#theVIPexperience Post #91: Dami Omojola

I started volunteering at Crossroad Health Center in fall 2019. I have volunteered in other hospital settings but one of the main things that encouraged me to apply for this volunteer internship program as compared to other student volunteer positions was the patient interaction experience that I could get in this position, as well as the christ-centeredness that is a part of Crossroad Health Center’s mission. In my time working here, I have been able to witness the hearts of the people here. They are passionate about the overall health of the patients and getting them the care they need regardless of the situations the patients may face. Volunteering here at the clinic, I have been able to see patients receive selfless care. From helping patients figuring out daily needs to helping with the scheduling of transportations, or sometimes providing bus passes to those who need them to make it to appointments, or even observing physicians who may choose to see patients for free; I have observed the dedication that Crossroad employees have to improve patients experience.

 In the same way, I have been inspired to give my time at the clinic to the helping of others who may have a harder time gaining access to quality healthcare as a result of disparities. My shift at the clinic includes me calling patients to assist in the scheduling of their referral appointments at different specialties and locations, as well as scheduling transportation as needed, and reminder calls to ensure patients make it to said appointment. In my time dealing with patients, I have had to opportunity to see more closely the struggles that patients may face to receive care, maybe because they have to rely on someone else to get them to the appointment, or due to lack of insurance resulting in them being unable to make it to an essential appointment as was the case with a patient who I worked with. It was difficult to see that this patient who I had helped to schedule an appointment with a specialist for migraines in November 2019, had to reschedule the appointment twice and ultimately cancel the appointment now March 2020.  This was because the patient’s application for financial assistance to cover the cost of the appointment was not approved. 

It is also difficult seeing this disparity play out in non-English speaking patients, as was the case with this patient. It is very promising to see physicians and volunteers who speak Spanish, Arabic, and other languages and can deal with these patients at Crossroad Health Center. Seeing the limited number of multi-lingual volunteers, the health disparity in non-English speaking patients is more apparent. Knowing this, I have a passion to learn more languages to provide better access to care for non-English speaking patients. I intend to complete a minor in Spanish through a summer study abroad to Spain, barring cancelation due to the Coronavirus pandemic. I will continue to learn the Spanish language and recently have started to learn Japanese. I hope to be a multi-lingual patient care provider as many of the employees at Crossroads are to be able to play a part in reducing that disparity. I believe that what we do as volunteer interns play a significant role in the quality of care that patients receive and I am always happy to do my part in improving access to care.