Lee County Volunteers in Medicine, Inc

1. Lee County Volunteers in Medicine, Inc The Lee County Volunteers in Medicine, Inc will be providing no-cost medical services and prescription medication to the uninsured, the under-insured, and the working poor of Lee County.

2. LCVIM MISSION STATEMENT: To provide healthcare for the sick and unhealthy for those that cannot afford it and have no access to it. To educate on preventative health and to refer to other organizations, as necessary, for additional life sustaining and/or life-changing necessities. To improve the health of our community by investing in the human capital in our community. To elevate and raise the awareness of our responsibility of caring which in turn raises our sense of community. To actively promote and participate in building a strong, healthy, sustainable, and enriched community.

3. LCVIM PURPOSE: To provide medical care for citizens and residents in Lee County who are uninsured, under-insured and to the impoverished. The medical care will be provided completely free of charge by physicians and mid-level practitioners and will include free diagnostic testing, medications and both non-surgical and surgical treatment. Care will not be provided to those with adequate health insurance or to those who have the ability to pay. Lee County Volunteers in Medicine (LCVIM) recognizes and accepts its role and responsibilities in the effort to foster prevention, amelioration and cure of illness, disease and injury, and to provide or assist in providing medical education to our patients. LCVIM will work closely with local. state, federal, charitable, private and public organizations providing other vital services including, but not limited to: shelter, food, clothing, transportation and spiritual needs to the less fortunate. Care will be provided regardless of race, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, color, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical disability or marital status.

4. About Lee County Volunteers in Medicine On December 9, 2009 a group practicing physicians, medical center and hospital professionals, and concerned citizens, gathered at the home of a prominent Lee County orthopedic surgeon. They listened intently to a presentation from the founding doctor of a VIM clinic in Port Charlotte FL.  It didn't take long for the gathering to become committed to the idea of starting a clinic in Lee County.  Subsequent meetings have resulted in the forming of the initial Board of Directors, the filing of a not-for-profit Florida Corporation, and the submission to the Federal government for a 501 (c) 3 Federal tax exempt status.  The planning has more than just started, as a search for an executive director has begun, financial funding and underwriting of operations are beginning to take shape and clinic locations are being reviewed. Under the capable tutelage of the Port Charlotte VIM Clinic, Lee County VIM Clinic is in good hands.  They're sharing their success with us, to ensure we are not only pointed in the right direction, but they are offering "hands on" assistance with selecting of our Executive Director, setting up our organization operational manuals, and attending to every detail it takes to lead to success. The Board has expanded by adding a number of resource individuals offering a plethora of skills and expertise to the organization.  Meeting monthly, the Board continues to move toward the final goal of the opening day at the new Lee County VIM Clinic. History has been written.

5. Who do we Serve? Over 89 million Americans were without health insurance for all or part of 2006 and 2007. Among the total uninsured, 64.2 million are adults (18 to 64 years of age) and the vast majority (79.3%) were from working families. The medically under-served are scattered around the United States in every city, town and village. If you look around, it is not difficult to find them. They are our neighbors. Their lack of health care is not just a problem for them, but for all of us. No community can be truly healthy if a significant portion of the population is excluded from basic health care services. In the absence of a national health policy that includes health care for everyone, concerned citizens need to find other ways to provide the medically under-served with the health care services they need. Sick people can't wait! The most recent statistics show that there are currently 120,000 - 150,000 uninsured residents in Lee County of the estimated 615,741 residents that reside here, and 10.6% of it's residents are living in poverty. Compared to other counties in Florida, Lee County ranks 16th (of the 67 counties)* in the proportion of individuals without health care.  According to state labor figures, Lee County jumped to near highest unemployment in the state, with over 14% of its work force out of work.  The median income in Lee County is $50,667.00, with 63% of the population earning less than $50,000.00.* Lee County VIM Clinic is alleviating the pressure of the congested hospital emergency rooms in the region which are required by law to treat anyone with an injury or illness. Emergency Room care costs an estimated six times more than treatment in a physician's office.  For many of the poor and uninsured, the emergency room is their only current option for health care.  When an uninsured person is in crisis and cannot pay, that burden falls upon the insured population, the hospitals, the doctors, and the government.  The impacts of going uninsured are clear and severe.  In the event of patients not affording basic healthcare, their neglect of initial symptoms can lead to more serious and inevitably more costly conditions.

6. Lee County Volunteers in Medicine, Inc Clinic to open spring of 2011

7. Contact Us • Lee County Volunteers in Medicine, Inc • Corporate Offices 5781 Lee Blvd # 208-207 • Lehigh Acres, Florida 33971 • Phone 239-674-7056 • General Email Headquarters@leecountyvim.com • Executive Director Executive.Director@leecountyvim.com • To Volunteer Email Volunteers@leecountyvim.com • To Donate Email Donate@leecountyvim.com

8. Lee County Volunteers in Medicine, Inc We need your help please contact us at www.leecountyvim.com