Volunteers in Medicine serve Deschutes uninsured

One of the least known services in this area is Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), helping those who need medical care but are unable to pay for it.

Until recently, those uninsured or underinsured who had need for medical care went to an emergency care facility or, more commonly, to the emergency room of a local hospital or clinic.

Now, they have a place to go where they can receive professional care, follow-up treatment and medical record keeping, much as if they had a personal doctor -- all without charge.

"Most of our patients are without medical insurance," said doctor Frank Trostel of Sisters, "having recently lost a job along with their medical insurance. Many are immigrants to this area not yet employed and have been using emergency care facilities for non-emergency conditions."

The retired doctor said that this new program would ease the load on hospital emergency rooms and provide those in need with more appropriate services.

Trostel specifically said that about half the people he sees are suffering from anxiety or depression, "generally not treated in a hospital or clinic emergency facility."

Trostel, a graduate from the University of Washington in public health, worked in private practice in Portland for 34 years before coming to Sisters where he spent five years with High Lakes Health Care on West Adams Street. Upon his retirement his practice was taken over by Drs. Kevin and Eden Miller.

A new VIM medical building, scheduled to open in mid-March, is under construction adjacent to the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Limited hours are currently held at their temporary offices in the Deschutes County Health Building.

"Once the new building is finished, we will be open four days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.," he said. "Now, our hours are only from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and only two days a week."

Trostel volunteers two afternoons a month at present.

Others locally who are interested in VIM are Judi Benson of Black Butte Ranch and Bob Reed, who has been asked to help set up a "paperless" office with all records being computerized.

"If we can do it," Reed said, "appointments, patient medical records, follow-up information and other normal paper type things will be virtually eliminated."

In addition to helping people in need, Trostel said that one of the joys of the new system is not having to "fill out a dozen forms for insurance claims and getting into billing and other record keeping. I can practice that which I do, medicine, without all the ancillary business details."

Most of the patients are between the ages of 19 and 64. Those outside that group are either covered by one of Oregon's youth health care programs or Medicare.

"We've found that many are in the low-paying service industry, many at minimum wage, and are usually in the young working class with children," Trostel said.

Volunteers are needed in all areas of medicine according to Christine Winters, executive director. As many of their patients are Hispanic, those with Spanish lang- uage ability are especially welcome.

Volunteer positions needed by VIM range from front desk receptionist to social workers to administrative support and the complete realm of medical and health care professionals.

For more information, call 330-9054.