My STEP signature project involved interning with the Infectious Disease and Control department at Westchester Medical Center over the summer. During this period, I participated in various disease management and prevention aspects. I participated in environmental rounds, data collection, data analysis, hand hygiene compliance rates, quality improvement projects, shadowing, and more.
This experience has transformed my understanding of healthcare, disease management, and the integral role of the Infection Prevention department in the hospital. Before the internship, I had no work-related experience in a hospital, and my knowledge of this department was little to nothing. However, through hands-on experiences, I greatly appreciated the challenges and roles this department of doctors, nurses, and PAs fulfilled. This experience shifted my perspective of different departments within hospitals and their impact on things such as public health.
The team that I worked with did a great job at making me feel truly a part of the department. They allowed me to tag along on any mission that they had to complete. One example of this was when I came with them to check out a leak in the operating room. A third-party organization was responsible for properly cleaning this highly sterile area. I was able to observe the decisions and coordination required to manage infections in real-time. In every challenge faced by the department, it was truly obvious the importance of collaboration and effective communication in healthcare settings.
Engaging in infection control procedures was another eye-opening experience. I learned the meticulous details needed to prevent hospital-acquired infections as well as update/modernize previous protocols. One example of this would be the changing of foley types to get new pure-wicks for the patients, and going around to different sections of the hospital to educate them on the new changes. This exposure showed me that healthcare extends beyond treating illnesses to actively trying at all costs to prevent them.
This change in my understanding is significant because it broadened my perspective on healthcare and its connection to public health. The internship gave me first-hand experience in the day-to-day roles played in a hospital. It truly solidified my aspiration to work in the healthcare field. The experience I gained is directly applicable to my academic pursuits, as this semester I am even taking an undergraduate shadowing class.