BECOME A RAM VOLUNTEER
Our clinics are made possible by a network
of humanitarians like you.
Mobile Medical Clinics
Volunteering at a Remote Area Medical Clinic is not your typical 9-to-5 day at the office. The days are long, the work is tiring, yet clinic after clinic, our volunteers bounce in with energy and smiles ready to make a patient’s day better.
In order to make a RAM Clinic run smoothly, it takes an army of devoted volunteers with diverse backgrounds and interests to come together for one mission: to prevent pain and alleviate suffering.
We hope to see you at a clinic as you become part of a team that brings tens of thousands of Americans much needed care every year.
HOW IT WORKS
Register to become a RAM Volunteer. Licensed medical providers will submit necessary documentation at this stage.
Choose a clinic to attend. Or choose to volunteer at RAM Headquarters.
Clinic Overview
- A typical clinic day kicks off between 5:10 a.m. and 5:40 a.m., and ends anywhere from 4-6 p.m.
- The final day of the clinic will wrap up between noon and 3 p.m., followed by a final breakdown of equipment that finishes around 5 p.m.
- While at the clinic, your food will be provided, so don’t sweat having to prepare breakfast and lunch. We’ve got it covered.
- Every clinic is different, so you will receive more detailed
information once you register for a clinic.
I am a…
We simply cannot help our patients without the selflessness and compassion of our healthcare professionals who donate their time and hard work to those who need it most.
You really are the front line of those making a lasting difference.
Professional licensing laws vary state-to-state. Whether or not out-of-state providers can practice within a particular state varies.
Service Areas:
- Dental: Dentists, Oral Surgeons, Dental Hygienists, and Dental Assistants.
- Vision: Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Optometric Techs, Ophthalmic Techs, and Opticians.
- Medical: Physicians, Advanced Practice Providers (PAs, NPs, FNPs, etc.) Specialists may be in need at certain clinics. If you are an interested medical specialist, please email volunteers@ramusa.org to learn more.
- Triage: RNs, LPNs, Paramedics, and AEMTs.
- Lodging: Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.
We know how important it is for students to get hands-on experience, while also gaining life-changing exposure to the underserved.
However, RAM clinics operate with only one goal in mind: to bring free, quality healthcare to those in need.
Many of our patients haven’t seen a doctor in decades, so we try to make the experience as professional and as comfortable as possible.
This is not a teaching operation, and our first duty is to our patients.
Pre-Med, Pre-Dental, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Optometry Undergraduates: No pre-health undergraduates will be able to provide patient care.
If you are in undergrad, please register as General Support, which will still allow you to see many other fascinating aspects of our operations.
Nursing Students (RN, BSN): In order to work in our Triage area, you must have faculty supervision.
A licensed faculty member may bring up to five students, all of whom must be in the last “half” of their nursing program. For example, if you are in a four-semester accelerated program, you must at least be in your third semester on the date of the clinic.
We ask that nursing schools commit to attending the full clinic (so both Saturday and Sunday for a regular two-day event). Have your faculty supervisor contact volunteers@ramusa.org for authorization.
MD, DO, PA, and NP Students: In order to work in the Medical Department, you must have faculty supervision.
A licensed faculty member may bring up to five students, all of whom must be in their third or fourth years of their programs.
Schools traveling long distances may bring up to 10 students, with only five working in medical one day and the other five switching in the next. Have your faculty supervisor contact volunteers@ramusa.org for authorization.
Dental Students: In order to work in the Dental Department, you must have a licensed faculty supervisor and be in your third year of dental school.
Please have your licensed faculty supervisor contact volunteers@ramusa.org for scheduling.
Optometry/Ophthalmology Students: In order to work in our Vision Department, you must have faculty supervision and be in your third or fourth years of school.
Please have your faculty licensed practitioner contact volunteers@ramusa.org for scheduling.
LPN, EMT, CNA, MA Students: Due to the large demand for triage practitioners, we are currently unable to accept these students in our Triage Department. Until you graduate, please join us as a General Support Volunteer!
If you are unable to find faculty supervision, we strongly encourage you to sign up as a General Support Volunteer and work in other areas of our clinics.
Lodging: Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.
Students not on a professional healthcare track are more than welcome at our clinics!
Your enthusiasm is contagious at our clinics, and you are an essential part of our work.
Please register yourselves as a General Support Volunteer, and feel free to register for whichever clinics you please.
Keep in mind that General Support can fill up very quickly, so plan on registering right when registrations open, about 4-to-6 months prior to a clinic.
Lodging: Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.
General Support Volunteers are truly the glue that makes the rest of our work possible.
In General Support, you can expect assignments as varied from registering patients as they walk in the door, helping with traffic flow and ensuring patients know where to go, making glasses on our mobile eye lab (we’ll teach you, don’t worry), helping patients pick out their frames, serving food to patients and fellow volunteers, and much more. Of course, assignments are given on a first-come, first-serve basis, so there is no guarantee you will be given your first choice.
General Support is an incredible opportunity to see the many, many parts that make up a clinic, and we hope you’ll find it as incredible as we do.
Lodging: Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.
RAM Telehealth
We now offer free Telehealth appointments for Tennessee residents. These virtual appointments are conducted by licensed volunteer providers through CareClix.
We also hold mobile Telehealth clinics with our mobile unit. To ensure a comprehensive and streamlined experience, a volunteer nurse is onboard to manage patient intake, check vital signs, and prepare the doctor for the consultation. This collaborative approach ensures every aspect of the virtual healthcare process is handled efficiently and with the utmost care.
Volunteering At Headquarters
Our clinics could not take place without the hard work of our staff at Headquarters in Rockford, TN, just 15 minutes south of Knoxville. From filling out the right paperwork, to loading clinic equipment, restocking supplies, and maintaining vehicles, every task at Headquarters is key to ensuring we provide free, quality clinics across the country year-after-year.
If you think Headquarters may be a good fit for you, give our Volunteer Coordinators a call at 865-579-2555, an email at volunteers@ramusa.org, or drop by sometime to see HQ for yourself.
WANT TO JOIN THE MISSION AS A VOLUNTEER?
CHECK OUT RAM’S UPCOMING FREE CLINICS!
FAQ
How do I sign up to volunteer at a RAM Clinic?
Register here. Remember your login credentials! You’ll need them to sign up for future clinics. Once you’ve filled out the form and chosen a clinic, RAM Staff will be in touch with more details. Here is a video tutorial to help you register.
What are the provider qualifications?
Providers must have an active, valid license and be in good standing with their respective license board. Check with the RAM Volunteer Team about states that allow out-of-state providers.
Does a professional need to bring their own equipment?
How does RAM handle prescriptions?
RAM dispenses antibiotics and over-the-counter medications on site if available and provides script pads for additional needs. Narcotics are not on site.
What happens in the event of a medical emergency?
What are the clinic working hours?
Hours may vary clinic by clinic. Most clinics start at 6:00 a.m. and continue into the afternoon. Any time commitment you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Does RAM offer endodontic work?
Does RAM sterilize instruments?
What do we do in the event of cataracts, glaucoma, or other issues that we cannot address at the clinic?
RAM works with our community partners to connect patients to follow-up care after the clinic. In most cases, follow-up care is not free, but providers may offer low-cost options.