Medical/Health Literacy Hero
Community Volunteers in Medicine
Sponsored by Endo Pharmaceuticals

Imagine that your child is ill. But you are uninsured, or underinsured, and cannot afford a doctor’s bill. Or, even if you have insurance, you anticipate – because English is not your primary language – you’ll have difficulty understanding physicians’ instructions or prescription-bottle labels. Perhaps you also have not had the benefit of an education that would help you take care of your child. Fortunately, many of us who live in Chester County never face such a situation. But for others, it occurs all too often. Thanks to Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), there are solutions to such challenges. Since its start in 1998, CVIM has provided free primary medical and dental care for more than 10,000 adults and children. Serving a multilingual, multicultural population, the organization and its staff log more than 800 patient visits per month and provide a model that has been replicated throughout Pennsylvania. Health education is a major part of CVIM’s program. Each month it produces a new poster with health tips – for example, about wearing sunscreen in the summer or washing hands to prevent flu in winter. When clients visit the CVIM clinic, practitioners (aided by interpreters) provide instruction about their medical situations, and pharmacists explain how to take medications properly. CVIM also sees boosting literacy as a way to boost health. A mural of Dr. Seuss characters welcomes clients to the clinic reception area, where volunteers read to children. After their visit, children take home free books -- chapter books, fairy tales and other children’s literature – to help them master reading and the English language. Staff members offer adults reading materials about health issues. Congratulations to CVIM, our 2008 Medical/Health Literacy Hero!