Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), a nonprofit organization providing free medical service to people in need, now has a designated area and equipment for its physical therapy program. These additions were made using $50,000 in state funding secured by state Sen. Carolyn Comitta.
CVIM is using the funds to develop an on-site physical therapy room with therapeutic devices and physical therapy equipment - including tools that clients can borrow to continue their rehabilitation at home - to support its growing physical therapy program.
CVIM currently serves approximately 25 patients per week in its physical therapy program, which is supported by a staff of dedicated volunteers, including two physical therapists, two physiatrists, an athletic trainer, and a hand therapist, as well as additional volunteer professionals offering chiropractic care and acupuncture therapy. CVIM's physiatrists and physical therapy team aim to empower patients through education, rehabilitation, and prevention, as well as nonopioid medications, injections, modalities, and therapeutic exercises.
The organization also now has a dedicated space for its own electromyography (EMG) machine, a diagnostic tool that is used to assess nerve and muscle function and that can be particularly helpful for patients dealing with hand or wrist injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
A majority of patients served at CVIM work physically demanding jobs in manual labor and the service industry. That means many CVIM clients are susceptible to injuries and may live in chronic pain, but they may struggle to access or afford physical therapy due to prohibitive out-of-pocket costs.
Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, thanked CVIM president and CEO Maureen Tomoschuk and all of CVIM's staff members and volunteers for their ongoing work to provide medical and dental care and health education to Chester County residents and families who lack access to health care. Comitta also thanked CVIM for administering thousands of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and continuing to assist residents and families in need throughout the pandemic.
Founded in 1998, CVIM is a community-based volunteer clinic. In 2021, CVIM treated 5,000 patients during more than 41,000 visits.
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