People came as far as SF and AZ to get free medical care at Remote Area Medical event in LA

[Liberal_in_LA]

Heard interviews from health providers on radio. One volunteer was saying that she was seeing teeth in horrible condition. One patient was saying that she was getting her 1st dental visit/optometrist visit in 6 years. And this is in the big, modern city of Los Angeles. Amazing!


Final day at free clinic

As the Remote Area Medical Foundation’s huge, free health clinic winds up its eight-day run at the Forum in Inglewood this evening, organizers said they expected to be able to treat all patients who were given wristbands – or refer them to doctors who will provide free care.

During the organization’s first venture into a large, urban city -- and its longest-running health clinic in its 25-year history -- volunteer dentists and doctors helped deliver free medical care to thousands of patients. Many seeking care camped out overnight or slept in their cars; hundreds of others were turned away. Some had traveled from as far as San Francisco and Phoenix for the chance to be treated.

------------------

Organizers said coming to Southern California was a challenge, in part because the local medical community had never heard of the Tennessee-based Remote Area Medical Foundation. The foundation primarily serves rural areas such as Appalachia, where access to healthcare can be limited. But as the clinic gained momentum -- and media coverage -- more volunteers turned out. Over the weekend, Manelli said there were more volunteer dentists than the 80 dental chairs set up on the floor of the Forum.

Manelli said no decisions have been made about whether to return to Los Angeles County, but he said, “We’re already thinking about it.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/final-day-at-free-clinic.html

[MNDemNY]

1. The greatest health care system in the world, yessiree!!!!!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. If you can afford it

...

[Maru Kitteh]

8. But you see, it doesn't matter if you can afford it The *system* itself still sucks.

The healthcare technology available in the US is among the best in the world, that's true, but the healthcare system sucks non-medicinal use leech butt.

Health technology is not a health system.

This is how one counters the right-wing blabbing point that "we have the best healthcare system in the world." No we don't. We have some of the best technology in one of the worst systems in the world.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I know that, trust me

:-)

but usually when you point to the RWers that they cannot afford this care, so the system is not the best in the world to THEM... they start thinking out of their pie hole

[Maru Kitteh]

12. My dear Nadin, when do they ever STOP thinking out of their pie hole?

:rofl:

[csziggy]

2. K&R

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. I love what RAM does

[Maru Kitteh]

5. I'm sure none of those people deserved healthcare. That's only for 'real' Americans.

You betcha.

[Joe the Liberal]

6. Everything is so backwards in this country....

It should be the people WITHOUT health care (like those who attend RAM's events) at the town halls DEMANDING meaningful reform. NOT all these right wing nutcases with their "screw you I got mine" attitude demanding that there not be any reform at all.

[CrispyQ]

7. If I were Obama, I would find a way to fund a 20 city med event just like this.

I would select 20 cities around the US & have med events like the one in LA. Then tell the People, "Single payer will be better than this, because it will be in your home town, at your local clinic, with doctors you choose."

The town hallers would have a hard time being heard if Obama did something like this. Not to mention, a whole bunch of them would be attending the med events.

[flamingdem]

9. This story made me tear up, people need care so badly it is shameful .. nt

[alstephenson]

10. I wonder if we'll be seeing these pictures and hearing about this

from the MSM??? What a pathetic excuse for a health care system we have in the U.S. I am ashamed.