Latest News from Volunteers in Medicine

May 2008:

VIM Clinic in Bend, Oregon Celebrates 5 Years of Accomplishments

BEND, OR- Since Volunteers in Medicine of the Cascades opened in 2004, the clinic has provided health care to over 6,000 people in Deschutes County. When it initially opened, the clinic focused on primary care needs. However, with the growing need for specialty care services over the last five years the clinic has developed an outside referral network to include 185 specialists from all over Deschutes County.

The clinic has also developed partnerships with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Medicine, Oregon State University-Cascades Masters in Counseling program and Central Oregon Community College’s Dental Assisting program where students complete their practicum hours at the clinic under the mentoring guidance of clinic volunteer providers and Medical Directors.

Because VIM relies on doctors, nurses, and other professionals who volunteer their time, the clinic is able to provide primary care and coordinate specialty care at an average cost of about $350 per patient annually. To put this cost into context, the average annual premium for individual healthcare coverage was $4,704 in 2008.

5 year Milestones:

31,000 Patient Visits
109,000 Volunteer Hours
185 Community Healthcare Partners
1,000 Patient Care Clinics

2004 Primary Care / Specialty Care Coordination
2005 Dental Clinic
2006 Mental Health Collaboration with OHSU
2007 Community Chronic Care Program
2008 Ophthalmology Clinic