OBSERVER Photo by Michael Zabrodsky From left, Christine Schuyler, Jamestown Community College healthcare initiatives program director, and Tory Irgang, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation executive director , updated the JCC Board of Trustees this week about September’s RAM Clinic.

Not only did the 2024 Remote Area Medical clinic at Jamestown Community College help hundreds of county residents, there is enough money to hold a future clinic.

Christine Schuyler, JCC healthcare initiatives program director, and Tory Irgang, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation executive director, updated the JCC Board of Trustees Tuesday about the clinic. Over the two-day clinic, Schuyler said there were 296 volunteers, 409 medical, dental, and vision services provided with 222 adults and 27 children receiving free services. The value of care was estimated at about $205,465, and donations to the CRCF RAM Fund totaled about $50,000 with $24,703 in expenses.

“Tory and her staff were gracious enough to host our money,” Schuyler said.

Schuyler added that is about $25,000 left to host a future RAM Clinic in Jamestown.

“This is a great example of a non-endowed fund. It’s not a permanent fund, and it continues to exist. And those dollars, that $25,0000 and change is safeguarded at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation,” Irgang noted.

Local sponsors contributed meals, snacks, lodging, advertising, and other supports for clinic operations and its volunteers and patients. Oral surgeons, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and other healthcare professionals and students from the local region and across the state and country administered care services. General volunteers assisted with organization, set up, tear down, parking, and filled in gaps to help the clinic run smoothly and efficiently. Faculty and students from JCC’s Nursing and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs, St. Bonaventure’s BonaResponds, University at Buffalo School of Dentistry, Canisius University, and Penn State University worked side by side.

One highlight of the clinic,Schuyler noted, RAM brought a mobile eyewear vehicle to the clinic, so patients were able to receive glasses on site.

“People walked away with 35 pairs of glasses (that were made on site),” Schuyler added.

Another highlight, Schuyler noted, was about Max, a child patient, whose story was published in RAM’s national magazine.

Community partners provided additional services and connected people to continued care. The Resource Center was on site for care coordination and referrals for follow-up services. The Chautauqua County Health Department’s mobile van offered health education and vaccinations. The Cancer Services program provided information and referral opportunities. Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Amerigroup Medicaid Managed Care Plan provided assistance with the Medicaid and NYS Marketplace.

RAM is a non-profit organization in Rockford, Tennessee that operates pop-up medical clinics across the nation. Their free-of-cost clinics deliver dental, vision, and medical services to underserved and uninsured individuals, providing relief and security to countless communities. RAM’s mission is to “to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, quality healthcare to those in need.” 

For more information about RAM, visit ramusa.org.