LAKELAND VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE INC
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Mission Statement
LVIM empowers the medically underserved of Polk County to live healthier lives by providing access to to free, high-quality, comprehensive healthcare through a community of caring volunteers.
About This Cause
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM) empowers the medically underserved in Polk County by providing free, high-quality, comprehensive healthcare to the working uninsured. To qualify for care at LVIM, patients must reside in Polk County, earn no more than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (or be a full-time, eligible student), and not have any form of health insurance. According to the 2021 United Way of Florida ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report, nearly 50% of households in Polk County struggle to afford the basic cost of living. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health found that 28.5% of Polk County residents under 65 lack health insurance. These individuals often face barriers to primary care and essential medications, placing them at risk for declining health. The Impact of LVIM LVIM provides a medical home where patients have access to: ✔ Primary care doctor visits ✔ Dental and vision care ✔ Health screenings ✔ Lab tests, X-rays, and ultrasounds ✔ Advanced diagnostics (CT scans, MRIs, colonoscopies, and cancer treatment) ✔ A full-service pharmacy LVIM patients receive annual screenings as recommended by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, including screenings for hepatitis C, lung and colon cancer, and mammograms. For those with chronic conditions, LVIM provides ongoing, outcomes-based care to help them manage their health and improve their quality of life. A 2024 survey of LVIM patients revealed: ✅ 95% reported improved health since coming to LVIM ✅ 80% avoided unnecessary ER visits ✅ 95% felt respected as a patient, reinforcing LVIM’s commitment to a "Culture of Caring" Delivering More for Less LVIM operates through a volunteer-driven model, utilizing doctors, dentists, nurses, technicians, and administrative volunteers to deliver care at no cost to patients. Each week, approximately 180 volunteers keep the clinic running. In 2024, this unique structure allowed LVIM to provide over $10.5 million in healthcare services, leveraging $5 in care for every $1 spent. Additionally, students from local colleges and technical schools gain invaluable hands-on experience through externships at LVIM, further enhancing the impact of our volunteer-based model. Expanding Access to Care Recognizing that 80% of health outcomes are determined by factors beyond clinical care, LVIM has implemented programs like, Steps to Good Health, a program funded by GiveWell Community Foundation. This initiative provides patients and their families with access to: YMCA wellness centers Health and wellness coaching Group fitness classes LVIM also collaborates with community partners to offer: ✔ Financial literacy courses ✔ Smoking cessation programs (including free nicotine patches) ✔ Connections to BayCare Health resources In February 2023, LVIM expanded its reach by opening a satellite clinic in Bartow, FL—a centrally located city in Polk County. This initiative has made healthcare more accessible to patients in outlying areas. As of December 2024, over 175 patients are actively receiving care at our Bartow location, and that number continues to grow. Pharmacy & Specialty Care LVIM’s full-service pharmacy, funded by United Way of Central Florida, filled 17,144 prescriptions last year. Additionally, the Prescription Assistance Program secured over $2.3 million in brand-name medications for our patients through 509 submitted applications. LVIM’s Connection to Care program ensures that patients receive the specialty care, diagnostic testing, and life-saving treatments they need—services that LVIM cannot provide in-house. Through this program, patients gain access to medical and dental specialists, cancer treatment, and essential surgeries at no cost. A Nationally Recognized Model of Care LVIM is one of the most successful and impactful of the 90+ Volunteers in Medicine clinics nationwide. Over the years, we have transformed from offering sporadic healthcare services to becoming a true medical home where patients build healthier lives. LVIM follows the Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) Model, which fosters a “Culture of Caring”—emphasizing compassion, dignity, and respect for patients. Volunteers in Medicine clinics do not bill third-party payers and provide all services free of charge. May we have eyes to see those rendered invisible and excluded, Open arms and hearts to reach out and include them, Healing hands to touch their lives with love, And in the process, heal ourselves. At LVIM, our vision is healthcare for the community, by the community. Together, we are making a difference—one patient, one family, and one life at a time.