News and Events

Summer 2007 Message from the President

CVIM Kicks Off Tenth Anniversary Year, "Celebrating A Decade Of Hope"

Dear Friends,

With this summer 2007 issue, we officially kick off our tenth anniversary year and through this next year we look forward to “Celebrating a Decade of Hope”.  Our small staff, numerous volunteers, and our most generous and committed donors have made this incredible journey possible.  Providing healthcare, hope and healing is the right thing to do for the more than 46,000 people in Chester County that are uninsured working poor.   While the debate goes on, the uninsured in our nation number more than 85.2 million people according to Families USA. 

Much has been said about the Prescription for Pennsylvania.  We know that citizens in our state use the emergency rooms 11 % more than any other state in the nation.  This is probably due to the fact that PA is the most rurally populated state.  With the current average age of physicians in PA at 50, we know that in five to ten years these physicians will be retiring.  Our pipeline is lean simply because our medical schools educate physicians that leave our state.  The volunteer clinic such as CVIM may become more important than ever in keeping up with demand.  A low cost insurance plan such as Medical Assistance or others to be developed is only as good as the providers that will accept this insurance.  Unfortunately far too often the poor cannot find access to providers that accept their insurance plan in their respective community.

CVIM has modeled a very cost effective, high quality delivery system that utilizes a collaborative practice model and intensive education.  We have been able to demonstrate excellent outcomes by utilizing minimal resources.  Investing time in people yields huge dividends.  As we celebrate this tenth anniversary year, we express our deepest gratitude to all who have made this incredible work possible.  Remember the words so often spoken by our patients.  “CVIM is an answer to our prayer.”  Thank you for keeping “HOPE” alive!

Gratefully,

Helen F. Heidelbaugh, President and CEO

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