Volunteers In Medicine Berkshires Inc

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE (VIM) BERKSHIRES IS REQUESTING $441,000 OF A TOTAL PROJECT COSTING $742,754 TO RENOVATE A CLINICAL SITE IN GREAT BARRINGTON, MA, AND TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT AT THIS SITE AND FOR A NEWLY OPENED CLINICAL SITE IN PITTSFIELD, MA. PRIVATE FUND RAISING WILL MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. VIM IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 2004 TO PROVIDE FREE HEALTHCARE TO A PREDOMINATELY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT POPULATION THAT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS, MAKES 300% OR LESS OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, AND LIVES IN THE BERKSHIRE COUNTY REGION OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. VIM BEGAN WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE, AND HAS STEADILY BUILT UP ITS SERVICES TO NOW INCLUDE PRIMARY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICAL CARE, WOMEN'S HEALTH, ORTHOPEDICS, GASTROENTEROLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, FULL RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, OPTOMETRY, DIABETIC AND NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING, AND NON-OPIOID PAIN MANAGEMENT USING ACUPUNCTURE, THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE, AND MINDFULNESS TRAINING AT ITS GREAT BARRINGTON SITE. VIM TREATS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH (SDOH) NEEDS AS A FULLY INTEGRATED COMPONENT OF EVERY PATIENT'S CARE. VIM'S SDOH PROGRAM PROVIDES PATIENTS WITH HUNDREDS OF DIRECT REFERRALS ANNUALLY TO OVER 30 AREA SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT CAN ASSIST WITH HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITY, JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES THAT IMPACT THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES. IN CY23, VIM PROVIDED MULTIDISCIPLINARY, CASE-MANAGED COORDINATED CARE TO 1,475 PATIENTS, A 17% INCREASE FROM CY22. THE CONTINUING GROWTH OF VIM’S CASE LOAD HAS RESULTED IN A CHRONIC SHORTAGE OF TREATMENT SPACE. TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE, VIM LEASED SPACE IN PITTSFIELD FOR A SECOND CARE FACILITY WHICH OPENED IN FEBRUARY 2024. WITH THIS SECOND SITE, VIM CAN PROVIDE QUALIFIED PITTSFIELD-AREA RESIDENTS COORDINATED PRIMARY CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH SERVICES. THIS SITE IS NOT PRESENTLY EQUIPP ED TO PROVIDE DENTISTRY, OPTOMETRY, OR DERMATOLOGY, ALL OF WHICH ARE SORELY NEEDED, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE BERKSHIRES ARE CONSIDERED AN UNDERSERVED AREA LACKING ADEQUATE COVERAGE FOR THESE SPECIALTIES. IN ADDITION, GIVEN THE NEAR TOTAL LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THIS NEW FACILITY MAKES ACCESS EASIER BY CUTTING DOWN TRAVEL TIME TO GET TO VIM’S GREAT BARRINGTON SITE 30 MILES SOUTH. UNTIL THIS WINTER, THE GREAT BARRINGTON SITE CARRIED THE ENTIRE PATIENT LOAD; HOWEVER, EVEN WITH THE SHIFT OF PATIENTS TO PITTSFIELD, THE ORIGINAL GREAT BARRINGTON FACILITY MUST BE EXPANDED TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS FOR PATIENTS. THE GREAT BARRINGTON PROJECT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT AND ENTAILS RENOVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1,200 SQUARE FEET OF ADJOINING SPACE. VIM WILL EXPAND AND RECONFIGURE THE SITE’S FOOTPRINT TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR AN ADDITIONAL MEDICAL EXAM ROOM AND A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTATION ROOM, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS’ OFFICES, AND MEETING/EDUCATION SPACE. EXCEPT FOR INSTALLING TWO EXTERIOR WINDOWS, ALL WORK WILL BE DONE IN THE BUILDING'S INTERIOR. THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN 07/2024 AND BE COMPLETED BY 06/2025. ACCESSIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY WILL BE IMPROVED THROUGH THE REDESIGN OF THE CURRENT MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. VIM WILL PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR DERMATOLOGY SERVICES AND CANCER SCREENING IN THE WOMEN’S HEALTH PROGRAM. VIM WILL ALSO PURCHASE SUCH NON-CLINICAL EQUIPMENT AS DESKS, CHAIRS AND PHONES FOR TYPICAL OFFICES AS WELL AS CONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY FOR MEETING AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

ARP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES