No hablo espanol :(

I have really enjoyed volunteering at Gulfgate. Everyone is so nice. The place is very organized. People come and go satisfied. Most of this is observed by my eyes, but not by my ears because most of the conversations between patient and staff is in a language foreign to me! I am just so curious to know what they are talking about, but two semesters of Spanish is just not quite enough yet....
Yesterday, we filled out the survey about our experience during this service learning project. A few of the questions asked whether service projects like these should be part of other classes. WHAT AN EXCELLENT IDEA! Taking time to help out in places like these strips away the financial gains aspect of being in a health profession and helps one focus on what should be the most important factor in being in the health profession, which is compassion. Do I have the compassion to see these patients and fix their many problems? Am I willing to stay back hours after until the last patient leaves? Am I focused on doing WHATEVER it takes to treat the patient, find a translator to understand the patient, make the patient's life better? I would say yes. Helping the underserved helped me understand myself more. I have realized what I have to offer and what more I still need to learn about life, in a way nothing else I have done has.

Keeping busy

Yesterday, I did nothing else but stuff those biohazard bags with hemoccult kits and alcohol swabs! I came in with hopes that they may need me to translate or something, but when I was not needed, I was very grateful that one of the nurses found something for me to do! While I was stuffing the bags, one Vietnamese patient came to the window and told me to help out this other Vietnamese lady who had been waiting to see the doctor since 7:30 in the morning; it was 12:30pm. Luckily, it was only about 5 minutes after this happened that a nurse finally called the lady in. She looked so tired, and who can blame her! It's unfortunate that the patients have to wait so long to see the doctor in places like these.
I asked the nurse how long the wait usually is, and she said it is usually 30 minutes, but children always come first, no matter when they get there. I thought that was reasonable, but I do wish cases like the lady I mentioned do not happen often...

Yes, I can speak Vietnamese :)

Yesterday, I was told to stuff the biohazard bags with alcohol swabs again while the nurse beside me seemed to be calling patients to schedule an appointment for them. Of course, I could not help but hear that she was trying to schedule an appointment for a patient with last name Nguyen like me, It sounded like the person on the other end of the phone line did not understand English, so when the nurse hung up the phone in defeat, I took a chance and told her that I could translate for her. She was delighted! At last, I felt useful! So we both called the patient again and I was able to schedule an appointment for the patient to come to the clinic this week!
Another of the nurses found out what i did and asked me if I could come on Fridays, because the Asian clinic is open then. However, I work on Fridays :( I really would have liked that. Nevertheless, there are a few times in my life when I am thankful that my parents forced me and my sister to speak Vietnamese at home; when they make us, we usually do it unhappily. The only person in my family who does not understand English is my grandmother. However, after the event yesterday, I am sure proud that I can say I am bilingual.

Yay!...stuffing...

Last Saturday, I actually volunteered with a partner. He is a high school student, who just reminded me of those old days when I had to volunteer for credit. That was long ago! Anyways, there was sadly not much to do, again. The nurses are always very nice, and they try to find something for us volunteers to do, but it is often with difficulty. We did a lot of stuffing biohazard specimen bags with blood test kits or alcohol swabs. I also brought the nurses' mail to the mail room for them. The other volunteer and i then went around all the rooms and refilled them with linens and went around all the printers to refill paper. I finally sorted their room files in numerical order. It was basically busy-work.
I do very much wish I understood Spanish though! I would probably be able to learn so much more.

Orientation

Last Saturday, I went to the volunteer orientation. After going to it, I am interested to experience serving the underserved. From what I gathered from the instructor, serving at community centers calls for extra caution, vigilance, and understanding different from what I typically would use on a daily basis. Patient confidentiality is extremely important, so I must be careful with what and where information is disclosed when I am conversing with others. Also, personal items should be looked after vigilantly as well. In addition, though in a case where the patient has a problem that I know how to assist with, it is important to not automatically lend a hand, but to ask for medical assistance from the medical staff instead. Hopefully, I will officially be present at Gulfgate Health Center this Saturday morning!

A Place for Me!

I will be volunteering at Gulfgate Health Center every weekend. Hopefully I will have much to write about! I do plan to continue volunteering if I end up enjoying it there.

Finally a reply!!!

I was never able to contact the lady on the contact list for the Harris County Health Centers, but when I tried another, she was so quick to answer! My volunteer application is actually being processed right now. Fingers crossed!