Volunteers in Medicine to Begin Construction Jan. 17
The Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine, which serves the medical needs of an under-served population in the Coachella Valley, will break ground on a permanent clinic at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 in Indio, 82-915 Avenue 48.
“This new home will double the space of the existing facility, to better serve patients in our community that are not otherwise receiving medical care through any other program,” said Supervisor John J. Benoit. “Riverside County is tremendously proud of the partnership we have to build this facility for the Volunteers in Medicine to operate.”
The Volunteers in Medicine is staffed by approximately 50 volunteer retirees and active practitioners in the medical and administrative field. Currently operating from a temporary office at 81-880 Dr. Carreon Blvd., they offer women’s services, dental services and general medical services free of charge to uninsured patients who are ineligible for county, state or federal government programs.
The total project budget is $2,856,887 for the 6,133-square-foot clinic, which will be located on a county-owned 0.83-acre parcel on Avenue 48, west of Jackson Street. The county has a memorandum of understanding to enter into a 20-year lease with the Volunteers in Medicine, with an agreement that the organization operate the facility.
Coachella Valley residents have made more than 2,000 visits to the clinic since it opened in November 2010. Patient volume has grown steadily, with 300 visits in the most recent month.
Operational support for the Volunteers in Medicine has come from JFK Memorial Hospital, Eisenhower Medical Center and Desert Regional Medical Center, with additional financial support from the City of Indio and various individual donors.
For more information about the ceremony, to volunteer, to support the Volunteers in Medicine or to see if you qualify for Volunteers in Medicine services and make an appointment, please call Bruce Yeager, executive director of the Volunteers in Medicine at 760-342-4414.
