TAP-IN (which stands for Third Age Professional Initiative) is an innovative new program which connects senior physicians with free clinic volunteer opportunities. It is now available for all Virginia physicians ages 55 and over through a partnership with the Virginia Association of Free Clinics.
Free Clinics serve a unique population—adults not old enough to qualify for Medicare and not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. Many of these people have a job, but not enough income to cover the cost of insurance. Often referred to as the “working poor,” the number of these patients is growing across America to almost 46 million.
TAP-IN was created to help meet this need by tapping into a new resource for volunteer care givers, physicians who may have some extra time available to them during their retirement years. TAP-IN uses its website (www.tap-in.org) and toll-free number (1-877-605-3250) to serve as an information hub for physicians who want to learn more about the practicalities involved in donating their time. In addition to connecting physicians with volunteer opportunities, the site provides a host of tools relevant to potential volunteers, including requirements for state medical boards and information on malpractice insurance. By facilitating volunteerism, the goal of TAP-IN is to enable physicians to do what they do best—serve patients.
This is a program about people, purpose and opportunity. The many retired physicians already engaged in free clinic work report that it gives them a sense of purpose, keeps them involved with colleagues and helps them improve the quality of life in their communities. They are contributing their medical skills to the community in ways that remind them of why they started practicing medicine in the first place—and doing so at times that fit their schedule without being on call. Clinics need physicians with general medical experience as well as specialists.
“We are excited that TAP-IN picked Virginia as one of the pilot states and that their tools will help bring more retired physicians into free clinics to care for our patients,” said Mara Servaites, interim executive director of the Virginia Association of Free Clinics.
The TAP-IN program is run by the American Health Initiative. More information is available at www.
tap-in.org.