BY MATT LINDSEYNorth Country This Week

CANTON — St. Lawrence County residents who struggle to find a doctor, obtain dental care or access routine healthcare services can share their experiences as organizers plan a free Remote Area Medical clinic for the North Country.

Nikita Diro Glover, director of clinical education for Clarkson University's physician assistant program, is seeking public input through a Community Health Needs Assessment survey to identify barriers to healthcare access and help plan a free mobile medical clinic in St. Lawrence County.

Glover, who is also a Doctor of Nursing Practice student at Upstate Medical University, is conducting the survey as part of her doctoral project focused on healthcare access in St. Lawrence County.

"Information gathered through the assessment will be used to guide the planning and development of a Remote Area Medical mobile health clinic," Glover said.

RAM clinics provide free medical, vision and dental care to individuals seeking services. The clinic is anticipated to be held June 12-13, 2027.

The survey, available July 1-31, seeks feedback from adult county residents about healthcare access barriers, unmet service needs and priority health concerns. It is being administered through REDCap. To take the survey, visit https://redcap.upstate.edu/surveys/?s=AHWMXJW8MWT7T894

"The survey is brief and anonymous and is designed to capture community perspectives on local healthcare needs," Glover said.

According to Glover, St. Lawrence County is designated as medically underserved and has a patient-to-provider ratio exceeding 3,500-to-1.

"The initiative is intended to improve access to preventive and primary healthcare services, increase utilization of community-based health resources and support health equity among rural and medically underserved populations in St. Lawrence County," she said.

Glover said Clarkson University has approved serving as the host site for the clinic, which is planned for June of 2027.

As part of the outreach effort, Glover plans to distribute survey flyers throughout the county, promote the survey through regional social media platforms and attend community events, including Potsdam Summerfest and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Proceeds from the Dragon Boat Festival are invested in local resources, including support for the RAM clinic initiative, Glover said.