Founding PHYSICIAN
Dr. Maimuna Baig started practicing medicine in Warrenton, Missouri in 1985. She has always accepted all patients regardless of insurance or ability to pay. In 1990, Dr. Baig moved her practice to Lake St. Louis, in a medical office she and her husband built across from SSM St. Joseph Hospital West. Dr. Baig continued to see all patients regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
WE ARE NEIGHBORS CARING FOR NEIGHBORS
The VISION
As our country’s number of uninsured rose, Dr. Baig had a vision. Could she open a free clinic for the uninsured poor at a location close to a major highway? It would be her way of “giving back” to a community in a substantial way for all the support and many blessings she had received through the years.
With the help of Drew Rector, then President of SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, Dr. Baig’s vision began to take shape.
A rent-free location was identified (Dr. Baig’s medical office building), non-profit status was obtained with the State of Missouri, medical office supplies were donated, a $5,000.00 donation to pay for patient medication was received, many information sessions for the community/churches were held to share the mission of the clinic, and caring, dedicated community residents stepped forward to volunteer.
Lake St. Louis Volunteers In Medicine opened its doors to serve August, 2010.
WE ARE NEIGHBORS CARING FOR NEIGHBORS
Crossroads Clinic TODAY
The clinic outgrew the initial space, and today is located at 10714 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Lake St. Louis. This location (visible from Highway 70) offers easy access for the volunteers and patients.
- The clinic was renamed Crossroads Clinic Volunteers In Medicine (CCVIM).
- The clinic is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 1:00 for patient appointments.
- Dr. Baig is the Medical Director at the clinic and routinely sees scheduled patients.
Patients are not billed or charged for their visit to the clinic. Medicines, medical supplies and operational costs are paid for via business and other non-profit organization donations, grants, individual contributions and fundraising.
The four hospitals in St Charles County (Barnes St. Peters, Progress West, SSM St Joseph Health Center and SSM St. Joseph Hospital West) accept patients for testing and procedures. Patients complete financial support applications with each facility.
If specialty care is needed for the patient (dental, eye, cancer care, cardiology, surgery, gyn, etc) a specialty physician is found to accept the patient for that episode of care.
Businesses and other non-profit organizations support CCVIM via their donations of time, funds or supplies.
Currently, over 1000 lives are enrolled for care at the clinic.
In 2019, the clinic had 1,013 office visits, accepted 157 new patients. 70 professional and clerical volunteers gave 5,346 hours of their time. It is this volunteer gift of work that allows the clinic to charge the patient ZERO dollars.
At the end of 2020, our visits are up over 2019. Starting March 16, 2020 the clinic changed from in-person visits to telehealth. This naturally increased the number of phone calls from patients. Patients are given a phone appointment and first speak with the RN, followed by conversation with the doctor. This has been an effective/safe method for patient disease management during the pandemic. The total of new patients is down from 2019 and the number of volunteer hours is also down. Due to COVID-19 space regulations, the number of volunteers in the clinic space each clinic day is compliant with local and CDC requirements.
The Vision of CCVIM has been a journey, likely one that will never end.