Nonprofit Profile:

Nonprofit profile: Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada

Courtesy

Vision Screen Clinic

Contact: 702.967.0530 / www.VMSN.org

Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, with extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays.

Operated by: Dr. Florence Jameson, founder, president and CEO.

Operating since: 2008; the Paradise Park Clinic opened in January 2010.

Describe your organization and the services you offer.

Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, or VMSN, was established in 2008 by Dr. Florence Jameson and a group of concerned citizens who wanted to find a way to provide access to health care to Southern Nevada’s hard-working families. It is estimated that one out of six are uninsured in America equaling approximately 580,000 in Southern Nevada. VMSN provides preventative health care and care for the chronically ill. The clinic helps prevent acute hospitalization, reduce hospital costs and decrease taxpayer burdens. Most importantly, VMSN cares for the neglected and unseen members of our community who are hurting.

Whom do you help?

VMSN provides health care services to the uninsured who would otherwise have nowhere to turn aside from hospital emergency rooms. In addition to conducting patient visits, completing diagnostic tests and providing medications, VMSN is committed to improving the overall health of its patients. The clinic hosts several educational outreach programs throughout the year through its community partners. A shining example of one of VMSN’s community outreach programs is the “Get Fit Family” program. This five-week educational program focuses on nutrition, fitness and counseling for all members of the family. Experts work with participants to demonstrate easy-to-do exercises, and our nutritionist takes the time to show families how to read nutrition labels and make healthy meals. We even held a healthy pizza making class!

What makes your organization unique?

At its core, VMSN is a much-needed network of neighbors helping neighbors. The organization operates thanks to the dedication of more than 780 volunteers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists who often have jobs elsewhere but who take the time to help others. Services we provide include diagnostic testing and medications, which are donated by our community. Volunteers in Medicine is community owned and run; it is the Las Vegas community taking care of its own who are in need of medical help.

What is the hardest part about operating your nonprofit in Las Vegas?

The hardest part of running a nonprofit for VMSN, and is often the hardest part of running any nonprofit, is raising money. Because it is a huge job to get the message out to the community – that we have people who are sick and dying and in desperate need of health care. For some reason, people just don’t believe this problem really exists. Any one of us can find ourselves in this situation, and it happens when we are least prepared for it. It often puzzles me (Dr. Jameson) how people do not understand the need for health care for their neighbors who are in crises. It’s difficult to tell a distressed patient that there is a four- to five-month wait to see a physician. We do our very best to help as many patients as we can, as soon as we can, but unfortunately there are limitations since we only have one facility and limited funds. We do our best to prioritize our really sick patients on our wait list. This issue will be helped with the opening of our second, flagship clinic in downtown Las Vegas.

What is the best part about operating your nonprofit in Las Vegas?

The most fulfilling part of operating our organization in Las Vegas is our patients. It’s a family atmosphere here at VMSN. Our patients become a part of our extended family. We are happy to help them in any way we can, and we know how appreciative they are for it.

What obstacles has your organization overcome?

When VMSN was being created, virtually everyone told us it was not the right time. It was the recession, and VMSN would not get the support needed to succeed as a nonprofit. VMSN was created during one of the greatest recessions of our nation. We rose up during an extremely financially difficult time to become one of the prominent and respected nonprofits in our community. Our business model is based on volunteerism and donations and is a sustainable model for decades to come.The major obstacle, as for any service provider, is getting the word on the street. Over the last three years of operation, we have succeeded more and more in doing this. We look forward to more success as people begin to truly appreciate this service.

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