PENSACOLA, Fla. — Remote Area Medical has begun opening weekends at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
It is a free clinic that provides services with no insurance or identification required.
According to the clinic coordinator, the parking lot was filled with people starting at 4 a.m.
For some, this is a time to receive care for people they otherwise wouldn't have access to.
“Pensacola itself is considered a health care desert, and that includes dental and medical, so we're here to fill that gap,” RAM Clinic Coordinator Haley Wittet said.
More than 100 people packed the Pensacola Interstate Fair parking lot Saturday morning.
“I think this will make things easier for everyone,” RAM clinic organizer Grace Resendez McCaffery said. “I think there are a lot of reasons why people don't have identification. I think it just makes it easier to provide care to everyone.”
Resendez-McCaffery helped establish the RAM Clinic in Pensacola.
She said she is grateful for the medical professionals who are willing to give up their time, especially now that the holidays are approaching.
“We actually ended up having more dentists than we wanted, which means we can serve more people,” Resendez-McCaffery said.
Witteteo says there will also be dental services.
“There will be cleaning, filling and extraction,” Wittet said. “We also have an oral surgeon here.”
“We will do the testing and make the glasses on site,” she added.
Medical services include general health and women's health.
“Choose one service,” Wittet said. “You are always allowed to receive medical care for any service, but you must choose between dental and vision. If you are unable to receive it on Saturday, please come back on Sunday.”
Witteteo says this removes barriers for people who need this care.
“For some people, that's an annual physical,” says Witteteo. “They rely on RAM and will be seeing patients who were in Pensacola in 2021, 2022, 2023, etc.” This is the only time I can do it, and it feels really rewarding.”
Pensacola Interstate Fair parking lot reopens at 12 a.m.
Witteteo said people should bring blankets and other things they need to stay comfortable until the doors open at 6 a.m.
She tells me to get there as soon as possible because her hours are short on Sunday.
