VIM 2008 Gala

------

Bon Voyage

HISTORY

    The VIM Clinic began on October 2, 1995 as a collaborative project of the Martin County Medical Society, Martin Memorial Health Systems, and the Martin County Public Health Unit.  Its founder, Fred Carter, MD, had been a private practice physician in Martin County for several decades.  Fortunately, for the community, his retirement was short lived.  Dr. Carter saw a need for health care for those who work for a living but have neither insurance nor the financial resources to access primary care.  Through his efforts at the legislative level, the State of Florida streamlined its procedures for licensing volunteer physicians and granting sovereign immunity to physicians, allied health professionals and nurses who serve with no remuneration.  This legislation enabled the Clinic to operate on the model of free care provided by volunteer health care professionals within a clinic setting. 

     Martin Memorial Health Systems provided a facility for the VIM Clinic and a small paid staff who assisted Dr. Carter in recruiting volunteer physicians, nurses and health care professionals to run the Clinic.  The Martin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary donated $310,000 to remodel and relocate the Clinic to its current location at 417 Balboa Avenue, Stuart, FL  34994, and Martin Memorial Health Systems additionally provided operating costs and needed administrative assistance. 

     By 1998 the Clinic had outgrown its original space and moved to a larger facility provided by Martin Memorial.  The current site is comprised of seven exam rooms, a laboratory, pharmacy, ophthalmology room and offers the following clinics:  family practice, gastroenterology, gynecology, internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, minor surgical procedures, neurology, physical medicine, podiatry, and urology.  Our affiliation with Martin Memorial Health Systems enables us to provide our patients access to laboratory, diagnostic studies and ancillary programs such as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, physical, occupational and speech therapy, dietary counseling, and monitored exercise programs at the Martin Memorial Wellness Centers. 

     The VIM Clinic functions as an all encompassing health care center by providing the following services at the time of each patient’s visit:

1. Patients receive all or most of their prescribed medications at the Clinic.  If we cannot provide the medication, the patient is given a substitute for a prescription that is both comparable and affordable.  Many pharmaceutical companies offer indigent patient drug programs that provide a three-month supply of medications, either without charge or for a nominal fee.  Several volunteers assist the patients with the often tedious paperwork involved in applying for many of these programs.

2. Laboratory tests and EKGs ordered by our health care providers are performed at the Clinic.

3. Diagnostic studies prescribed by our health care providers are scheduled by our staff

One of the greatest advantages of providing health care at no cost is the ability to schedule patients for necessary follow-up visits.  This enables us to monitor our patients’ health problems closely and provide ongoing patient education to reinforce the principles of healthy living.  Preventative medicine is our primary health care goal.

member of         

Volunteers in Medicine Clinic
 417 SE Balboa Avenue, Stuart, FL 34994
Tel: (772) 463-4128 | Fax: (772) 463-4129