Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) began 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, the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic in Hilton Head, SC, a 501 (c)(3) free health clinic utilizing retired health care professionals, was created. The "Culture of Caring" is the heart and soul of our clinic. It is based on 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 come to our clinic are 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" recognizes the strengths of those in need and respects their dignity. We seek to heal not only physical illnesses, but also the injury caused by bias, prejudice and indifference.