2008 Pike County Remote Area Medical Expediton

About the Program

Category: Volunteers (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

To provide healthcare to the many people in Eastern Kentucky who could not afford it, a Pike County Judge and the Pike County Social Services Commissioner enlisted the aid of Stan Brock, a former television-personality turned philanthropist. With the aid of Brock and his Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps organization, Pike County was able to provide free medical, vision, and dental services to hundreds of people in a two-day time period. The Pike County RAM Expedition took place over two days in 2008 and gave 624 Eastern Kentucky residents healthcare services valued at more than $124,000. The event was the second largest free healthcare clinic in Kentucky’s history, and was so successful that a second expedition has already been scheduled for later on this year. The expedition’s success spawned several initiatives aimed at increasing access to healthcare for the working poor. The formation of a statewide RAM organization; the allotment of resources to provide dentures to low-income citizens; and the creation of legislation to improve services at future RAM expeditions, were all initiatives spawned by the 2008 Pike County RAM Expedition.