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BLUFFTON — From a sheet of baklava to flowers and eggs, patients often bring donations to the Bluffton Jasper Volunteers in Medicine (BJVIM) clinics, thanking the doctors, nurses and administrative volunteers who provide free medical care to local community members without health insurance.
This Lowcountry nonprofit opened its Ridgeland location in September 2016. Originally, the clinic offered general medicine and cardiac care two days a week. But over the past nine years, BJVIM has expanded to include a Bluffton location and dental clinic as well.
In 2024, BJVIM saw 2,043 unduplicated patients, the medical clinics receiving 7,457 visits. To manage the clinics, 67 volunteers are required per week, and these volunteers are scheduled to work the same days each week.
“That’s what makes our clinic unique. We have the same doctors that practice on the same days with the same nurses and the same administrative people,” said Pamela Toney, executive director of BJVIM. “And so, if a patient comes in and is assigned a primary care provider, they will always see that same primary care provider for every visit afterwards.”
BJVIM offers primary care, cardiology, gynecology, internal medicine, mental health, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pharmacy and telemedicine services. And what they do not provide in house, they outsource in the community.
“That’s how we’re able to offer the other services and to pair people up with other things that they need, because we’ve built trust,” said Stephanie Bashaw, director of development. “It’s not just, ‘Come in, we’re gonna give you a free service.’ We’ve built a relationship with each patient so they feel comfortable when there’s a problem to say what’s happening in their lives.”
After almost a decade of service, BJVIM looks to the future, recently welcoming Bashaw to the team, as well as a neurologist and two orthopedists. The organization is also celebrating the attainment of all permanent locations.
“We are pretty strong in our locations and so now we’re looking inwardly to make sure that our programs are better and as great as they can be,” Toney said.
As the holidays approach, the BJVIM team continues to care for the Lowcountry. They also look forward to a seasonal gift: a Christmas cake from an appreciative patient.