RIDGELAND, S.C. () — The Greater Bluffton-Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine (BJVIM) clinic provides complimentary healthcare services to uninsured residents in the Lowcountry.
They have three full-service locations, including one in Ridgeland, which just received an expansive makeover.
“In 2016, we opened a small clinic in Ridgeland, and we had a doctor that came twice a month,” said BJVIM Executive Director, Pam Toney.
Toney reported that by 2022, patient numbers had surpassed 1,000, emphasizing the urgent need for a more spacious medical facility.
The BJVIM board decided they would expand the clinic.
“We were in a building we really liked, so we contacted the owner to inquire about their interest in selling,” stated Toney. “We managed to purchase the building and subsequently needed to raise funds for the renovations.”
The cost to remodel and bring in new medical equipment cost almost $1 million, but Toney said they were able to make it happen through fundraising, donations, and grants.
They opened the doors to the new clinic just last week.
Toney explained that the expansion offers a bigger space for nurses and more healthcare services for the people.
“Before we had two little cabinets that we had a few pharmaceutical needs in, and now we actually have a room that’s designated for the pharmacy,” said Toney. “We’ve added three new exam rooms. We do ophthalmology there; we can do orthopedics. We have mental health as well as primary care and cardiology, and then our GYN services.”
With the Ridgeland clinics’ doors officially open four days a week, Toney said she is thrilled to see more folks come in, but even more to see them walk out: healthier and happier without spending a dime.
“To see a patient that comes in that’s not very well, and then after working with us for the number of months is now much better, is on insulin, perhaps has eyeglasses, or a variety of different things, it really is incredibly rewarding,” Toney said.
