I have been working at a clinic irregularly this past year, but this semester it will be on a regular basis. Today I went for the first time since Thanksgiving and it was so wonderful to see all the old ladies that volunteer too. They are a sweet bunch with hilarious jokes and stories. Luckily they continue to be super patient as I learn the filing ropes. There is a methodical, tedious process for everything in the clinic as they cannot afford electronic filing so thousands of physical patient files must be worked with daily.
At the clinic they serve working community members that don’t have insurance. It really is a rewarding environment to help those who can’t do it on their own. They have manageable co-pays, anyone on welfare is not eligible, and proof of income is required at each visit. It’s for those who have fallen through the cracks. It is a very interesting set-up and I’m learning a significant amount and definitely taking it all into consideration for possibilities in the future. They offer spiritual counseling and prayer as well as medications at reduced prices that are donated or samples from drug companies. I am impressed at the intelligence of the doctors and physicians assistance as they navigate their way through treatment options that can be most effective and affordable.
Only intending to file for an hour and a half, I was in for quite a surprise. I dropped off some files in some of the Dr’s inboxes (nope, not email inboxes) and happened to meet one of the PAs. She asked what I was going to school for and I told her I was pre-PA and her face lit up. She grabbed a white coat, told me to put it on and grabbed her newest patient charts. I was instructed to follow her and observe. My first shadowing experience and I didn’t even ask for it. It was without a doubt the coolest thing ever! Her work is the combination of what I would love to do. We sat with a 35 year old woman suffering from various health issues as she explained her latest symptoms. She needs her gallbladder removed and cannot afford the surgery. This particular PA has been working with an organization that pays for surgeries to ensure she can get one before something serious happens. This woman has three children and after her liver failed recently she was on medications to get her back on track. After a week she stopped taking the medicines so she could feed her kids. She goes to work each day in pain so she can pay her bills and has left her health in a terrible state. The session was a combination of finding affordable treatment and simply listening to this hard working woman. The mixture of practicing medicine and working with the social issues was extremely rewarding.
Today was the start of something new. New doors have opened and I’m going to keep walking and asking God to open and close paths that are fitting to His will. For now, I’m really excited about where this is headed. I left the clinic today with my name scribbled on the PA’s calendar for twice a week, her reference book for an overview of common conditions to read so that I can engage in the patient meetings and give input and a business card so that I can begin to log this time officially. Never would I have expected this- especially from a woman so eager to help me. She and a doctor have invited me under their wings. Here goes.
Isn’t this how we should live? After we have mastered something, shouldn’t we be actively seeking out those who are below us to teach, guide and direct them; teaching them to fish, rather than feeding them. The setup of this clinic does just that as the staff counsels the patients and take a holistic, wellness focused approach to changing lifestyle behaviors to improve quality of life. By requiring proof of income and payment upon services they are created self-sustaining patients. Many feel that this isn’t fail and exploits their resources. Might I suggest something I read in Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell, “One of the consequences of such notions as "entitlements" is that people who have contributed nothing to society feel that society owes them something, apparently just for being nice enough to grace us with their presence.” This sounds harsh, but I think it conjures an air of respect for those who come in. I hope to discuss this further in coming posts.
What can you pass on that society could benefit from? In our world don’t expect Thank Yous but know that there are people out there like me who are extremely grateful for your contribution and consideration.
