Personal Narrative: Free Clinic

One notable hospital experience that is still on my mind deals with a woman in her 80s, who had been admitted for a few days. The unit secretary informed me of this story. While she was hospitalized, her family came to visit her everyday, and one of those nights the patient asked

We started speeding down the road to meet the ambulance. Upon meeting them I was rushed to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, bumping my dad from the operating room right before he his knee surgery. I wasn't suspected to make it, as I had lost seventy percent of my blood. But somehow, with the help of God, I underwent several surgeries and within the next few days I was stabilized and discharged from the hospital.

Through my experience with the healthcare field, I have seen that low socioeconomic status, culture, and access are the major contributors to the health disparities today. Whether it is not being able to afford health insurance/medical costs, a culture that’s attitude and beliefs does not put much value on preventative care, or simply not having appropriate transportation to the doctor, all these factors work together against the patient. Medical professions can best tackle these issues by first knowing and understanding the needs of the population in which they practice. Theoretically, if one is aware of specific needs then those needs can be better addressed, whether they are financial or cultural needs. Also, medical professionals can work

My second clinical day at Mercy Defiance Hospital, progressive care unit, was overwhelming but rewarding and very educational. Through the 8 hours I was there, I learned a lot. I engaged myself in many self-directing learning practices to futher promote my professional growth. My first time interaccting with my patient,I was joined with my clinical instructor. While in the room, I got to listen to to my patients heart, lungs, and bowel sounds. I was able to see and examine the patients ostomy bag, as well as help them to the bathroom. There were ways that I can improve my professional growth, suchas,having the confidence to not second guess my self about things to do in assessments. For example, I know how to assess the lungs, I should not second guess where to listen for the sounds. One of my goals for next week dealing with professional growth would be to have the confidence to know what I have learned and use it. My second one being to go into the room with a confident attitude and believe in myself.

We went to ER and got to see a baby get drawn from his arm the parents were upset because it was the second time they had to draw his blood. The dad stepped out and the mom stayed and helped hold the baby down. There was a patient with shingles that I only got to see from outside but the phlebotomist showed

I never faced a situation like that before. I really did not know how I could help this man. The staff and the doctor at this point were relying on my help as a chaplain. At that moment for the first time I realized how important my role as a chaplain was.

Before realizing what was happening, a nurse was trying to put an IV in my arm. The needle compared to my little arm looked huge and too long to go in my arm. I refused to let them touch me and tried to run to my mom. When they had a hard time succeeding at putting my IV in, they decided to get help from my mom. She calmly told me to lay down and to watch her, while they put the needle in. It was hard to ignore the pain pulsing through my arm and all the commotion happening all around me. I looked at my mom and saw the tears that were falling down her face as they held me down. When they were done, there was an IV and a cast on my arm, so that I would not be able to pull the IV out. Then they wheeled me into another room where my mom held and comforted me, while we waited to hear the results.

This week has been crazy busy. We have had all kinds of animals, with all kinds of issues. We've been so busy that our appointments have been back to back, with little time between. This kind of sucks for the patients since we only have two rooms, and usually one doctor on staff, but we are pretty efficient and everyone gets in and out in a timely manner. Of course with the priority being that everyone gets the treatment they need and their questions answered.

I am passionate on helping people and making changes in others’ lives. Like I stated before, my mother had been trapped herself in the apologetic emotion for years. The mental burden had made her down. Therefore, I decided to help my mother get rid of the self-accusation, by using the knowledge I learned in the Human Services major. To illustrate, I was telling her that it was not her fault of divorce, and she was not showing me the negative image of a marriage. Instead, I admire her braveness of ending a marriage when it was necessary, especially in the time when people were stereotyping divorced women and at the place where people were being judgmental. Now, her self-blameless has been reduced, and she told me that she was not felt as guilty

Thirty professionally trained and licensed staff members with a minimum of five years work experience each are ready to address families and patients’ social and emotional needs. Our goal is to provide patients and families with exceptional care during trying times so they can attain their maximum level of psychosocial functioning.

I was first introduced to healthcare as a member of AmeriCorps in 1995. I learned in the corps as a family support worker that poverty and health disparity are interrelated. After the corps I went to work to a for-profit healthcare receivables company that taught me the business of healthcare. I transitioned out of healthcare for a short time before returning to a not for profit health care organization whose mission closely aligned with my own and I’m still there.

My second clinic rotation is internal medicine and I’ve had many encounters, both with patients and colleagues, which have made me pause and reflect. One of those encounters, in particular, will still be on my mind long after I finish typing this reflective journal. The patient at the center of it all is a lady I’ll refer to from here on as “Mrs. Flowers.” Mrs. Flowers is an 81 year old female with dementia and diabetes. She arrived on our unit with a diabetic foot infection that had progressed from a simple toe ulcer to wet gangrene. Over the last 2-3 months, gangrenous changes encompassed the distal half of her left foot. During pre-rounds, our medical team unanimously agreed that we would contact surgery for a consult. At time, it was obvious

During my time at the drop-in center I had the opportunity to be the key-note speaker for numerous churches at various youth nights and numerous youth retreats. I was also asked to represent the drop-in center at many of the churches in Winkler by giving a mission update/sermon on many of the church’s Sunday morning services throughout my tenure. In 2011, I was asked to give the message at our community’s annual summer festival where all the churches gather for a joint Sunday morning service (unsolicited, someone so was kind to video tape it and provide me with a copy).

I contacted with Chicago Law Clinic. Then they directed me to the National Immigration Justice Center. I know this place and other alternative places. I called them several times to make a free or reduced rate appointment. I also spoked with many people from different departments of Loyola. Unfortunately, they are busy or providing general help. I know many of their advice. I also know well asylum application process due to my personal research during the absence of an attorney for me. As a result, many free legal services are very limited and don’t provide specific help or advice! As a result, the best solution is to have an attorney. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford it now!

Healthcare system provides services to those who can pay for them; unfortunately, not all people can afford to have insurance and get medical care when they need. There are many poor people who are left behind this system and something needs to be done in order to provide these people with appropriate care and equal opportunities. Opening a free clinic is a way out of the situation as it will allow people without insurance rely on the system of healthcare in the country and significantly improve the their life quality. This project needs to include the analysis of economic issues and special needs in order to develop a coherent outline for further steps in project implementation.