Caring for America’s Uninsured

Marjorie HamrellProgram Development Consultant

National Health Care Crisis

46 million uninsured in this country Escalating health insurance costs Regardless of the outcomes of

national health care reform, many people living in America will remain without health insurance, and therefore without health care

Primary Care Crisis

Physician shortage: demand will exceed supply by 2020• Growing US population • Aging physician workforce

Demise of primary care• Low reimbursement rates for primary care

services• Stressful work life of primary care

physicians• Dwindling number of medical graduates

choosing careers in primary care

The Magic: A Volunteers in Medicine

Clinic

VIM Clinic Hilton Head, SC 1994

Our effort began on Hilton Head Island as a dream. It grew quickly with great support from the community and soon it was a reality, a volunteer clinic providing services to the “working uninsured”.

Others caught the dream and with each year the dream spread throughout the land.

Volunteers in Medicine~ 77 Alliance Clinics ~

March 2010

Volunteers in Medicine History

“And what did you do for someone today?”

Dr. Jack McConnell opened the first clinic on Hilton Head Island in 1994

Founded the national VIM office “In every community, a culture

of caring with health care for all.”

Volunteers in Medicine

Only national nonprofit devoted to assisting local communities in opening free clinics

Network of more than 75 clinics Delivering over $50 million of care

annually Serving hundreds of thousands of

uninsured Over 8,000 medical and non-medical

volunteers

Volunteers in Medicine Model

Free clinics for the uninsured Retired medical and community

volunteers Independent 501(c)(3) organizations Delivering quality primary care

without charge Emphasize the “Culture of Caring” Community integrated, owned and

supported Physician licensure and malpractice

coverage

Volunteers in Medicine Model

Respects the strength & dignity of those in need

Seeks to heal injury caused by bias, prejudice and indifference

Delivers culturally competent care Creates a nurturing clinic

environment Belief that those who give care

experience more healing than those who receive care

Volunteers in Medicine Mission

To promote and guide the development

of a national network of free clinics

emphasizing the use ofretired medical and community volunteerswithin a culture of

caring to improve access to

health carefor America’s underserved,

particularly the uninsured.

Benefits of VIM Clinics

Primary care provider for uninsured Save lives Assists patients in living healthy

productive lives Keep families intact Dramatically reduce overload in ERs Ease primary care physician

shortage by mobilizing retired physicians

Allow physicians to practice “pure medicine”

Elements Needed for Success

“Local Champion” with passion & determination

Organizing committee with community-wide representation

Dedicated medical and community volunteers

Community resources to start and sustain clinic

Commitment to follow VIM planning process

VIM Consultation

Guidance through development process

Site-visit to assess leadership capability and community organization

Membership in the VIM Alliance VIM resource materials

VIM Alliance

Network of clinics sharing mission and vision

CommonWealth Purchasing Group discounts

McNeil over-the-counter drug program

On-line discussion group E-newsletters Educational conferences VIM resource materials

Marjorie HamrellProgram Development Consultant

(802) 651-0112www.volunteersinmedicine.org