Although we did not have clinic the day after Thanksgiving (the doctors didn't want to wake up early!), there was clinic the week before.
It was a pretty relaxed week. We had three doctors show up, so luckily everyone was taken care of! I did have an experience which I found moving and really showed me a lot about the people who I am helping with my volunteering. I was running a couple minutes late, so I hurried out of my car when I arrived at the clinic. I guess my wallet was at the top of my bag, because apparently it fell out of my bag and onto the street. About 20 minutes after I arrived, one of the volunteers handed me my wallet (which I hadn't even noticed had fallen out of my bag), and said that one of the patients had found it on the street. I was so grateful, and really touched by the fact that someone so poor would still be a good enough person to return a wallet that they found on the street, without taking anything out of it.
Sometimes it is so easy to judge people because of their appearances or the conditions in which they live. Honestly, I would have thought that some of the people who come to the clinic would have found the wallet and kept it for themselves. However, this week's incident really showed me that you can't judge a book by it's cover, and that these truly are good people who just live in unfortunate conditions. In a city with such a large Hispanic population, it is important not to judge people by their financial or economic situations, and to remember that they are people who deserve dignity (and access to healthcare), just the same as anyone else.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Reflections
Clinic was cancelled this Friday. Although I have already about 15 hours at the clinic, I am going to continue volunteering there most Fridays. The experience is very rewarding, and I have gained and continue to gain much insight about how much of a privilege healthcare is...a privilege that not everyone has.
When I become a doctor, I do not think that I will ever be fluent enough in Spanish to volunteer at Casa Juan Diego, but I think that it will be important for me to give back to those in the community who do not have access to healthcare. This summer at my internship at BCM, one of the doctors was saying that he is tired of seeing all these pre med students going on medical mission trips to other countries when there is so much poverty and lack of access to healthcare here in America. It really stood out to me when he said this. I think that it is very important for people in the medical field to recognize that although the United States is not a developing country, healthcare access is still a huge problem which is the responsibility of all healthcare professionals.
Volunteering at Casa Juan Diego not only exposes me to the poverty which is so abundant in Houston, but also makes me aware of what I may be able to do to help people now and as I continue my career in the medical field.
When I become a doctor, I do not think that I will ever be fluent enough in Spanish to volunteer at Casa Juan Diego, but I think that it will be important for me to give back to those in the community who do not have access to healthcare. This summer at my internship at BCM, one of the doctors was saying that he is tired of seeing all these pre med students going on medical mission trips to other countries when there is so much poverty and lack of access to healthcare here in America. It really stood out to me when he said this. I think that it is very important for people in the medical field to recognize that although the United States is not a developing country, healthcare access is still a huge problem which is the responsibility of all healthcare professionals.
Volunteering at Casa Juan Diego not only exposes me to the poverty which is so abundant in Houston, but also makes me aware of what I may be able to do to help people now and as I continue my career in the medical field.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Week Seven
I hadn't been to Casa Juan Diego in two weeks after being at the Phoenix conference and then one week where clinic was cancelled. It was definitely good to be back (although it was difficult to wake up early after apoptosis lab on Thursday!). This week wasn't too busy, and we were remarkably organized.
The most rewarding thing I learned this week was actually about one of the doctors who volunteers at the clinic about half of the time. He was a very esteemed neurosurgeon here in Houston when a couple of years ago he decided to shut down his practice and open a free clinic in Mexico. His wife and child continue to live in Houston, and he comes home on the weekends and some weeks, but the rest of the time he goes to mexico to provide medical care for those who cannot afford it there. As if that wasn't enough charity, he continues to volunteer free medical care for immigrants at Casa Juan Diego whenever he is in Houston. Hearing how much this doctor gives back to the community was really inspiring, and something that I think will stay with me when I become a doctor.
The most rewarding thing I learned this week was actually about one of the doctors who volunteers at the clinic about half of the time. He was a very esteemed neurosurgeon here in Houston when a couple of years ago he decided to shut down his practice and open a free clinic in Mexico. His wife and child continue to live in Houston, and he comes home on the weekends and some weeks, but the rest of the time he goes to mexico to provide medical care for those who cannot afford it there. As if that wasn't enough charity, he continues to volunteer free medical care for immigrants at Casa Juan Diego whenever he is in Houston. Hearing how much this doctor gives back to the community was really inspiring, and something that I think will stay with me when I become a doctor.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Week Five
The scheduling has been really crazy the last couple of weeks, but I never blogged about how awesome week five was! Sorry things are a bit out of order, hopefully we'll be back on track soon!
