When I started out at Crossroads as a VIP, I was nervous. I did not know what to expect as we began to schedule appointments for patients, fighting to increase access to healthcare. Looking back at all the hours past semester and this semester, it can sometimes be frustrating. There can be a multitude of problems that could come up at any stage, such as scheduling, working around insurance (or lack thereof), transportation, or something you never would have expected to be an issue. Some problems are solved with a quick fix, faxing to another clinic that insurance covers or calling insurance to schedule transportation for the patient. Other times, those problems can stay with you the whole shift. When you spend your whole shift finding a solution for one person, in the moment it can be frustrating. Those shifts, however, are the most rewarding. There is no better feeling than that walking out of those doors knowing that you made a tangible impact on their life and their health and makes every second of that struggle worth it.
To future VIPs, believe in yourself and be confident in your abilities! Not everyone is selected for this position, meaning that you are one of the people we believed could help make a tangible impact on people’s care and well-being. Patients know that you are trying to help, and many are thankful that you are taking the time out of your day to help them. While it is normal to be nervous, ultimately, you will get plenty of experience talking to patients, and before you know it, it will become second nature.
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