This effort was incorporated on July 25, 2006 as “Central Arkansas Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Inc. (CAVIMC),” and has obtained its § 501(c)(3) non-profit organization status. We hope to commence operations as soon as we locate a sufficient facility. It was formed by a group of concerned citizens who began meeting in August 2005 to serve the under-insured and under-served population who live in Central Arkansas but do not have sufficient access to healthcare.
This group then formally affiliated with the Volunteers In Medicine Institute based in the State of Vermont (www.volunteersinmedicine.org) to obtain their assistance in helping to start a VIM-modeled clinic in the Central Arkansas area. In March of 2006, funds generously provided by the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church were utilized to cover the travel-related expenses of hosting a VIM representative for a series of public forums wherein ideas were explored as to how to start a free clinic. The assistance of the Arkansas Association of Charitable Clinics (www.aacclinics.org) and help from various other free clinics and interested individuals and entities were also crucial to the success of the early efforts.
The Volunteers in Medicine Institute (“VIMI”) itself originated in Hilton Head, South Carolina . In 1992, one out of three people who lived on Hilton Head Island had no access to health care. At the same time, a number of retired medical personnel (physicians, nurses, dentists) began expressing an interest in finding a way to continue practicing their profession on a voluntary, part-time basis to help those without access to care. So in 1993, a group led by Dr. Jack McConnell brought these two groups together and created the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, a 501(c)(3) free health clinic utilizing retired health care professionals (www.vimclinic.org). The response from the medical community was extraordinary: 55 physicians, 64 nurses, and 15 dentists were recruited, all of whom were retired. They were able to do what they always wanted to do: to be able to practice their professions in a "hassle-free" environment.
Specifically, like the original VIMI clinic and other VIMI clinics, the "Culture of Caring" will be the heart and soul of Harmony Health Clinic. It is rooted in an ethical standard in medicine that was once practiced and should be again: how people are treated during a visit to the Clinic is as important as the medical care they receive. Those who will come to our Clinic will be good people in need of help. Surviving on limited resources, they often exhibit great courage simply trying to get through each day. Our “Culture of Caring” will recognize the strengths of those in need and respect their dignity. We will seek to heal not only physical illnesses, but also the injury caused by bias, prejudice and indifference. Policies and procedures for implementing and maintaining the "Culture of Caring" will be established as a required component of our Clinic.
The “Culture of Caring” concept is summarized by the following vision statement which guided the original VIM Clinic and has guided many others since: “May we have eyes to see those that are rendered invisible and excluded, open arms to reach and include them, healing hands to touch their lives with love, and in the process, heal ourselves.”
CAVIMC will conduct operations under the name “Harmony Health Clinic.” The name symbolizes not only the inner-connectedness between a healthy mind, body, and spirit, but also reflects the unique diversity of both the individuals who have collaborated to found this Clinic but also the diversity of those who will benefit from its services.
