A Message Regarding the Future of CVVIM's Street Medicine Program
Since 2008, Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine (CVVIM) has focused on providing free, high-quality medical care to low-income and uninsured adults throughout the Coachella Valley. In 2016, recognizing a critical unmet need, CVVIM and its dedicated volunteer healthcare professionals launched the Coachella Valley's first Street Medicine Program, becoming the first organization in the Coachella Valley and, for many years, the only healthcare provider delivering physician and nurse practitioner-led medical care directly "on the street" to individuals experiencing homelessness.
After careful consideration and consultation with community organizations and professionals serving individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the Coachella Valley, the CVVIM Board of Directors has made the decision to transition leadership, operational responsibility, and clinical oversight of CVVIM's Street Medicine Program to Eisenhower Health, effective October 18, 2026.
"The Board's decision reflects a careful evaluation of both community needs and CVVIM's long-term mission," said Barbara Limardo, MBA, Chair of the CVVIM Board of Directors. "We are proud of the role CVVIM played in pioneering Street Medicine in the Coachella Valley and serving as the region's first provider of direct medical care to individuals experiencing homelessness. We also have a responsibility to ensure our resources remain aligned with our mission of serving low-income and uninsured adults. We believe Eisenhower Health is well positioned to continue and expand this important work for the benefit of our community.”
This decision was not made lightly. Since the program's first patient encounter in June 2016, CVVIM's Street Medicine teams have provided 3,137 medical and outreach encounters to 624 unique individuals experiencing homelessness. Guided by volunteer physicians and advanced practice nurses, supported by nurses, psychologists, social workers, medical assistants, students, scribes, and community partners, the program has connected vulnerable individuals with medical care, social services, housing resources, and pathways to improved health and stability.
CVVIM's leadership in serving individuals experiencing homelessness extended beyond direct patient care. In 2023, working with the University of California, Riverside School of Nursing, CVVIM helped establish a community collaborative designed to improve communication and resource sharing among organizations serving individuals experiencing homelessness. Today, more than 50 agencies participate in quarterly meetings, strengthening coordination among providers of healthcare, housing support, behavioral health services, food assistance, clothing resources, hygiene services, and case management throughout the Coachella Valley. This collaborative has helped break down longstanding silos and created a stronger, more connected network of support for some of our community's most vulnerable residents. Our Board concluded that Eisenhower Health is best positioned to lead the next chapter of Street Medicine while allowing CVVIM to maintain its focus on uninsured individuals who continue to face significant barriers to healthcare.
Eisenhower Health was selected because of its longstanding partnership with CVVIM and its demonstrated commitment to Street Medicine. For many years, CVVIM's Street Medicine Program has served as a community-based training site for physicians in Eisenhower Health's Family Medicine Residency Program, providing valuable experience caring for vulnerable populations in nontraditional healthcare settings.
In 2025, Eisenhower Health further strengthened its outreach efforts through the acquisition and licensing of a mobile medical unit made possible through the generosity of the Houston Family Foundation. This investment expands the ability to deliver healthcare services directly where individuals experiencing homelessness reside and enhances the clinical capabilities available in the field. The Board was particularly encouraged by Eisenhower Health's demonstrated investment in mobile healthcare delivery and its commitment to sustaining and strengthening Street Medicine services for years to come.
Together, these partnerships, investments, and resources position Eisenhower Health to build upon the strong foundation established by CVVIM and ensure the continued growth and impact of Street Medicine throughout the Coachella Valley.
"Street Medicine has always been about meeting people where they are, building trust, and providing compassionate care to individuals who often have nowhere else to turn," said Rosa Lucas, FNP-C, Founding Member and Volunteer Street Medicine Program Coordinator. "Over the past eight years, I have witnessed extraordinary dedication from our volunteer physicians, nurses, social workers, outreach specialists, students, and community partners. While there is pride in what we have accomplished together, there is also confidence that the program will continue to grow and thrive under Eisenhower Health's leadership. Most importantly, the individuals we serve will continue receiving the care, respect, and support they deserve.”
"Eisenhower Health is honored to assume leadership of a program that has made such a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the Coachella Valley," said Victor Cisneros, MD, Chief Community Health Officer, Eisenhower Health. "We commend CVVIM, its volunteers, and community partners for their vision and dedication in establishing Street Medicine as a vital community resource. Building upon the strong foundation they created, we look forward to continuing and strengthening these services while expanding access to compassionate, patient-centered care for some of our community's most vulnerable residents."
Most importantly, Street Medicine is not ending. The program is entering its next chapter under Eisenhower Health's leadership, ensuring continuity of care for individuals experiencing homelessness throughout our Valley.
CVVIM's commitment to vulnerable populations also remains unchanged. We will continue providing free medical care through our clinics in Indio and Palm Springs to uninsured adults, including uninsured individuals experiencing homelessness. Any person experiencing homelessness who lacks health insurance remains eligible for care through CVVIM and will continue receiving the same compassionate, high-quality healthcare our organization has provided since 2008.
As community needs continue to evolve, CVVIM will remain focused on identifying unmet healthcare needs among low-income and uninsured residents throughout the Coachella Valley. We will continue exploring innovative approaches to care delivery and remain open to developing future targeted services that advance our mission and expand access to care. We are profoundly grateful to the physicians, nurses, social workers, volunteers, donors, educational institutions, community organizations, healthcare partners, and public agencies whose commitment made Street Medicine possible. Together, we pioneered a new model of care in the Coachella Valley and improved the lives of thousands of vulnerable residents.The transition of Street Medicine represents not an ending, but the successful evolution of a program that CVVIM helped create, nurture, and establish. We are proud that a service pioneered by CVVIM has matured into an essential community resource that can continue to grow and thrive within a major healthcare system.
CVVIM will continue providing free healthcare to low-income and uninsured adults throughout the Coachella Valley while seeking new opportunities to address unmet needs, strengthen community partnerships, and improve the health of our most vulnerable neighbors.
We are proud of our past, confident in this transition, and excited about the future.
Thank you for your continued support, trust, and partnership.