OAHHS Fall/Winter 2018

28 » A magazine for and about Oregon Community Hospitals. St. Charles Health System is partnering with Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades (VIM) to match up to $480,000 in funds the clinic raises over the next two years, nearly doubling the health system’s overall community benefit investment. Leaders say the money will help more underserved patients receive high quality, coordinated care. VIM, which started in 1999 as a one-room clinic housed at Deschutes County Health Services, moved into its current location on the St. Charles Bend campus in 2004. The clinic leases its property from the health system for $1 a year. VIM leverages the skills and energy of hundreds of in-clinic volunteers and local health care partners to provide uninsured adults with necessary medical care. All patients are over 19 years of age, from low-income working families who are not eligible for Medicaid. The majority have more than one chronic condition. Through VIM, patients receive primary and specialty medical care, prescription medications, and targeted patient education, all at no cost. “Thousands of people remain uninsured in Central Oregon and struggle to find access to affordable health care,” said Kat Mastrangelo, VIM’s executive director. “Volunteers in Medicine is a local solution to a local health care problem. Through our network of providers, we are able to leverage every $1 raised into $6.73 in medical services and community benefits for the uninsured.” Over the past four years, VIM has experienced an increase in requests for medical services and medications, but its funding has not kept pace with demand, Mastrangelo said. “To stabilize our funding base so that we can meet our patient’s needs, we are seeking support from Central Oregon’s health care community to match St. Charles’ generous investment,” she said. “Any donation from a licensed health care individual, provider or group practice, medical foundation, or organization will help us meet our goal.” St. Charles has committed to matching VIM funds dollar for dollar up to $240,000 a year for two years. Leaders say the money provides care that is better for patients and the hospital’s bottom line. “What makes VIM special is its value proposition,” said Dr. Jeff Absalon, St. Charles’ chief physician executive. “It convenes a pro bono network of specialists to coordinate case management, which helps ensure patients receive the right care at the right time. If VIM were to go away, the result would be more costly and fragmented care.” Starting the VIM clinic was one of Sister Catherine Hellman’s final projects after serving as St. Charles’ chief executive officer for 20 years and president emeritus for 10 additional years. The health system’s support of the clinic honors Sister Hellman’s contributions and a century of St. Charles providing care to the community. “This year we’re celebrating our 100- year anniversary and our legacy of ‘Care for all,’” said Jennifer Welander, St. Charles’ chief financial officer. “St. Charles is proud to invest its community benefit dollars in an organization that provides health care to underserved members of our community, which philosophically aligns with our mission as an organization.”  H St. Charles Health System  ST. CHARLES TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING TO LOCAL CLINIC HOSPITAL SPOTLIGHTS, CONT.