Over the course of the semester, I completed my internship experience at Grant Medical Center, a sector of the OhioHealth system, in downtown Columbus. Whether it be holding critical newborns in the NICU, or visiting patients on hospital floors, there are a plethora of volunteer opportunities to meet different populations of people and also to see how the healthcare teams work in each department. For my experience, I chose to work in the Emergency Department, which, at Grant, is a Level 1 trauma center. As a Level 1 trauma center, the ED takes on major emergent cases from the surrounding areas. It also means that when other hospitals are on diversion, meaning they aren’t accepting any more patients because their ED is full, patients come to Grant. In either situation, I learned how important it is to stay alert yet calm.
One day, in particular, was extremely chaotic in the ED. Four Level 1 traumas had been brought in – two were major motor vehicle crashes and two were gunshot wound victims. Also, since the trauma patients required the majority of the healthcare providers on staff, the waiting room was full of people waiting to be seen by a physician. The ambassador and I sat at the front desk trying to reassure the people who had been waiting all day to see someone, while also trying to communicate with the frantic family members of the trauma patients. On top of all of that, one of the families of a trauma patient did not speak English, except for one of their younger boys. I could sense the boy’s discomfort as he had the added pressure of communicating between the hospital staff and his family. From that night, I learned the importance of demonstrating empathy through my actions. I couldn’t do or say much due to only being a volunteer, so I made sure that I stayed friendly and calm, even when others weren’t, and I maintained eye contact and stayed attentive to people when they talked to me. Also, I learned how important it is to communicate effectively with other team members. There are so many details when it comes to treatment for a patient and making sure everyone is on the same page keeps healthcare professionals from being misinformed, improves the person’s overall care, and allows family members to stay up to speed on their loved one’s care.
Another important aspect of Grant is that many times the people who need treatment come from an underserved population. By communicating with visitors, I was able to witness many of the health disparities that we learn so often about in class. I learned how important it is to look at people through a holistic perspective, and to remember that despite their circumstances, we are all human and just want to be treated respectfully and with compassion.
My experience taught me many things. Whether it was how to prepare a room for new patients or how to communicate in different situations, I believe that my time at Grant has given me a greater insight into the world of healthcare. These experiences are some that I will never forget, and I am grateful for the personal growth they have afforded me.
-Margaret Wiedt