SWEET SIXTEEN
In 2008 Volunteers in Medicine celebrated its 15th Birthday…15 years of providing free health care services to the community.
In fifteen years…..When VIM first opened its doors, we were primarily used as a walk-in clinic. Patients who woke up in the morning feeling ill would come to the clinic for immediate treatment and medications. By the end of that first year the part-time clinic had seen over 1,000 patients.
Today the clinic is served by over 400 retired physicians, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, social workers and lay persons who manage patient visits. There are currently 22 medical specialties and five disease management clinics for those patients with chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension. In addition, several local non-profit organizations come to the clinic on a weekly basis to help community members who are in need of their services.
Now in VIM’s sixteenth year we have grown to nearly 12,000 active patients which equates to 30,000 patient visits annually. The urgent care–type process has evolved into more of a disease management and wellness practice. While we see many patients who still walk in the door because they don’t feel well on that particular day, a large portion of our patient population is there because they have been diagnosed with a specific condition on previous visits and have appointments for follow-up care and treatment. We are now not just treating the patient’s condition, but helping them get well and stay that way!
With every birthday we all feel a little “aging”, and VIM is no different. If you are interested in sending Volunteers in Medicine a “Sweet Sixteen” birthday present, the clinic “Wish List” is posted below. The “Wish List” is a list of supplies and equipment that we need but are unable to purchase through our regular operating funds.
Wish list items can be supplied via check, cash or credit card. Credit card donations can be made either by calling the Development Office (843.689.6612) or through our website (www.vimclinic.org) and clicking on the DONATIONS box on the home page. If you would like your gift to be designated for a particular item, please let us know and we will make sure that your gift is used in the manner that you request. If you do not designate anything specific, your gift will be designated to (and very much welcomed!) our operating fund.