Since the program began in 1995, Dignity Health has been a strong supporter of SPIRIT, which is an acronym for Sacramento Physicians’ Initiative to Reach out, Innovate and Teach. As a partner, we make an annual contribution of $15,000 to support its operation, volunteer recruitment, and patient case management. In addition, Dignity Health donates out-patient surgeries and provides in-kind support to assist in surgeries.
SPIRIT is a collaborative program of the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society designed to engage physicians in the delivery of medical care to county indigent patients through volunteerism. Healthy Community Forum partners are key funders of the program.
SPIRIT recruits physicians to volunteer in county and community clinics in an effort to enhance primary care medical services available to Sacramento's uninsured. The project also offers a specialty service network comprising office referrals to participating SPIRIT physicians, "specialty sub" clinics located within existing county clinics, and hernia and cataract repair surgeries done at no charge at local hospitals. Specialists and surgeons provide medical care that uninsured patients have difficulty accessing. SPIRIT medical services are completely free of charge to the patient.
Currently, SPIRIT volunteer physicians provide primary care services, out-patient surgical services (cataract and hernia) and specialty services including dermatology, neurology, orthopedics, rheumatology, and vision services to uninsured patients.