Remote Area Medical ready for Maynardville

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Updated: 5:54 PM Nov 13, 2009 Remote Area Medical ready for Maynardville If you are plagued by medical problems without the resources to care for them, one Knoxville-based charity is back in action in East Tennessee. Posted: 5:49 PM Nov 13, 2009 Reporter: Sara Shookman Email Address: sara.shookman@wvlt-tv.com

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MAYNARDVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- If you are plagued by medical problems without the resources to care for them, one Knoxville-based charity is back in action in East Tennessee.

Remote Area Medical is hosting a free clinic this weekend at Union County High School. Maynardville Dentist John Osborn usually has trouble getting his patients to open up. But Saturday he knows they'll be lining up to see him.

"Dental insurance isn't as universal as health care insurance, even though there are a lot of people who don't have health care. There are a even fewer people who have dental insurance," says Osborn.

Osborn is one of more than 40 dentists who will treat patients at the Remote Area Medical Clinic. The free clinic is open to anyone and can help with a variety of medical treatments. "Cleanings, fillings, extractions, plus the eye exams and that type of thing," says Osborn, "You can expect people to be lined up, some starting the night before."

It's been nearly a decade since they set up in Maynardville, but Friday crews came in to set up a clinic, expecting thousands. "Well over a thousand. We've been swamped and bombarded with people wanting information, it just never seems to stop," says Director of Health and Human Resources Eddie Graham, with the Union County School Board.

Union County High School will transform their gym and cafeteria into the doctor's office and the dentist's chair. There volunteer health care professionals will work alongside Union County students and teachers.

"In these times that we're in right now, what's one of the first things that gets pushed to the side is health care," says Graham.

Remote Area Medical wants to help you take control of your health. "Show up early and be patient," says Osborn. "It's going to be a long weekend, a tiring weekend, but a rewarding weekend," says Graham.

The school's parking lot opens at midnight and queue numbers will be handed out beginning at 3:30 a.m. The line will build quickly say organizers, so get there early if you can. Anyone can receive care, no questions asked besides a list of medications and short medical history. Care will begin at 6 a.m.

Union County High School is located at 150 Main Street in Maynardville. The clinic will follow the same procedures Sunday as well. For more information, click on the link below.

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