VERO BEACH — The newly established Indian River County Medical Society Foundation Fund, administered by the Indian River Community Foundation, received its inaugural charitable contribution from the FSU College of Medicine Class of 2013.
This group of 19 fourth-year medical students (who spend their last 2 years of medical school at the FSU COM Fort Pierce campus) donated their class’s gift to the recently graduated FSU COM class of 2012. The donation will be used to support free healthcare to medically indigent residents of Indian River County through the We Care Program.
The IRCMS Foundation was recently organized to provide a way for charitable giving for essential services and materials for We Care patients outside the scope of volunteer services provided by local physicians.
In 2011, 126 Indian River County volunteer physicians donated approximately $850,000 in We Care services, including 1,945 specialty care visits, 259 volunteer primary care visits, 529 radiological procedure interpretations, 80 other special procedures, and 11 operating room surgeries.
All services are provided at no cost to eligible patients and are performed at either the physician’s office, Indian River Medical Center, or at the Indian River County Health Department.
Although volunteer physicians are not paid, the IRC Hospital District reimburses the Indian River Medical Center for We Care program services and provides funding to the Health Department for 2 nurse coordinators, a secretary, and a full time Indigent Drug Program application clerk, as well as in-kind contributions of administration and supplies.
Donations to the IRCMS Foundation Fund will enable the We Care Program to expand the scope of medical services and supplies to those who could otherwise not afford medical care.
To donate or obtain more information, please contact Shelley Stuven, Executive Director, Indian River County Medical Society, at (772) 562-0123 or send an email to www.IRCDocs@bellsouth.net.
