11/30/2012

Although finding enough time this semester has been quite a challenge for me, I am very grateful for the volunteering experiences that this project has given me. I am glad that it was integrated as part of the class. I know personally that it is very easy to lose sight of what we are working towards when we have to spend so much time in class and studying. It was refreshing to have a weekly opportunity to bring myself back to why I chose medicine as a career- for a chance to make a difference in a person's life when they are in most need. Although there is still a long way and a lot of schooling to go, reminders like this volunteering experience will keep me moving closer towards my career goals.

11/24/2012

While volunteering at the hospital the other day,  I saw a new patient come into the hospital. She was looking for the correct floor for a procedure which she was about to undergo. Unfortunately, I could not help them find the correct floor since, as a volunteer, I am unable to access patient information. I tried to direct that patient to the information desk to better assist them, and what I saw was a rather unpleasant exchange which ended with the patient walking off frustrated and on her own to locate the correct floor herself. I proceeded to go to the patient and found a nurse who was able to help direct them find the correct floor.

It is easy for patients to get frustrated during a hospital visit experience. Normally, when someone is at the hospital, they are dealing with an illness and not in the best of moods. I could imagine the patient was very worried about her procedure and wasn't trying to cause trouble for the information desk employee. It is up to the providers and the staff of the hospital to help make the unpleasant visit to the hospital as bearable as possible. It may be an impossible goal, but a healthcare provider or staff member must not allow the daily experience of dealing with the sick to make them callous to the humanity of another individual. Those who choose this career and this profession should strive to treat each and every individual with respect and dignity, regardless of how grumpy or frustrated the patient may be. That simple interaction of showing care to another may be enough to help the patient deal with their illness, and improve the quality of their stay during their treatment.

11/06/2012

Working at the host desk has been a very enjoyable experience. Watching patients come in with their solemn expressions and leave with uplifted spirits showed me the physical, psychological, and emotional comfort that simple medical care can provide. Giving back to my community has been a way to learn how to listen and seek connection with others in even the simplest of interactions. Giving the time and talent that you can spare to help is an embodiment of altruism, a quality I hope all people strive for in their lives. Though this volunteering project originally began as a simple assigned project for one of my classes, I hope to continue it for many months to come. Giving my time to help my community and those around me will always be an important part of my life, and something that I will continue hopefully in the near and far future.

11/4/2012

When I compare my volunteering experiences, and the other hospital and healthcare related activities I have participated in throughout my life, I have come to realize a trend. Those who don't have sufficient access to proper healthcare tend to wait longer to seek attention for the medical problems, or forego treatment altogether. Now, when I say those who lack sufficient access, this is predominantly those who live in poverty, and those who live in medically underserved areas. Patients in poverty will tend to wait until more advanced stages in illness, driving up both the cost of treatment, and decreasing the likelihood that treatments will be as effective. This ends up driving medical costs higher for this population in our community, and thus propagates a cycle of inability to afford proper treatments.

The solution for this is not simple, and requires a major investment from our medical community. Our ever expanding fields of medical technology and research are critical in discovering better, more cost effective methods of detection and treatment. Community health initiatives and preventative care are some of the most effective ways in reducing costs to underserved families. One prominent example of this is heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Some statistics report that around 90% of these cases are preventable. Proper education and lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the cost of healthcare to our country, and as I said in a previous blog, would allow us to reallocate the savings to assist those who cannot afford sufficient care, and into research and development of more effective medical technologies.