VIM’s Wish for Christmas: Nurses To Assist Patients at Busy Clinic

COURT HOUSE — All Volunteers in Medicine wants for Christmas are volunteer nurses.
Volunteers in Medicine, commonly referred to as VIM, opened its doors in March 2002 to patients who have no health insurance and are income qualified. Since opening, the organization has had over 10,000 patient visits and is completely supported by donated services and donations.
“We couldn’t do it without volunteers,” said Marilyn Golden, director of clinical operations.
“From the Board of Trustees, to the doctors and nurses, to the administrative staff, it just wouldn’t be possible,” added Marie Macatee, director of pharmaceutical services.
Golden and Macatee, both retirees who relocated to this county with plans of spending time on the beach and golf courses, recognized the need for medical care for the uninsured and started volunteering at VIM “from the beginning.”
Macatee’s primary job is to get patients the medication they need through prescription assistance programs and sample drugs donated by physicians. Macatee keeps a watchful eye on drug supplies, the bulletin board of prescription providers and carefully reviews countless grant forms and requests to pharmaceutical companies.
Without Macatee, the clinic would have to pay out of pocket for prescription drugs and diabetic supplies.
“Something as simple as the wrong date could prevent a patient from getting their medication for another two to three weeks,” she said.
Golden is the friendly face that patients would see before they see a doctor. She oversees the teams of nurses who keep the flow of patients moving at the clinic.
“It gets backed up here without volunteer nurses. People will overflow the waiting room and be sitting in chairs down the hallway,” Golden said.
As the need for free healthcare services for the uninsured grew, Golden and Macatee’s two and three-day commitments turned into full-time jobs.
Peggy Quinn, director of development, explained that the clinic is operating five days a week with patients being seen four days and one day for patients to get their medication at the pharmacy.
That means Golden and Macatee “have no comfort zone” when it comes to a support staff of nurses, Quinn said.
“We’re the comfort zone,” responded Golden. “We’re it.”
The best present Macatee and Golden could receive this Christmas is four volunteer nurses to lend a hand in the pharmacy and three nurses to help with the clinical side.
“It would mean the world to have that extra help,” Golden said.
Those interested in volunteering should be active New Jersey licensed registered nurses. After an orientation, volunteers would start working at the clinic within a schedule that could fit within the busiest lifestyle.
“When it comes to volunteering the most common thing we hear is that people don’t have the time. And that is part of the misconception with the volunteering program is that you have to commit to a strict schedule,” Macatee said. “But that isn’t the case. We are flexible.”
Golden said that while the job is perfect for retirees, about a half-dozen volunteers still work full and part time in the medical fields. Many have young families, she said, and they still find the time to commit to hours at the clinic.
Since 2002, the volunteers at VIM have given over 72,000 hours an equivalent of 9,000 days of service. Quinn estimated that at least 50 percent of volunteers who started at the clinic are still giving their time at VIM.
“It is a loving job,” said Macatee.
“You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t care about the medical field and people,” said Golden. “It takes a giving spirit.”
For more information on volunteering at VIM contact Golden at 609-463-2846 X116