what is ram?
The Remote Area Medical® (RAM) Volunteer Corps is a non-profit, volunteer, airborne relief corps
dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye
care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people
in remote areas of the United States and the world.
Founded in 1985, Remote Area Medical® (RAM) is a publicly supported all-volunteer charitable organization. Volunteer
doctors, nurses, pilots, veterinarians and support workers participate in
expeditions (at their own expense) in some of the world's most exciting places.
Medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are donated.
How does the health wagon fit in?
Each year, The Health Wagon (THW) spearheads a RAM event in Wise, Virginia to
provide eye, dental, and medical care.
• In 2010 the RAM expedition in Wise County surpassed a United States’ record for the number of patients seen in a three-day period – with more than 6,869 patient encounters and in excess of $2.3 million in free
health care provided.
The 6,869 patients received:
• 4,182 general medical care
• 928 eye glasses and exams
• 135 additional eye tests
• 1,406 general dental care (2,643 extractions, 2,269 fillings, 224 cleanings,
4,222 extractions)
• 207 mammograms
• More than 1,898 volunteers, most of which were medical professionals,
contributed more than 20,000 hours of donated time to this event.
REMOTE AREA MEDICAL® was featured on NBC's Dateline
