Delivering Healthcare for Those Without Insurance
Rosa, a mother of four, entered West Chester’s Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) for a routine checkup, not expecting any surprises. Instead, she was diagnosed with diabetes, a potentially serious — and often silent — condition. Until that moment, Rosa had no idea she faced an enormous health risk.
“CVIM takes care of me and helps me to solve my health problems,” said Rosa. “Without CVIM, only God knows what would have happened to me because I wouldn’t have had access to healthcare.” Through meetings with CVIM doctors and a diabetes coordinator, Rosa learned how to manage her condition.
The community-wide program originated 26 years ago when six Paoli Hospital physicians and board members sought a way to provide ongoing healthcare to individuals with low incomes who lacked health insurance. First located in Paoli, CVIM moved to West Chester in 2001 to be closer to the population of families that needed them most.
A primary goal was, and remains, to increase access to high-quality healthcare and reduce costly emergency room visits and hospital admissions. In 2023, CVIM and its 331 volunteers treated more than 4,300 patients, covering over 40,000 visits. Patients tend to be blue-collar — restaurant staff, bus drivers, agricultural and landscape workers — and those working at small businesses that don’t provide health insurance.
Program services include medical and dental care, medications, patient-friendly treatments and preventative educational services. CVIM serves as a healthcare safety net for qualified low-income workers and their families (those earning below 300% of the federal poverty level). At CVIM, patients from diverse cultures can access free care in a compassionate and culturally sensitive environment.
When a patient’s condition or diagnosis reaches beyond CVIM’s in-house services, the program partners with local hospital systems, including Paoli Hospital, and its Charity Care Programs for services such as laboratory tests, X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, cancer treatment and surgery.
CVIM’s comprehensive care model means all services are offered in an integrated way at the same healthcare center.
CVIM offers bilingual counseling services and has a team of volunteer psychiatrists and counselors available to care for patients with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
Paoli Hospital supports CVIM through agreements with physicians, mainly specialists, said Maureen A. Hennessey, Manager of Community Health and Outreach at the hospital. In addition, Paoli provides the flu vaccine to CVIM each fall. Paoli Hospital also supports lower-income members of the community through financial counseling related to healthcare expenses and connecting patients to medical assistance as appropriate.
“It’s all about helping people get healthy, stay healthy and get the care that they need,” Maureen said.