Volunteers in Medicine announced a year of celebrations as the organization counts down to the 20th anniversary of opening its doors in March 2004. For nearly 20 years, Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) has offered access to medical care for local Central Oregonians who have fallen through the health insurance coverage cracks.

Since opening its doors, VIM has closed the gap on $150 million in free medical care and benefits while providing healthcare to 15,700 low-income, uninsured members of our local community. VIM patients are low-income community members from working family households. Some are working more than one job, and even have more than one employed household member, but still fall through the health insurance coverage cracks.

The number of low-income households with working family members in our region is increasing. Central Oregonians who don’t have health insurance are often forced to visit the ER as their only means of accessing healthcare services. This is because the ER is required by law to treat everyone, regardless of insurance. The cost of expensive ER visits by uninsured patients strains the healthcare system and results in reactive and inconsistent care for our uninsured community members.

VIM interrupts this cycle. Not only is VIM providing access to equitable healthcare for those who would not otherwise have it, VIM keeps patients out of the ER, saving our medical community dramatically.

VIM’s unique model relies on doctors, nurses, and a pro-bono network of health care professionals who volunteer their time to serve under-resourced community members for free. Since opening in 2004, more than 1,700 volunteers have donated more than 113,000 hours of volunteer care to VIM.

Funded entirely by donations and grants, VIM relies on donors and partners to support the mission. On this 20th anniversary year, VIM has set a goal of recruiting 200 new donors and working to increase community giving by 20 percent. The organization invites community members to become part of this positive local solution to our healthcare system challenge.

Visit vim-cascades.org to learn more, volunteer or make a gift today.