BUTLER TWP — By 11 a.m. on Saturday, a dentist at the Remote Area Medical pop-up clinic at the Butler Intermediate High School had extracted 30 teeth and the registration desk had signed in more than 200 people for free medical, dental and vision care.

Beginning at 5:30 a.m., volunteers steered patients into parking lots, then to the reception area inside the lobby before they were guided to a registration table.

There, volunteers registered the patients, who did not have to give their identification or meet any income standards, and sent them to the triage tables.

Tina Riley, triage supervisor, said volunteer nurses at the tables took each patient’s vital signs and asked their medical history to determine whether that history includes diabetes or high blood pressure.

“We just want to make sure their blood sugar level is safe for services,” Riley said.

The steady stream of patients then visited the dental, vision or medical areas set up in the school.

No fees were charged for any of the services rendered on Saturday and Sunday, including for new frames and lenses for those who needed glasses. The lenses were cut to fit the frames available to patients in a tractor-trailer, so patients could take their new specs home the same day they received their exam.

More complicated prescriptions were sent out and the glasses will be mailed to patients later.

Morgan “Mo” Bartlett, of New Castle, was thrilled to have a vision exam and choose stylish frames for herself.

“I haven’t had a proper script for about 15 years,” Bartlett said. “I couldn't read the menu at the coffee shop, and it wasn’t even that far away.”

She said her particular prescription is very strong, as her vision is poor.

“I really appreciate (the RAM clinic),” Bartlett said. “There are a lot of people who travel from all around to get here.”

She also appreciated the welcoming and friendly volunteers.

“It’s so very clean and efficient,” she said. “There’s no confusion anywhere.”

Dr. Ahono Gildersleeve, a dentist at the Butler practice of her dad, Dr. Donald Brockley, said she, her father and Dr. Carmin Gonzalez performed fillings and extractions in more than a dozen clear, plastic “dental tents” set up in the school gymnasium.

Gildersleeve said students from the University of Pittsburgh Dental School also helped with the steady stream of patients, who received an evaluation and X-rays before being treated.

“It’s always great to volunteer in your community,” she said. “We work in Butler, so it’s nice to be able to help people in our area and get them out of pain.”

She said the dental care provided by the dentists, students and two dental assistants from the Brockley Dental Center not only treated patients, but advised them to stay on top of their dental health by accessing services at the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center in Butler.

Gildersleeve explained that good dental health is imperative to good overall health, because infections in the teeth and gums spread to the blood stream, which can result in a life-threatening illness in some cases.

She said a few of the dental patients she saw on Saturday were from Pittsburgh, but most were Butler residents.

“This is definitely needed here,” she said.

Upon leaving with their new sutures and a mouthful of gauze, patients stopped at the pharmacy table to get postoperative instructions, some over-the-counter pain medicines, additional gauze, and a hygiene pack containing a toothbrush, floss and other items.

“The patients might leave here a little sore, but we leave knowing we’ve helped someone and gave something with nothing expected in return,” Gildersleeve said.

In the medical area, which was set up in the BIHS library, patients had blood drawn for a basic panel of tests, got a flu shot, and were seen for various complaints of pain or illness; women had pelvic exams and pregnancy tests; and physical therapists performed balance and fall-risk assessments.

Butler Memorial Hospital processed the blood tests and employees at the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center will notify patients of the results.

Depending on the medical professionals who volunteered on Saturday and Sunday, patients could be seen for ear, nose and throat issues, as well as orthopedics, urology, podiatry and addiction services.

Joe Fiedor, a physical therapist and Slippery Rock University faculty member, said five SRU physical therapy students volunteered at RAM on Saturday, and three students from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, volunteered on Sunday.

Fiedor said therapists gave various tests to patients to assess their fall risk.

Brian White, Butler Area School District superintendent, strolled the school on Saturday morning to see if he could help and to assess the new clinic’s efficiency.

“It’s really quite amazing when you see all the services they offer and see the families get the health care they need,” White said.

He said 46% of families in the school district get free or reduced lunches, so the clinic is a valuable asset.

“There is a need in our community,” White said. “It’s particularly concentrated in the City of Butler.”

Lynn McKinnis, who leads the community host group for the clinic, said the Butler Transit Authority added a route so people could access the clinic.

McKinnis said volunteers spent six months disseminating 4,000 flyers about the clinic at convenience stores, food banks, free community meals, gas stations, public bulletin boards and other areas.

McKinnis was very pleased with the RAM clinic Saturday — she said the feedback from patients was tremendous.

“It was very difficult for people to believe that everything is truly free and there’s not a catch to it,” she said.