Week five was a pretty fun week. Something about the energy in the clinic was more positive than usual. There were no patients there who appeared to be really sick (which is good!) and they all seemed very friendly. Because I do not speak Spanish, the majority of my communication with the patients is through body language, AKA I smile at them a lot. Sometimes I feel guilty for smiling because when they look back at me they just look so sad. But this week everyone smiled back. You can tell but their eyes that they really are appreciative of the help they are receiving.
The only really sad thing is that we have to turn children away on Fridays. There is a pediatrician who comes to the clinic on the weekends, but the adult doctors who come on Fridays do not see pediatric patients. There was one 15 year old boy who insisted that he could be treated as an adult. Although we could not help him on that day, it really showed me that so many of the kids in these situations have to grow up really quickly. They have to deal with very hard issues at very young ages, forcing them to grow up sooner than children who don't have to deal with such difficult issues. Once again, I felt very blessed to have grown up in the way that I did!
Week five was a pretty fun week. Something about the energy in the clinic was more positive than usual. There were no patients there who appeared to be really sick (which is good!) and they all seemed very friendly. Because I do not speak Spanish, the majority of my communication with the patients is through body language, AKA I smile at them a lot. Sometimes I feel guilty for smiling because when they look back at me they just look so sad. But this week everyone smiled back. You can tell but their eyes that they really are appreciative of the help they are receiving.
The only really sad thing is that we have to turn children away on Fridays. There is a pediatrician who comes to the clinic on the weekends, but the adult doctors who come on Fridays do not see pediatric patients. There was one 15 year old boy who insisted that he could be treated as an adult. Although we could not help him on that day, it really showed me that so many of the kids in these situations have to grow up really quickly. They have to deal with very hard issues at very young ages, forcing them to grow up sooner than children who don't have to deal with such difficult issues. Once again, I felt very blessed to have grown up in the way that I did!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Week Six (Week Five will be posted next week)
This week was one probably the saddest week so far at Casa Juan Diego. The morning started out normally--hectic but still under control. As the people were checking in I was finding medical records and making we had everything we needed so that we would be prepared when the doctor showed up.
Before the doctors can see the patients, the volunteers who speak Spanish always interview them, taking their temperatures, blood pressure, and weight and asking them why they have come to the clinic. Usually the problems they are experiencing are not too extreme, but there was a very sick woman this week.
In the process of immigrating from Honduras, she was unable to eat for a long time, which really messed up her GI track. Since then she has been unable to eat at all, throwing everything up, and has become very sick. She should have seen a doctor earlier, but was too scared. The doctor at the clinic this week said that she really needed to go to the emergency room because she was doing so poorly.
Once again, my experience really put my life into perspective. It is so sad that some people do not have access to healthcare--it is so hard for me to imagine. My experience here shows me the real service aspect of medicine. When I am a doctor I think I will have the skills and training to serve the community, especially those who most need medical attention.
Before the doctors can see the patients, the volunteers who speak Spanish always interview them, taking their temperatures, blood pressure, and weight and asking them why they have come to the clinic. Usually the problems they are experiencing are not too extreme, but there was a very sick woman this week.
In the process of immigrating from Honduras, she was unable to eat for a long time, which really messed up her GI track. Since then she has been unable to eat at all, throwing everything up, and has become very sick. She should have seen a doctor earlier, but was too scared. The doctor at the clinic this week said that she really needed to go to the emergency room because she was doing so poorly.
Once again, my experience really put my life into perspective. It is so sad that some people do not have access to healthcare--it is so hard for me to imagine. My experience here shows me the real service aspect of medicine. When I am a doctor I think I will have the skills and training to serve the community, especially those who most need medical attention.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Week Four (after 1 week off)
Well this morning it was back to Casa Juan Diego after taking a week off because I had a Quant test.
The day did not start out great because I woke up late and had to rush like crazy to get there on time (I was still ~5 minutes late). However, things picked up as soon as I arrived. Three doctors ended up volunteering today (usually there are only 1 or 2 max), so we were able to accept way more patients than usually, which was really exciting! Turning people away is always the hardest thing to do, so it was good to be able to offer care to so many people today.
I feel much more useful now than when I started because I understand the filing systems they use, I know where things belong, and I know what needs to be done and when. Because I am the only one who speaks no Spanish, I am glad that I have found a way to be productive and helpful from behind the scenes, even though I cannot directly interact with the patients.
Sometimes it amazes me how much communication is non-verbal. I was able to assist 2 patients today, one needed to get into the restroom, and a little kid lost his toy. Even though we couldn't say words to each other (well they said words to me but I didn't understand) I was still able to communicate with them and help them out.
