When I first started working at Crossroad, I was confident that I would learn an incredible amount about healthcare, but the impact just the past four months have already provided has shaped my views in more ways than I could have imagined.Working surrounded by other VIPs, MAs, providers, nurses, and the rest of the staff who all embody a love for others and a desire to enact change has really comforted me in knowing that I can have a fulfilling career working with people who inspire me daily.
My interactions with Crossroad’s providers, whether from shadowing to see what patient interaction at a federally qualified health center is like to handling in person referrals after a patient visit, have exposed me to some of the most dedicated and admirable people I know. Often we are presented with the archetype of a callous, overworked physician who fails to see their patient as other humans and merely as a vessel to perform services on. Thankfully, seeing the providers in action and listening to their stories and compassion for the people they serve has kept my faith in the power of medicine and the need for empathy.
Working at Crossroad has also exposed me to a more holistic view of the healthcare system than shadowing can fully provide. Only seeing the healthcare process from the time the physician enters the room to when they move onto the next patient fails to include the pre-work it takes to get the patient treated as well as the post-appointment follow-up details that is remain vital to patient health. Working referrals at Crossroad has shown me how much effort is required to have the patient ready to receive treatment, whether from their primary care physician here at Crossroad or from a specialist at another office. Additionally, tracking the follow-up process to ensure we receive all relevant appointment information is its own frustrating process. I find it vital as a future physician to know what happens beyond our time in the patient’s room. We have a duty to be aware of the struggles and efforts to access healthcare that are not apparent from our position of treating patients.
Through all the frustration, however, I continue to leave each of my shifts filled with hope for improved healthcare for the future as well as the satisfying knowledge that I have made an impact on the care of the patients I worked with. I wouldn’t describe this feeling as content, as I am certain in my opinion that the healthcare system is not fulfilling the needs of all patients, but I have a re-energized resolve to use my career and privilege to absolve the health worries of others. I could not be more thankful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge and work to influence access to health care that Crossroad has provided for me.
-- Sam Blizzard
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