History of Volunteers in Medicine:

Over twelve years ago, Dr. Jack McConnell offered a ride to a man walking on a dirt road in Hilton Head Island. Dr. McConnell who is credited with the discovery of Tylenol, created the first commercially successful MRI scanner and was one of the co-principal investigators for the Human Genome Project, found out his passenger was desperately seeking healthcare for his family who had no health insurance. Out of that car ride came the first Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, which arranges high-quality medical care from retired physicians who volunteer their extraordinary talents for local citizens without medical insurance.

VIM has become a national organization whose primary purpose is to establish neighborhood medical clinics to serve the uninsured working families of the U.S. within a culture of caring. The "Culture of Caring" is the heart and soul of each clinic. How people are treated during a visit to the clinic is as important as the medical care they receive. Those who come to our clinics are good people in need of help. Surviving on limited resources, they often exhibit great courage simply trying to get through each day. Our "Culture of Caring" recognizes the strengths of those in need and respects their dignity. We seek to heal not only physical illnesses, but also the injury caused by bias, prejudice and indifference. A majority are employed and functioning as successful families. They are involved in their communities and their children's activities. They commonly work for small firms who cannot afford to insure their employees, own a small business or work at temporary jobs in construction, etc. Their earnings are just sufficient for their day-to-day needs and too much to qualify for medical assistance programs. It is impossible for them to self-pay medical insurance premiums of $800 - $1000 monthly. A visit to a hospital E. R. can cost $1000 - $3000 or more; a financial disaster for the family. Failure to pay may result in garnishment of their earnings. Therefore, they are hesitant to seek both immediate and preventative medical care with the resultant long-term effects of chronic illnesses and disabilities and the eventual medical costs to the community. Their lack of health care is not just a problem for them, but for all of us.

Currently here are more than 55 operating clinics in the east and one each in Oregon and Washington. VIM-SD is the first in California. They are staffed by retired physicians, dentists and medical professionals who serve without compensation. Each clinic is responsible for its own funding and development.

Volunteers in Medicine - San Diego

VIM-San Diego is a 501 C (3) non-profit corporation established in San Diego County to construct, maintain, staff and operate up to 10 VIM clinics county-wide to provide medical care to eligible uninsured working families. Although we have welcomed the cooperation of local church groups, VIM is non-sectarian. In 2002 members of the Pt. Loma Community Presbyterian Church began plans to establish a clinic in the peninsula area of San Diego. Although their efforts were generally well received, they were unable to locate an affordable and properly zoned site. In 2004 the Chapel of the Valley United Methodist Church in El Cajon, Calif. generously offered to lease a vacant portion of its campus for a building site at one dollar per year. The architect has completed the plans and a building permit has been issued. The structure will be 8,300-sq. ft. It will be "green", water conserving and energy efficient with landscaping compatible with the residential environment of the neighborhood. The estimated time to raise the balance of the 2 million-dollar cost and complete the construction is 15 to 18 months.

Until VIM’s permanent building is completed, medical services are being provided at a well-equipped temporary facility adjacent to the building site. This temporary building includes two modern examining rooms, reception desk, a small lab, and limited pharmaceutical supplies.

The medically uninsured population:

The latest estimate of the number of uninsured in the U. S. is 45,000,000 to 48,000,000. In San Diego County it is 420,000 including 75,000 children. (Source: S. D. County Medical Society Publication, San Diego County Physician, July 2004, p. 8.)

Demographic studies of El Cajon show that 18,000 to 20,000 potentially eligible patients live within a five-mile radius of the clinic location on E. Madison Ave. Although no one with acute medical needs will be turned away, all applicants will be carefully screened by a professionally trained medical social worker. Those who do not meet the criteria of working uninsured or who are eligible for other types of assistance will be referred to the appropriate agencies. There is never a charge for services or for the medications we are able to provide.