V.I.M. Marks Fifth Year Helping with Health Care

COURT HOUSE — The former Masonic Lodge just north of Atlantic Medical Imaging on Route 9 is a modest building with a big mission.
For the last five years it has served as home to Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), a free primary health care facility for those who live or work in the county and cannot afford private health coverage, nor qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, but qualify under charity care guide-lines outlined by the state.
VIM asks patients to show proof of income; either an income tax return or pay stub.
According to a recent study by the state Department of Health and Senior Services, there are an estimated 18-22,000 uninsured children and adults in Cape May County.
The estimated population is 99,000, down from over 100,000 in the last few years, and while the population is falling the number of uninsured continues to rise.
VIM is open five days a week, three of which are designated clinical days during which qualifying patients may obtain prescriptions by a physician. Patients stop in to pick-up prescriptions or visit with a volunteer nurse, who also serves as advocates on two non-clinical days, assisting patients in receiving proper medical care and coverage for themselves and their families.
It is recommended patients call for an appointment, but the clinic does receive walk-ins.
“We care for the working poor,” said Marilyn Golden, director of Clinical Operations for VIM.
“Fisherman, service industry workers, seasonal employees, those who work in construction; the uninsured and the underinsured,” she added.
Over 80 volunteer registered nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants staff the VIM facility. Three are considered part-time employees, receiving a small stipend.
“We’re part-time workers, full-time at heart,” said Dr. Marna Cutler, medical director for VIM.
Originally from Queens, N.Y., Cutler moved to South Jersey two years ago and practices with Dr. Tara Vodges of Harbor Medical Associates in Stone Harbor, who serves on the VIM Board of Trustees.
Golden, a registered nurse, retired here in 2001 after 30 years at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in West Chester County, N.Y. After the move she sought volunteer work at Cape Regional Medical Center, but the hospital volunteer director suggested VIM, at the time still in the planning stages.
Today, Golden is one of many dedicated medical retirees who logs time at the clinic, one of 60 individually run, financially independent, private, non-profit VIM sites across the country. VIM runs on the support of local government, churches, charitable organizations and private donations, without any state or federal funding.
Each of the 16 municipalities in the county supports VIM as a line item in their annual budgets.
In addition to adult primary care services, VIM provides pediatric and eye care.
Dr. Thomas Dierkes of Rainbow Pediatrics in Court House donates children vaccines and immunizations. Dr. Brian Altman of Children’s Eyecare in Court House donated equipment for an on-site eye clinic and the Stone Harbor Lions Club donated a designated room. Alt-man, along with optometrist Dr. Brian Kerper, volunteers time twice a month to care for patients. The Stone Harbor Lions Club provides funding for eye-care specialist consultations, such as if a patient needs to see a retinal specialist and glasses are paid for by the Stone Harbor and Wildwood Lions Club charities.
“It has been a wonderful match between the Lions and VIM for eye-health. We see a lot of diabetic patients, who have issues with eyes because of it,” Peggy Quinn, developmental director for VIM told the Herald.
Other specialists donating time and services include Dr. William Marrow, ear, nose and throat, and podiatrist Dr. Martin Kerry. As of January 2007, a psychiatrist also visits VIM once a week, providing mental health services from Cape Counseling.
Though these services are available and highly-utilized according to Golden and Cutler, focus has been on creating treatment plans for patients who have been living with untreated chronic medical conditions for decades and now have a place to go.
“When we opened our doors (in 2002), we said we would see ear-aches and sore throats two days a week from 4-7 p.m., but what we found was patients were coming in with diabetes, hypertension, cancers, Hepatitis C, and cardio-pulmonary situations,” Golden told the Herald.
“We spend a lot of time getting everyone accommodated, finding available specialist,” Cutler added.
Since 2002, VIM has had approximately 8,000 visits; 2,500 returning patients.
“100-150 patients a week between visits, phone calls, and medications,” Golden said.
Today, VIM is most in need of continued funding and volunteers.
Cutler said the most difficult part of her job is, “making our dollar stretch,” as no cash is ever changed between a patient and VIM.
“We work for a thank you,” she said.
“We ask that our patients only share what they receive in return; if they see someone broken down along the side of the road, stop and help,” Golden said.
The women said the limited staff restricts the number who receive care.
“Volunteers are precious; physicians, nurses; even if it’s two to three hours a month,” Cutler said, “people don’t realize how such little time can make an impact.”
Donations are also crucial for medication costs. VIM offers a Prescription Assistance Pro-gram in which qualifying patients prescribed medication by a VIM physician can obtain free medication. Doctors and drug companies often donate prescription drugs, but much of the funding continues to go toward the estimated $7,000-9,000 monthly bill for prescriptions.
“That is the biggest chunk of our money,” Cutler said.
Founding supporter Richard Shea told the Herald VIM has brought $2.5 million worth of free medicine to the county.
“We are unique in that we are not a corporate county,” Quinn said.
“There are so many uninsured and underinsured. We tend to those people who have fallen through the cracks. We stop the spread of disease, and in turn help insure the wellness of the county.”
VIM is located at 423 Route 9 North in Court House. For more information call (609) 463-2846.