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8912 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Ste 210
San Diego, CA 92123
Ph: 858-292-5420; Fax: 858-278-2938
E-mail: E-mail: btran.aphc@sbcglobal.net
A Spectacular RAM - Tzu Chi Outreach
in Inglewood, California
The RAM - Tzu Chi Outreach at the LA Forum in Inglewood last August 11 to 18, 2009 was one of the largest Health Fairs ever seen in Southern California. This was the first time the Tzu-Chi Foundation collaborated with the Remote Access Medical (RAM) Corporation to offer a multitude of free health services to the population groups in Los Angeles and vicinity.
Early on Friday August 14, Binh Tran rode the Amtrak from Solana Beach to arrive at the Los Angeles Union Station, where Jenny Nguyen, a UCLA graduate, was already waiting to drive her to the LA Forum. There, they met three Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences student pharmacists: Linda Tang, Eddie Leimanis and Ran Oren. After registration, all were greeted by Hui Ping Wang, administrator, and Debra Boudreaux, Deputy CEO at Tzu-Chi Foundation, and directed to the dental services area where they will provide medication and counseling to patients. In the pharmacy near the medical services area, a substantial number of over-the-counter medications provided by sponsors were kept for distribution to the patients and different on-site services.
Sitting: Jenny Nguyen, Ran Oren, Linda Tang
Standing: Eddie Leimanis, Binh Tran
Dr Eugene Taw, Vice President and Clinical Director of the Tzu-Chi Free Clinic also came to speak with the group.
Binh Tran, Dr Eugene Taw, Linda Tang
Due to the overwhelming number of patients (1,500) visiting the Forum on each of the first 3 days, the number was limited to 500 on Friday for a better control of the patient flow. Dental services were very prominent, with 100 beds aligned on the main floor. Optometry services were next, providing prescription glasses one hour after the visit.
About 150 prescriptions were filled for the dental services. Food for the volunteers was plentiful, and available all day in the food area. We thank the RAM and Tzu-Chi organizers for the opportunity to participate in this mega outreach to the community.
The final tally of services reported by the Tzu-chi Medical Foundation was: 14,561 and the total value of care is $2,821,383.00. Three hundred volunteers and 200 medical professionals were mobilized to join the medical services at the Forum.
Tzu Chi Foundation also expressed their gratitude to all of the volunteers for their time and dedication to help the people needing medical care. The spirit of the Tzu Chi team has made a huge impact on everyone at the Forum.
Binh Tran, PharmD
Executive Director
Asian Pacific Health Center
Assistant Clinical Professor