Unlike
some of my fellow VIPs, my first encounter with Crossroad Health Center took
place not in college, but high school. Clark Montessori is a public high school
right here in Cincinnati, and during our senior year, each student finds a “job
shadow” in a field of their choice, and I was searching for a Certified
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Fortunately, I found Brook Gumm, CPNP. Those two
weeks shadowing her, seeing patients and watching her day-to-day activities,
were what solidified my resolve to pursue a career in nursing, and eventually
my own CPNP certification. After those two weeks, I wanted nothing more than to
return to Crossroad someday.
After
one semester at the University of Cincinnati, in the Honors program, I got my
chance. Several of my fellow Honors Scholars have participated in the VIP
program, and presented on it during one of my classes. Realizing that I would
have the opportunity to return to the place I had so loved, I applied as soon
as the Spring Rotation was available. For the first three weeks of my rotation,
I shadowed none other than the amazing Ms. Brook. Those first weeks reminded me
of exactly why I had enjoyed myself so much the first time around: not only was
I fascinated by the medicine (I always have been), but I was so touched by the
stories that the patients trusted us with. They revealed to Ms. Brook their
biggest worries, their most frightening obstacles, and instead of dismissing
them, she supported these people, these families, with suggestions and careful
listening ears.
It
is with this same spirit and consideration that I approach my duties as a VIP.
I was given the honor this rotation of becoming the Referral Team Leader for
the Over-the-Rhine Pediatrics team, and I’ve never been busier or felt more
fulfilled. As I’ve seen in some other posts, it is true: a lot of what we do is
make phone calls. And sometimes, those phone calls are met with less than
pleasant answers or voicemails, and sometimes nothing at all. It can be
frustrating, it’s true. Even more irritating and discouraging can be those
referrals which are, for whatever reason, incredibly difficult to schedule;
complicated referral documents, requests for records, slow faxes,
miscommunications, and many other factors can stall or even stop the process of
scheduling completely. This leads to frustrated volunteers, staff, and of
course, patients. However, those frustrations are minute compared to the joy
when a complicated referral finally gets scheduled. I have heard such gratitude
expressed; patients and their families so often thank us for taking the
responsibility, and time spent on the phone, off their plates. I often think of
how these four hours out of my week can help families get their children to
crucial appointments; they just don’t have the half hour or hour, or two, to
spend on the phone, researching and communicating. But I do, I have the time to
donate, and I give it more than willingly.
-- Lily Marrero
No comments:
Post a Comment