I think the heat had some effect on this too.

WISE ? Preliminary numbers still being tabulated indicate a slight decrease in the number of people seeking free health care at the annual Remote Area Medical (RAM) Health Expedition that was held last weekend at the Wise County Fairgrounds.

Health Wagon Executive Director Theresa Gardner emphasized Monday that statistics on the annual three-day event, which concluded Sunday, were preliminary. But a first review of the records indicates 2,347 individuals sought services, 368 fewer than last year?s 2,715 people.

Last year?s RAM Health Expedition provided over $2.2 million worth of free medical, dental and eye care services. This year?s valuation will probably come close to matching that number, Gardner said, but figuring up the value of services delivered takes longer than looking at gate registrations.

The Clinchco-based Health Wagon is the original sponsor of and administrator of the annual event utilizing Knoxville-based RAM. Gardner said implementation of some year-round care programs since 2009 may have helped ease the need this year. Seriously hot weather and long waiting times probably depressed attendance this year as well, she said.

Gardner said the Health Wagon started staging dental clinics throughout the year since last year, as well as mammography and endocrinology clinics on a quarterly basis, with the help of the Virginia Dental Association and the University of Virginia?s Health System.

?We put in some of those quarterly clinics, so maybe that?s why the numbers are down a little bit. We?re seeing them not just one time a year within a single three-day period, but we are seeing some continuity of care, and that?s a good thing,? she said.

?I think Friday was the hottest day of the year, so far. Some of those who need the help the most may have looked at the forecast and figured it was better to stay home and out of the heat. For a lot of (people with heart and breathing problems) and diabetes, it?s not the most optimal system we have out there at the fairgrounds to stand in line for hours.?

Organizers of the annual event ? this past weekend was the 11th ? always look for ways to improve, but the conditions at the fairgrounds are fairly primitive, Gardner said.

?The fairgrounds is not the ideal location, but to accommodate these numbers, we don?t have other options around here,? she said. ?I?ve actually thought about getting a business school to look at our logistics to see how we could make it better. We?ve certainly got people waiting for dental (services) for several hours where maybe we could take that person for a mammogram (or other services if sought).?

Dental services top the patient request list at any RAM, followed by eye care requests. Early numbers show 1,466 dentist visits that resulted in 2,643 extractions, 1,551 fillings, 154 cleanings and 950 examinations only.

Patient encounters are tabulated from patients receiving specific services. Some patients receive more than one service while at RAM. As the case with a total valuation of free services provided, the patient encounter numbers will take awhile to tally. Last year there were 5,598 patient encounters tallied.

Meanwhile, Mike Waddell and his fairgrounds preparation and cleanup crew were busy cleaning up the site on Monday, Gardner said.

?What I heard all weekend from all the volunteers was how it is such a joy and how pleased they are to be here and be a part of such an operation,? she said.

Preliminary numbers show nearly 1,500 volunteers took part in the 2010 RAM.

Wise County RAM numbers down slightly from previous years - Kingsport Times-News Online