Inspira Medical Center: Team Analysis

“The contribution of volunteers results in an increase in the quality of perceived care in hospital settings (even with simple hand holding, information giving, and other non-medical services). These may be non-clinical and non-union tasks, but they provide a warm, human dimension during a difficult time for the patients and their families” (Handy, 2004, pp. 31-32). “Volunteers assist patients with prompt responses to their non-medical needs and reduce the anxieties of being vulnerable and alone-a common and significant occurrence. As hospitals grow larger and become more specialized and technologically sophisticated, the effective use of volunteers is vital in maintaining a human and personal touch” (Handy, 2004, p. 35).

It was June 12, 2016, one of the deadliest mass shootings at Orlando, FL. It wasn’t like any other day; after a tragic event I was called into work around 5:30am. I finally reached ORMC amidst of all the chaos, there wasn’t any pleasant welcome, every face mimicked a variety of emotions with some worried and sad, while others confused and suspicious. I was floated to the trauma unit to accommodate victims after surgery. I could sense the sturdy whiff of blood as I walked into the unit which I was not so familiar with. Even though my heart was aching by witnessing the sufferings of those innocent victims, I had a strong impulse to help and give my all. I took my assignment sheet and walked into my patient’s room. As he slowly opened his eyes, the nurse repeated the questions:

It is a warm summer evening at Grady Hospital. It is my first day as an emergency room volunteer. I’m nervous and eager, hoping to see something exciting. However, it is surreally quiet. Suddenly, there is word of an ambulance en route. Minutes later the paramedics burst into the trauma slot pushing a man on a stretcher. His head and face are covered with gauze that is soaked through with dark blood. It is a flurry of well-orchestrated movement as the attendings and residents start to resuscitate him. They pull back the bandages to reveal a deep gash that is bleeding profusely. With much effort his vital signs are stabilized and he begins to regain consciousness. Later, after the excitement had passed, I learned what brought him here. He is diabetic and couldn’t afford to properly manage his condition. He had fainted due to hypoglycemia and hit his head. He had almost lost his life because of the unfortunate financial realities of modern healthcare. In that moment, I came to appreciate the very real cost of disease and the incredible role physicians have in ameliorating it. This formative experience was the beginning of my path to medicine.

Volunteering at Kaiser Permanente played a significant role in my decision to pursue a career in healthcare as a physician. When I was observing a physician repair a head laceration, there was a disjunct communication between the patient and physician. Because I am fluent in Vietnamese, I understood the patient’s fears as she muttered words in her native language that expressed her confusion and fear while the physician attempted to console her in English. When I explained the doctor’s processes in her native language, Vietnamese, she was elated someone could reassure her worries, especially when family members do not understand enough English to comprehend the situation. Through various observations of nurses, physicians, and Emergency Department

For the past two weeks I have been performing my clinical at Holton Community Hospital experiencing what it is like to be on the floor with the patients and I had the opportunity to see what it was like in the Family Practice part of the hospital.

After deciding to pursue my dreams of being a nurse practitioner, I volunteered at Glide Health Services, a UCSF-affiliated nurse ran the clinic. The opportunity opened my eyes to the high-risk population of San Francisco. I grew into my role as an assistant to the triage nurse. The high volume face paced clinic taught me to think critically in an efficient yet safe manner and refined my ability to interview challenging patients. More importantly, the role taught me the importance of trust in a provider-patient relationship.

I stepped behind the front desk of Spirit Medical Center’s emergency room to begin the night shift of April 23, 2002. Half of the rooms were already filled and my coworkers busied themselves moving throughout the sterile halls. If it weren’t for my pager calling me and two other nurses to take on a patient that would be arriving shortly in an ambulance, I would have been a part of the rush. Meanwhile, I observed the friends and families that occupied the uncomfortable wooden chairs in the waiting room. The majority of them wore a somber expression on their faces, but there were the few that had tears streaming down their cheeks uncontrollably as they took advantage of the conveniently located tissue boxes. My observations were soon distracted by the sound of approaching sirens.

Three years ago, before I began taking prerequisites for medical school, I started volunteering at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. I witnessed the lifesaving work that the doctors and nurses perform. Assisting the staff, transporting patients, stocking bays, and speaking to family members of patients allowed me to experience the inner workings of a trauma unit. Seeing the effects of crime and the drug epidemic and how the staff was able to give patients a new lease on life was truly remarkable and has reinforced my desire to help others.

