Volunteers in Medicine

What Volunteers in Medicine does

Volunteers in Medicine Chattanooga, Inc. (VIM Chattanooga) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) primary care clinic founded on May 5, 2005, and located at 5705 Marlin Road in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The clinic provides free medical services to financially eligible uninsured adults ages 19–64 who reside in Hamilton County or surrounding counties and have household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. A small paid staff of approximately eight — including the President & CEO, Clinic Manager, Nurse Manager, Development and Outreach Manager, Community Health Navigator, Dispensary Coordinator, Medical Assistant/Interpreter, and Front Office & Volunteer Coordinator — supports a volunteer clinical workforce of more than 100 physicians, nurses, and non-medical volunteers donating time on a quarterly basis.

The core service offering is free primary and preventive healthcare, supplemented by chronic disease management, specialty referrals through Southeast Tennessee Project Access, a volunteer-managed on-site Prescription Drug Assistance Program, and patient education including the 'You Are Worth It' diabetes video series. The technology stack is minimal and operational rather than differentiating: an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for patient documentation and the dispensary's pharmaceutical-company-assistance-program workflow. The clinic operates Monday–Wednesday 9 AM–4 PM and Thursday 9 AM–1 PM by appointment only, with services delivered on-site.

The business model is purely philanthropic. VIM Chattanooga does not bill patients or third-party payers and accepts no insurance; all medical services are provided at no cost. Funding derives from charitable donations, corporate sponsorships (CHI Memorial/Common Spirit as Platinum sponsor; Erlanger Health System as Silver sponsor), foundation grants, church and individual contributions, and proceeds from annual fundraising events (Golf for Good, For the Good benefit luncheon, Giving Tuesday). The in-kind value of volunteer labor and donated services (lab work, imaging, specialty care) represents the bulk of delivered economic value — reported at approximately $2 million in combined pro bono healthcare and prescription assistance annually, with a stated $4.95 in care value returned per $1 donated in 2025.

Name

Volunteers in Medicine

Legal name

Volunteers in Medicine, Chattanooga, Inc.

Website

https://vim-chatt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volunteers in Medicine Chattanooga is a 501(c)(3) free primary care clinic serving uninsured adults ages 19–64 in Hamilton County, Tennessee via volunteer physicians and a small paid staff, funded entirely by charitable donations and in-kind community healthcare partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO)

Keywords

• Free medical clinic
• Charitable healthcare services
• Primary care clinic
• Volunteer physician services
• Uninsured patient care

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: The clinic operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded entirely through charitable contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, churches, and government grants. No billing of patients or third-party payers.
2. Volunteer Services (In-Kind): Medical and non-medical volunteers donate their time and expertise, representing millions of dollars in contributed healthcare services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Volunteers in Medicine Chattanooga is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit primary care clinic that provides free medical services to financially eligible uninsured adults (ages 19-64, residents of Hamilton County and surrounding counties). Care is delivered by volunteer physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners, and includes preventive and acute care, chronic disease management, health education, nutrition counseling, an on-site prescription drug assistance program, and specialty care referrals through the Southeast Tennessee Project Access partnership.

