I am so grateful for the opportunity I was given to work at Shepherd’ s Clinic this summer. When I first walked into the clinic, I had no idea what to expect. I had never worked in a clinical setting before, and I was afraid of my inexperience showing. While my inexperience certainly did show, I am glad that Shepherd’ s was my first foray into the world of medicine. Not knowing anything meant that I learned something new every day. And boy did I learn a lot. From using the top software for medical scheduling and record keeping to calling medical departments around the city and handling patient referrals, I was able to dig deep into the administrative side of healthcare. Digging deep involved a lot of paper. The sheer amount of paperwork involved in every medical interaction surprised me.
Digging deep also involved listening. I listened to patients’ stories, doctors’ orders, and nurses’ jokes. I listened to people from all walks of life, from people who have lived in the same neighborhood their entire lives to immigrants from Europe to asylees from Africa; I was exposed to more kinds of people than ever.
I listened intently, not only to get to know the people I was working with and working for, but also to limit the possibility of miscommunication. Medical information is sensitive, and patient privacy under HIPAA is a top priority for any clinic. I’ ve learned the ins and outs of the law and can now confidently handle records I was initially afraid to manage.
• Worked at the front desk answering phones, scheduling appointments, and screening new patients
• Connected patients to resources, both medical and otherwise
• Managed patient referrals to specialty care departments and maintained paper and electronic health records
• Communicated with patients, doctors, and staff at medical centers throughout the city
I’ ve also learned the ins and outs of Shepherd’ s policies. In order to be eligible to receive care at our clinic, our patients must reside in one of the nine zip codes that comprise our catchment area, and they must make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to actually afford healthcare. As I’ ve spent this summer getting to know this patient demographic, I’ ve come to realize just how big this gap between Medicaid and affordable insurance is. It makes me proud to work at a place like Shepherd’ s Clinic, a place that brings together a small group of compassionate, diligent people to make a real difference in the Baltimore community.
Community Partner: Shepherd’ s Clinic Intern: Luke Bonanni Site Supervisor: Ellen Sangiamo
What is Shepherd’ s Clinic? Shepherd’ s Clinic and Joy Wellness Center provides quality integrative health care to those who are medically uninsured, helping people who are unable to afford commercial health insurance and who do not qualify for government assistance.
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