WHAT
As a part of the Crossroad Volunteer Intern program I was able to help patients at Crossroad Health Center schedule their referrals. While this might sound simple, I learned there were a lot of components that need to work out to make sure a patient can get to their needed appointment. Whether it be transportation, insurance, or time availability, it was my and my fellow VIP’s (Volunteer Intern Program) responsibility to navigate obstacles to make sure the patients could find a healthcare facility to attend to their needs. For my 3rd rotation in the program I worked on a project with one of the other VIPs to increase dental awareness for the patients and we had a fundraiser to buy dental products for the students at schools associated with CHC. (Presentation linked)
SO WHAT
I truly didn’t understand my privilege until I took part in this program. The holes in the healthcare system made itself more apparent to me when I was faced with helping the underserved population of our community. As a potential future healthcare worker this was one of the most important experiences for me to take part in. I have been offered a change in perspective as I continue to be educated by the primary care providers, other healthcare staff, and the patients at CHC.
NOW WHAT
As I discussed above, this change in perspective has led me to seek out other ways to educate myself on the disparities found within the healthcare system. I have turned to books to get more information on how access to healthcare is affected by societal pressures, financial instability, as well as policies imposed by the government. While I might be able to make more impactful changes once I enter the workforce, the best way for me now to work towards that goal is by reading, learning, and understanding the different aspects of the healthcare system and the complications that can arise for our community because of it.
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