Today I was extra aware of not burdening others with my daily trials. I was up late studying for 2 quizzes today, so I was dragging a little. But I was aware that everyone else was probably as, if not more, tired as I was, so I kept reminding myself just to smile, and that I could sleep in tomorrow. I know that when I am a doctor I will often feel exhausted, but I must never make a patient feel as though they are a burden on me because I am too tired.
The doctors at the clinic simply amaze me. They are so sweet and kind to each patient...the mere fact that they wake up early every Friday to serve the underprivileged for absolutely no payment is so honorable. They all seem very humble and compassionate people. I know that when I am a doctor I will strive to emulate those characteristics.
Even though I'm always so tired when I'm going to Casa Juan Diego, as soon as I'm there I know that waking up early was worth it. :)
The day did not start out great because I woke up late and had to rush like crazy to get there on time (I was still ~5 minutes late). However, things picked up as soon as I arrived. Three doctors ended up volunteering today (usually there are only 1 or 2 max), so we were able to accept way more patients than usually, which was really exciting! Turning people away is always the hardest thing to do, so it was good to be able to offer care to so many people today.
I feel much more useful now than when I started because I understand the filing systems they use, I know where things belong, and I know what needs to be done and when. Because I am the only one who speaks no Spanish, I am glad that I have found a way to be productive and helpful from behind the scenes, even though I cannot directly interact with the patients.
Sometimes it amazes me how much communication is non-verbal. I was able to assist 2 patients today, one needed to get into the restroom, and a little kid lost his toy. Even though we couldn't say words to each other (well they said words to me but I didn't understand) I was still able to communicate with them and help them out.
Today I was extra aware of not burdening others with my daily trials. I was up late studying for 2 quizzes today, so I was dragging a little. But I was aware that everyone else was probably as, if not more, tired as I was, so I kept reminding myself just to smile, and that I could sleep in tomorrow. I know that when I am a doctor I will often feel exhausted, but I must never make a patient feel as though they are a burden on me because I am too tired.
The doctors at the clinic simply amaze me. They are so sweet and kind to each patient...the mere fact that they wake up early every Friday to serve the underprivileged for absolutely no payment is so honorable. They all seem very humble and compassionate people. I know that when I am a doctor I will strive to emulate those characteristics.
Even though I'm always so tired when I'm going to Casa Juan Diego, as soon as I'm there I know that waking up early was worth it. :)
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Week Three
This week was crazy at the Catholic Worker House!!! We were short on volunteers, the clinic was running late, and everyone seemed to be in a bad mood. I had to remind myself multiple times not to get frustrated with anyone because I am doing this to serve those people who have no healthcare and no where else to go.
The two girls who really know what they were doing were out of town this week, so it was just me, another new girl, and one girl who lives in the house but also tries to help out in the clinic. The woman who runs the house seemed a little bit frustrated with us because we kept making mistakes and weren't moving fast enough. Even though part of me wanted to say some snide comment, I kept smiling and just tried to work as fast as I could.
This week I didn't really even have time to pay attention to the patients of the clinic. I didn't get to hear any of their stories, I didn't know why any of them were visiting the clinic, but I still knew that I was helping them by frantically searching for medical records, entering information into spreadsheets, making copies, etc.
I did get to personally help the girl who lives at the house but tries to help out in the clinic. Because things were so crazy in the clinic, she missed the bus which she takes to get to school at UHD. Even though it made me get back to school a little bit later than I wanted because I had a quiz that morning, I happily drove her to school. I felt so lucky that I have a car and that I am blessed with the ability to get to and from school whenever I want. There are so many things that I take for granted...
Even in the just three weeks that I have been volunteering at Casa Juan Diego, I have already learned so much and really taken a look at how lucky I am in my life!
The two girls who really know what they were doing were out of town this week, so it was just me, another new girl, and one girl who lives in the house but also tries to help out in the clinic. The woman who runs the house seemed a little bit frustrated with us because we kept making mistakes and weren't moving fast enough. Even though part of me wanted to say some snide comment, I kept smiling and just tried to work as fast as I could.
This week I didn't really even have time to pay attention to the patients of the clinic. I didn't get to hear any of their stories, I didn't know why any of them were visiting the clinic, but I still knew that I was helping them by frantically searching for medical records, entering information into spreadsheets, making copies, etc.
I did get to personally help the girl who lives at the house but tries to help out in the clinic. Because things were so crazy in the clinic, she missed the bus which she takes to get to school at UHD. Even though it made me get back to school a little bit later than I wanted because I had a quiz that morning, I happily drove her to school. I felt so lucky that I have a car and that I am blessed with the ability to get to and from school whenever I want. There are so many things that I take for granted...
Even in the just three weeks that I have been volunteering at Casa Juan Diego, I have already learned so much and really taken a look at how lucky I am in my life!
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