, but others were turned away.
RAM, comprised of volunteer health care professionals, will set up 40 medical exam rooms, 100 dental chairs and 30 eye exam stations and will provide full medical examinations, including mammograms, PAP smears, chest x-rays, diabetes screening, blood pressure screening, dental examinations including cleanings, extractions, fillings, restorative procedures and root canals, prescription eye glass fittings and cataract surgery.
Attendees will not be required to show proof of income or insurance.
