Livingston Remote Area Clinic Canceled

The Livingston Remote Area Clinic for later this month has been canceled due to a lack of healthcare providers.

The clinic provides medical assistance to people without the requirement of ID, health insurance, or money. Remote Area Medical Clinic Coordinator Hailey Vittetoe said the clinic cancellation is a huge blow to the Livingston community.

“Livingston was in need of that,” Vittetoe said. “There are several rural places in East Tennessee that are considered health care deserts where the patient-to-provider ratio is just very low and so Livingston had a lack of providers.”

The clinic has come to Livingston for several years. Vittetoe said they have plans to continue the clinic next year but are considering an earlier date than August.

“We are hopeful to do this again next year,” Vittetoe said. “We may be looking at changing dates just when school isn’t starting back so we can get dental schools and vision schools.”

Vittetoe said the decision was left up to the host group and that a postponement instead of cancellation was considered. The Rotary Club decided the best action was cancellation.

Livingston residents will still have an opportunity to visit a clinic in other local areas, including a Sparta clinic set for September 14-15.