October Report

Crossroad Volunteer Internship Program

October 2013 Monthly Report

PUBLISHED 10/13/2013 FOR 10/01/2013 TO 10/31/2013

Total # of Interns	18	Total # of Providers Paired with Interns	07
Total # of Hours Worked	203	Total # of Group Meetings	01

OVERVIEW

At the end of three initial weeks of shadowing during October, each Rotation Class γ member presented a case study of a patient seen at Crossroad Health Center (CRHC). All the interns enjoyed learning about the social determinants of patients' health as well as the science behind various medical problems from their peers. Interns as a whole are working on various types of patient reports. Some are working to follow up with patients who have had referrals ordered by providers at CRHC, some are contacting pediatric patients who have not been seen at CRHC for annual check-ups, and others are touching base with patients who have not received flu shots from CRHC this year, but have in previous years. Rotation Class α has committed to manning the Pre-Visit Planning Room. The interns have appreciated the consistent patient interaction and the multitude of learning experiences involved. Two interns have begun at Crossroad West during this rotation, hoping to establish the program at this unique location. The interns are working to create a process similar to that of the Pre-Visit Planning Room as well as promote nutrition education during pediatric patient visits.

REFLECTIONS

"I was also impressed by the sense of community I witnessed at Crossroad. Even though I have only been here a few hours, I feel like some of my internal questions about wanting to be a Primary Care Physician have been answered. I hope to one day provide the quality of care I observed here today."

- Paul

"Today I learned how to contact patients to invite them to our Tobacco Treatment Group. I was very excited and felt like I was making a huge impact. Helping someone to quit smoking is very impactful and lowers the number of people that are suffering from different types of chronic disease due to the smoking. I hope to get more involved in projects like this."

- Mahima

"I am really enjoying getting to interact with patients who come from all background and are here for various reasons."

- Emily

INBOX TASKS IMMUNIZATION RECORDS
# of Inbox Tasks Addressed 12 # of Records Printed 56
# of Inbox Tasks Completed 10
 
REFERRALS PRE-VISIT PLANNING ROOM
# of Cases Addressed 30  # of Patients Seen 38  
# of Referrals Closed 10

SHADOWING
# of Shadowing Hours 56
# of Patients seen with Providers 102

How the Tobacco Treatment Group Has Impacted Not Only Its Patients

For the past rotation, I have had the opportunity of working with multiple Christ Hospital Residents to facilitate a program to help our patients at Crossroad quit smoking. The Tobacco Treatment Group (TTG) started at the beginning of September and meets every Monday at 3:30 here at Crossroad. This program is based off small group discussions that let patients talk openly with Primary Care Providers, Residency Students, Pharmacy Students, and Crossroad Interns about how they can stop smoking.

The TTG started by contacting a list of over 200 Crossroad patients that are known to be smokers. Many patients did not answer, said they did not smoke or did not show interest in participating in the program. Since the meetings have started, we have had ten different patients participate in the meetings. Many of these patients have even attended meetings multiple times. During the meetings, patients are encouraged to talk about the difficulties they have faced while trying to quit. Each patient has a specified plan developed for them to help them quit. These plans are based on the amount of tobacco each patient smokes and includes different kinds of medications, patches, and even oral products such as nicotine gum or lozenges.

All the patients that have attended the TTG have shown advancements in their plans to stop smoking. Numerous patients have either quit smoking or greatly decreased the amount they have smoked just after attending one meeting! Just after the first meeting, patients were crying because they realized how bad they needed to quit. They were trading their phone numbers with each other to offer support to one another.  Some patients even brought their friends and family members to get them to also quit smoking as well to help support each other. Seeing these patients’ lives change before my eyes and knowing that I have helped them make this change for the better, has lead me to realize the impact that a Primary Care Physician can have on their patient’s life. These patients have become so appreciative of the help that we have provided them and knowing I made an impact on their lives has increased my desire to become a doctor so much more.

- By Nicki Klass