Product overview

Volunteers in Medicine Chattanooga operates as a single unified clinic offering free primary and preventive healthcare services to uninsured, financially eligible adults in Hamilton County and surrounding areas. The core offering is the primary care clinic itself, supplemented by an on-site prescription drug assistance program, specialty care referrals through Project Access partnership, and patient education programs including the You Are Worth It diabetes management video series. The clinic operates with volunteer medical professionals (physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses) supported by a small administrative staff. All services are provided at no cost to eligible patients who meet income and residency requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volunteers in Medicine Chattanooga Primary Care Clinic A free, nonprofit 501(c)(3) primary care clinic that provides medical services to uninsured, financially eligible adults ages 19-64 through volunteer physicians and nurses. Services include preventive and acute care, chronic condition management, health maintenance, specialty referrals, health education, and nutrition counseling, provided at no cost to qualifying patients.
• Prescription Drug Assistance Program On-site pharmacy program that helps eligible patients obtain needed medications through pharmaceutical company assistance programs, maintaining refill tracking and processing refills for patients. Operated by volunteer-managed staff to provide free prescription access to uninsured adults.
• Southeast Tennessee Project Access Partnership Collaborative program with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society that provides specialty care referrals for VIM patients who need advanced medical care beyond primary care services. Since 2004, Project Access has helped more than 25,600 patients receive $232 million in donated health care services.
• You Are Worth It Diabetes Education Program A four-part video series designed to help patients manage and potentially reverse diabetes through education on nutrition, protein intake, fiber, and meal planning. Available to VIM Chattanooga patients as part of the clinic's chronic disease management offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 174,000+ volunteer hours contributed since 2005
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Southeast Tennessee Project AccesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2005Southeast Tennessee Project Access partners with VIM Chattanooga to provide specialty care referrals. Since 2004, Project Access has helped more than 25,600 patients receive $232 million in donated health care services. Both organizations work closely to serve uninsured patients who need advanced medical care beyond VIM's primary care scope.
• Volunteers in Medicine National AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIM Chattanooga is a proud member of the Volunteers in Medicine Alliance, a national organization that has launched over 100 free clinics. The national office provides data, education programs, group purchasing discounts, networking, and funding opportunities to support member clinic sustainability.
• Tennessee Charitable Care Network (TCCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIM Chattanooga is a member of the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, a statewide association providing support, education, and representation for nonprofit organizations that provide charitable healthcare to low-income, uninsured, and underserved Tennesseans.
• CHI Memorial Hospital / Common SpiritcoreOthersPlatinum sponsor and provider of laboratory services. CHI Memorial provides donated lab work for VIM patients and supports the clinic as a major funding partner.
• Southern Adventist University Nurse PractitionerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity nursing program provides volunteer nurse practitioner support and clinical training opportunities.
• Erlanger Health SystemsupportingOthersSilver sponsor and partner healthcare system providing support to the charitable clinic mission.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Faith Family Medical Center: Nashville-based charitable clinic providing affordable primary care to uninsured working adults in a faith-based environment. Shares the Tennessee footprint, faith-based identity, and uninsured-adult target population with VIM Chattanooga.
• Christ Community Health Services: Faith-based nonprofit providing primary and specialty care to underserved populations in Memphis and West Tennessee. Comparable mission of serving uninsured/underinsured patients through community-rooted, often faith-driven care delivery.
• Remote Area Medical: Tennessee-based nonprofit operating mobile free clinics that deliver free medical, dental, and vision care to uninsured and underserved populations using volunteer professionals. Closest direct peer in mission and volunteer-driven delivery model.
• Volunteers in Medicine (Hilton Head): The original VIM clinic founded by Dr. Jack McConnell in 1992, on the same volunteer-driven, free-clinic model for the uninsured that VIM Chattanooga replicates. Operates as the reference site for the network that VIM Chattanooga belongs to.
• Neighborhood Health (Nashville): Federally qualified health center serving uninsured and underinsured residents across Middle Tennessee with primary care, pharmacy, and wraparound services. Comparable community-based primary care model for vulnerable populations in Tennessee.

Others

• Catholic Charities USA: National network of faith-based social service agencies operating health, nutrition, and social support programs for low-income populations. Operates many free or low-cost clinics that serve uninsured patients in similar faith-based frameworks.
• National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC): National membership and standards body for free and charitable clinics, of which VIM Chattanooga is a member and Gold Standard recipient. Many of its 1,400+ member clinics are direct comparables; the NAFC itself is included as the ecosystem hub that anchors the peer set.

Regional players

• Cherokee Health Systems: Tennessee-based FQHC integrated behavioral and primary care provider serving underserved populations across East Tennessee. Overlaps with VIM Chattanooga in geography and patient population but operates as a federally funded FQHC rather than a volunteer-driven free clinic.

Emerging players

• HealthCare for the Homeless Houston: Houston-based nonprofit providing free primary care, mental health, and substance use services to uninsured and unhoused individuals. Similar volunteer-supported, free-care model targeted at a partially overlapping underserved segment.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit operating a broad portfolio of health and human services, including programs for low-income and vulnerable populations. Much larger and broader in scope than VIM Chattanooga, but follows the same volunteer-led faith-rooted service ethos.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vimchatt
• Xx.com/vimchatt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Volunteers in Medicine