Free Health Care Offered to the Noninsured

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WINCHESTER, Tenn.- In tough times, many families focus on keeping the roof over their heads, but sometimes there's no money left for health care. This weekend there was a solution to that problem.

A year ago people in Franklin County came up with an idea to turn Franklin County High School in Winchester into a clinic. Those who have no insurance and no money could see a primary care physician, dentist, optometrist or a chiropractor for free. It's an offer more than 1,000 people couldn't afford to pass up.

"I have a filling that's gone past its prime. I haven't been able to have anything done with it in a long time so," Wendy Smith patient.

Wendy Smith is from Coffee County. Her tooth has been hurting, but she has no dental insurance. She also doesn't have the money to go to the dentist. Saturday, Dr. Thomas Hadley from Nashville took care of the pain.

Doctor Hadley says his schedule was open, and he wanted to give back to the community.

He and a number of others will be at Franklin County High through Sunday to see as many patients as they can.

"Yeah this is impressive. I'm moved. Dentists really care. And these people come in and they're in pain. And the main objective is to get them out of pain. And then if you can help them with their teeth in the process of making them look nice then that's a bonus," Dr. Thomas Hadley, Dentist.

The clinic will also be open to at 6 AM. Once again it's being held at Franklin County High School in Winchester. Those wanting to see the doctor should get in line early. The address is 833 Bypass Rd, Winchester.

A volunteer group called Remote Area Medical Clinic, or R.A.M. helped coordinate this weekend's free clinic. The group is based in Knoxville.