Centre Volunteers in Medicine is part of a safety net of community services in Centre County. The organization, located at 2520 Green Tech Drive, Suite D, in State College, provides free medical and dental care, case management and medication assistance to those in need.
Volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, social workers and other licensed clinicians, in partnership with a small paid staff, provide quality care at no cost to qualified uninsured individuals living or working in Centre County.
To qualify, those applying must be residents of Centre County, or live in a surrounding county and work in Centre County, with no other access health care. They must have a household income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
The clinic offers lab visits, medication checkups, patient education in medical and dental clinics, referrals for specialty care and well-women’s health screenings.
“CVIM can handle more patients, and we’re looking for them,” said Sue Forster, CVIM’s development coordinator. “Twelve percent of the residents of Centre County don’t have any type of health insurance. Many people have trouble believing that care can actually be free.”
Forster said individuals, company donations, event sponsorships and grants fund the clinic, which receives no federal funding.
“We want to help people stay out of the emergency rooms,” said Kristi Mattzela, clinical services director. “People can establish our clinic as their primary care provider. We offer preventative care and, by treating problems in their earlier stages, save people from costly hospitalizations.”
Case management is perhaps one of the least understood benefits of making CVIM a person’s primary care provider. Case managers are certified application counselors. They understand the Affordable Care Act and can help qualified clients apply for Medicare or Medicaid, if indicated.
CVIM offers a wide spectrum of care, including helping those who wish to quit smoking, aiding those have diabetes or are at risk of developing it, assisting with a tooth that is causing severe pain or swelling or obtaining glasses for those who can’t afford them.
For qualifying individuals, CVIM can become a home base for primary care for chronic disease management, physical exams, behavioral health, physical therapy and acute illnesses such as the flu. It also offers free flu shots each year.
For more information, call (814) 231-4043 or visit www.cvim.net.
