Back in 1999, Dr. Paul Doxey set up an exam room in the kitchen and bedroom in the local homeless shelter. He saw that many in Washington County were uninsured and unable to afford healthcare, so he gathered a group of volunteer doctors and created the Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic of St. George. In the first year, they saw over three thousand patients. Eventually they were able to move into their own space and now see thousands of patients each year for medical, dental, or mental health needs.
Each patient visit costs less than $35, which is the lowest of any safety net clinic in Utah. This is because they have so many volunteers including doctors, dentists, psychiatrists, counselors, and other support staff. Education and access to affordable healthcare services keep patients out of the emergency room. If you would like to volunteer, please visit doctorsvolunteerclinic.org.
SelectHealth recognizes the quality healthcare provided by the Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic of St. George as another example of how Utah Gives Back.