RAM and Wise Co.

**imported_neutral** · July 28th, 2006, 10:05 PM

Got to say i was actually upset with how NewsCenter 5 has made this out to be.
It is just not about Wise Co. and it's citizens. But many come from as far away as Tn. W.Va and Ky. to receive services.
And some who don't qualify from many areas still go to get free medical aid.
I'm not saying it's bad. But how about those who really need it.
If NewsCenter 5 is gonna make Wise Co. and the area look bad at least let it be shown for what it is.
Not just Wise County, but SWVA and many surrounding states, getting free medical aid.
As with anything that can be used. Today was a sore reminder of how bad our system is. Not sure how many SUV's and other high profile vehicles i seen at the fair grounds.
I can afford a $45,000 vehicle, but not a visit to my dentist or doctor.
So i'll take advantage of what someone else should be getting.
Things like this really make me question, what has happened here since i left and came back.

**TheBeast** · July 29th, 2006, 08:24 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I can afford a $45,000 vehicle, but not a visit to my dentist or doctor.
So i'll take advantage of what someone else should be getting.

[/ QUOTE ]

This gets my goat as well. But there is nothing we can do about it. I have never been there myself but I have heard stories about how bad the crowds are and such.

**imported_elp6n** · July 29th, 2006, 09:00 AM

Yeah - there are always some that are going to abuse charity, but we can't always judge people by the vehicle they drive.
The vehicle may be borrowed.
They may have bought the vehicle before there was a loss of medical insurance (if you've fallen on hard times it isn't always easy to just go out and get a different car with a new loan).
The vehicle you see in the parking lot may belong to any of the many volunteers, doctors, nurses, aids, etc. and not a patient. It takes more than a couple of dozen people to treat a crowd of thousands.

RAM was orignally intended as a "Wise County" thing, but it grew by word of mouth.

But the truth of the matter is, thousands in this area are unemployed or underemployed (for any number of reasons) and need help. It seems the ones that need assistance can't get it and this is their only chance.

Let's not judge the people taking advantage of RAM. There's no restriction on who can attend. This is not medicaid, medicare or state or federal assistance.

What the news is portraying is how life really is in this area. They're not making it up or trying to puff up the story for ratings. What you see is real and so many people (even from this area) don't realize how bad it really is, or try to ignore it.

Instead of complaining about it, go help. Go volunteer. See for yourself what's going on at RAM. I'm sure you'll be enlightened.

**starbuck** · July 29th, 2006, 10:22 AM

ELP6N,
perfect post. I was going to post a lot of what you said

**Craes** · July 29th, 2006, 12:48 PM

I was there for four hours yesterday, when my company asked for volunteers I wasted no time signing up. When they first came to the area, back at the airport and I was working as a tech in a group home they helped us out a lot.

**imported_neutral** · July 29th, 2006, 03:40 PM

Well ma'am i was there. And in a volunteer role. How do you think i knew about some, who i know don't need the help.
I never said it is not needed. Just hate to see it taken advantage of. Esp. when you have those who commit their time in a volunteer role to help the disadvantaged.
The doctors, technicians and others are the one's im talking about.
As far as me and the group i was working with. We just helped as far as directing visitors, and making sure they had their paper work.

**Unchained** · July 29th, 2006, 07:40 PM

You are going to find abuse of the system anywhere you go. I would wager that the vast majority of the folks who are there this weekend really need the help. I don't like the fact that folks like us bust our butts and struggle to get health care, but in the long run, those who abuse the system will have to answer for it when their days are done.

**Craes** · July 29th, 2006, 08:48 PM

well your initial post was kinda confusing I guess, because you eluded to your info being from WCYB not as a volunteer. I was there as a volunteer as well, I parked in a section with some nicer cars, I know one woman was brought to the facility by someone else, I know serveral others were volunteer vehicles, as was mine though I didn't put my volunteer pass in the window. But from where I was I didn't see most get out of the vehicles that brought them I volunteered inside the gates.

The_Sage · July 29th, 2006, 09:23 PM

i think there are several great points made in the previous posts. But just wanted to raise a point about this that may have been overlooked. After RAM leaves what happens when these people have 'problems'? For example.. a RAM person has a tooth pulled,, they have complications,,
where do they go? what do they do? and i'm sure there are several that probably are referred to specialists,, don't understand what happens after that,, do you all know?

**imported_elp6n** · July 29th, 2006, 09:40 PM

I'm not really sure.

I know there's one article in the Coalfield about a woman from KY that went last year with some symptoms she couldnt get any KY state assistance for. They diagnosed a brain tumor and apparently her follow up MRI & treatment was at Wellmont LPH. Not sure how that got paid for, but she was cured of her tumor.