As the only child of two full-time physicians, I often found myself tagging along to hospital rounds on the weekends and clinic hours during the summer months. My passion for hospital rounds was initially rooted in the fresh bagels and biscuits in the doctor 's lounge. However, as hospital budgets dwindled and fresh bagels became stale crackers and dried carrots, I increasingly found myself sitting in the far corner of patient rooms during the consultation. Sometimes we 'd be in the intensive care unit, telemetry, oncology, or even the psychiatric ward. I encountered a truly fascinating array of patients and families. I 'd always sit silently pretending to putt around on my Mom 's PalmPilot or whatever latest gadget that was on the market. But I attentively listened to every word of interaction between the patient and the doctor. I 'd often even get anxious thinking of follow-up questions for the patient that were never asked. The medical terminology was often beyond my years. And the hospital rooms were tropically moist and exhibited foul odors. But none of these details deterred me because I was so intrigued with the patients ' lives. Everything from apathetic gang members in the Western suburbs of Chicago to weirdly spunky senior citizens. This exposure to people from all walks of life each with their own unique and individual story provided me with an astonishing perspective. I was exposed to an entirely new reality of the world that many children are never subjected to.

Hi Suzette, I agree with your post. Teamwork is important in our medical profession and workplace because it can save lives. Working with individuals who have the same common interest for the best patient well-being is imperative. Effectively communicating with co-workers is essential in delivering optimal care and prevents harm from reaching the patients. According to Weller, Boyd, & Cumin (2014), patient complexity requires team members to communicate effectively to reliably provide the best possible patient care and prevent unintended patient harm due to inadequate communication between health professionals. Teamwork promotes a sense of fulfillment when individual work together to accomplish a common vision.

“20-year-old male - gunshot wound to chest, ETA now.” Covered in blood and unconscious, the patient arrived two minutes later, and the shock room dissolved into organized chaos. Most of that morning was a blur, but what I will always remember is watching the trauma surgeon operate. He acted fluidly and meticulously, and it was through his composure that the team remained calm and the patient was stabilized. One day, I want to have that same positive impact on patients’ lives. Surgeons are granted the privilege of treating patients when they are most vulnerable, as patients literally put their lives into their surgeon’s hands. This trust creates an unparalleled doctor-patient relationship. Developing this bond with my patients is why I pursued a career in medicine.

Eight years of experience in emergency medical services have granted me the opportunity to observe our world through a diverse pair of glasses. Interacting with and treating patients outside of the hospital offers the rare perspective of viewing the environment from which our patients originate. This has opened my eyes to the struggles and barriers those in a lower socioeconomic status face. Working in the urban, suburban, and rural settings, I have treated patients from all walks of life. Knowing all patients are people with various backgrounds and experiences, I learned that communication must be personal and sincere. Navigating the obstacle course that is the patient-provider relationship takes practice, but more importantly, it requires

I think the best feeling in the world is being able to stabilize a patient who comes in floridly septic, or in shock with a vanishingly low EF, or with a bone-shattering trauma. And it’s not only acutely ill patients who I enjoy caring for. I want to work with patients who are so scared about something that they come to the emergency department for help. They may not be sick, but they’re terrified and they want to see a doctor. I know this feeling and if I can assuage these patients’ fears, that also

As a patient care volunteer at Chandler Regional Hospital’s surgical/orthopedics department, one particular patient exemplified the difference one state of mind can make. I had been doing my weekly room check-ins when I met Mary, a patient who had knee surgery following a car accident she had been in. When I asked what she needed, she requested a glass of water and a warm blanket for her husband. I was struck by how attentive she was towards his needs considering she had just been in surgery a day earlier. She later shared that her husband was in fact undergoing cancer therapy.

Followed my typical routine, I drove to the hospital ready for the 4 to 6 pm volunteer shift. As the sliding door opened automatically, scent of antiseptic and a blast of cool air welcomed me. In the surgery waiting room, a TV was playing quietly in the corner and families were anxiously waiting for the doctors’ news. As I put on my volunteer uniform, family members started approaching me for questions. At the beginning I was shy, inexperienced and nervous, need to frequently consult the senior staff for advice, but quickly I was able to initiate conversations with the families, and comfort them in anxiety situations.