The Rally Call Blog

Note: This story was submitted to the Rally Call Blog through the Center for Civic Engagement by Ivy Tech student Jenna McCammack.

My service learning experiences this semester have been plentiful. I was given the opportunity to participate in the alternative spring break to Mexico. Details about this trip are on the blogs that we entered while on the trip. I have been volunteering at VIM (Volunteers in Medicine) this semester also. This is a free clinic that is located on Miller Drive next to Bloomington South High School. It is an opportunity for the people of Monroe and Owen County to recieve healthcare, even though they do not have any health insurance. Bloomington Hospital sponsors this clinic and has two full time nurses that are employees that work there. The other nurses that provide care there are volunteers. A nurse practicioner works full-time and then there are physicians that volunteer at the clinic. The shifts are four hours, either from 8a-12p or 1p-5p. Some days of the week there are also shifts after five for the patients that work during the day and cannot miss work to go to the doctor. This clinic was established to help people that are unable to get health insurance and to take some strain off of the emergency room at the hospital. Often it seems like the only option to go to the ER when a patient is unable to see a physician without health insurance or cash to pay for the visit. I am an LPN and will be finished with the RN program this semester. Being able to volunteer at the clinic has given me an opportunity to see the large population of patients that are unable to seek healthcare because they are unable to pay for it. The clinic provides referals for these patients to have diagnostic tests and lab work done through Bloomington Hospital. It is a wonderful service that is being provided and would not be able to continue without the help of the volunteers.