Community Volunteers in Medicine

CVIM provides free, high-quality healthcare to uninsured working people with low incomes to help them live healthy, productive lives and to assure health equity in the Chester County region.

Founded in 1998 to address inequities in our local healthcare infrastructure CVIM delivers free, comprehensive, high-quality medical services, dental care, behavioral healthcare, and prescription medications to more than 4,000 low-income, uninsured individuals annually. The core staff of 48 FTEs collaborate with 325 ongoing volunteers who donate their time and professional services. Our $6M annual operating budget is supplemented by donated services worth more than $3M and donated materials valued at more than $4M. Our main facility is an 18,000 sq. ft. healthcare center in West Chester, with ten exam rooms and seven dental operatories. We operate four small satellite locations near where many of our patients live and work and will soon open one more.

The Chester County, PA region has long benefited from an abundance of superior healthcare providers whose services are out-of-reach for approximately 35,000 community members who lack healthcare insurance. CVIM serves the low-income segment of this uninsured population -- those who have nowhere else to turn for care. They are a diverse group of multicultural communities from every zip code in our county and bordering neighborhoods. They struggle with barriers to healthcare access—lack of insurance and low incomes, plus language, literacy, and transportation challenges. CVIM serves uninsured workers who cannot afford to purchase health insurance because their salaries do not provide sufficient resources to meet their families’ basic needs relative to the local cost of living. 

CVIM volunteers included licensed clinicians, many of whom are affiliated with leading local healthcare institutions.   Their dedication combined with multiple community partnerships, allow us to offer high-quality care, hope, and a plan for healing to all of our patients.  Free services for patients who qualify include:  

• Primary Medical Care – grounded in disease prevention, with acute care as needed

• Specialty Medical Care – more than 20 specialties from cardiology to rheumatology

• Chronic Disease Management – diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and more

• Women’s Health Program – gynecology and comprehensive wellness services

• Health, Nutrition, and Wellness Education – outreach campaigns, education and counseling
• Immunization Program – vaccines include COVID, flu, shingles, pneumonia, HPV, and tetanus
• Comprehensive Dental Services – preventative, restorative and emergency services
• Dental Outreach Programs – for low-income seniors, children and the local Hispanic community

• Integrated Behavioral Health Services – psychiatry and counseling

• Medication Services - onsite dispensary with brand name and generic drugs

• Social Services – assistance with social determinants of health such as housing and food 

• Advanced Care – hospital and private practitioner partners provide laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, surgery, specialized procedures, cancer care, and more

CVIM is proud to perennially earn the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, and a Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. These distinctions indicate that we fulfill our mission while adhering to the highest standards of program effectiveness and financial stewardship.  Our most recent patient satisfaction survey, conducted in August 2023, indicated that 98% of our patients would recommend CVIM and 95% had a “good/great” experience with our free healthcare clinic.  Most importantly, 92% of respondents reported their health had improved since becoming a CVIM patient.

Patients have access to both primary and specialty medical and dental care, behavioral health services  and free prescription medications through CVIM's medical home model of care.  Compassionate, comprehensive, coordinated care is provided to each patient in our healthcare center. Lab work, radiology, cancer care, surgeries and other specialized care are coordinated in partnership with medical and dental partners in the community, including Main Line Health and Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital. 

CVIM's 435 volunteers provided care to nearly 4,000 patients in the Chester County region last fiscal year. Our patients are hard-working, low-income individuals who are often making too much to qualify for government medical assistance, but not earning enough to pay for private health insurance on the exchange while providing for themselves and their family.  Neighbors taking care of neighbors is part of CVIM's mission to provide healthcare, hope and healing to individuals, families and our community at large.  Together, we are saving lives!