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Video by Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Scott

IRT medical mission to “coal country” Kentucky serves over one thousand residents

Army Reserve Medical Command

Aug. 11, 2019 | 5:52

The bluegrass state of Kentucky is known for its rolling fields, horses, and college basketball, but the beautiful state also has some people that struggle to afford medical care. For nine days in August residents near the towns of Manchester, Oneida, Annville, Barbourville, and Hyden welcomed medical Service members from the Army, Air Force and Navy that visited four different counties to deliver no cost medical, dental and optical services.
The Department of Defense gathered together the resources for this large Joint Forces Innovative Readiness Training event. Units from the Army Reserve Medical Command and the Air Force offered residents free medical exams and physicals, nutritional counseling, dental x-rays, cleaning and extractions and eye exams. Dental and optical services were most popular. Although many participants had some form of medical insurance, many did not have coverage for eye or teeth care. Some patients had been untreated for long periods of time because of the high costs involved. Hardly anyone had an affordable way to purchase eyeglasses, and patients were eager to receive free glasses provided by the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity that crafted the lenses on site.