Duke Remote Area Medical: The student group addressing barriers to health care in NC’s medically under-resourced communities

Many times in the year, a group of undergraduates from Duke pack their bags and do early morning road trips to remote areas in North Carolina. Over a two-day period, students work with healthcare professionals to serve medically inadequate communities, ranging from customized eyeglass fittings to dental cleanings.

Students without a medical degree Duke Remote Area Medical It still plays a key role in helping to sourise free and accessible healthcare across the state.

“Patients are always happy to interact with each other. [with] And said Priyanka Patel, the second-grade dental recruitment director. “They are really grateful for the services we are offering them. Unfortunately, we cannot get these services anywhere else.”

Many patient RAM serves have a variety of medical needs and come from a variety of situations. For example, some people face dental problems, but they may lack dental insurance, which can result in worsening problems that can be resolved rapidly over time. Other patients may seek eye care, including access to prescription lenses.

To provide care to remote communities, the Duke Team – National RAM organization – Works with two branches. That general executive team organizes travel for volunteers, while Community Host Group We run a clinic in Henderson, North Carolina

For Patel, this means reaching out to many local healthcare providers who may be interested in volunteering to serve RAM. Those willing to contribute can help hundreds of patients receive the care they need.

At Henderson’s March pop-up clinic, club efforts included 195 patients receiving prescription glasses, 84 adults undergoing general health checks and 90 teeth extraction patients, with cleaning, eye examinations and dental x-rays. Of the RAM provided, 38% were black, 30% were Hispanic, 14% were Asian, and 9% were white.

Patel was also able to recruit dental students at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, whom she described as a “big victory” compared to last year when around 20 dentists at East Carolina volunteered at the clinic.

Wang further described the process of reaching out to local partners as “eyeworthy,” allowing us to consider the struggles that people living in very far-reaching areas may not have the internet or we may not have all the things that are for granted. [have]. ”

She also pointed out the high costs of medical care, saying that “it can actually have a catastrophic avalanche effect, such as a surprise bill or a small accident… it can actually have a show.[ing] There are several gaps in our healthcare system. ”

Recognizing these challenges, she noted that there are more ways to expand the impact of RAM. It specifically mentions efforts to increase the number of providers working in clinics.

Part of their job is to increase advocacy across these areas, especially on the Duke campus.

Senior Sahiskdharabali, a member of the advocacy team, works with others within the organization to make health care policies “more digestible” for Duke students.

The team will hold meetings, discuss the law, give students the opportunity to write letter lining and conflicting policies, but will propose the policies themselves that are likely to have a positive impact on the healthcare field. Recently, this included a policy aimed at expanding the definition of healthcare volunteer providers to increase patient access to care.

These efforts are consistent with his view that health care goes beyond prescribing drugs and providing clinical care, Kudaravalli said.

“It’s also about addressing all these different barriers they may face from the social and political system, and how that could affect their care,” he said.