I have always been interested in healthcare and wanted to gain more experience with interacting with patients and healthcare professionals. However, it was difficult to find volunteering opportunities during COVID-19 pandemic. I then heard about the Volunteer Internship Program at Crossroads Health Center and how they were looking for virtual volunteers. I knew it would be the perfect opportunity for me to explore healthcare virtually. I completed my first rotation virtually and now for my second rotation I work on site at the OTR location and interact with patients, other VIPs, nurses, and physicians.
Working on site allows me to observe how different healthcare professionals work together to ensure that the patient receives the best care and being in this environment made me realize that pursuing a career as a healthcare professional is definitely the right path for me. As a VIP, I have the responsibility to assist patients from underserved communities by helping them schedule appointments and making sure they would be able to receive the care they needed. Interacting with patients taught me so much about the barriers to healthcare people face including access to transportation, insurance, and language barriers. VIPs have the vital role of advocating for their patients to ensure they receive the care that they need.
One of the patients I worked with was a mother who was in need of an appointment for herself. She was concerned about finding an appointment that would fit with her work schedule. I assured her that I would find the best time for her and after many phone calls we were able to schedule the appointment that worked for her. Even though I play a small role in the whole healthcare system, I always feel satisfied that I was able to have a positive impact on patients’ lives. Through this experience I realized how important it is for everyone in the healthcare system to advocate for patients to help alleviate the barriers to healthcare they faced.
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