As the struggle for equality in health care continues in the United States, all hands must be on deck to ensure that every person who seeks medical care gets one. Health care disparities among individuals living in the United States arise from a complex interaction of variables that affects patients, healthcare givers and the health care system itself. Regrettably, this problem is no longer limited to the racial and/or ethnic minorities, its impact has been extended to include individuals and families who for one reason or the other are unable to acquire the full spectrum of health services necessary to promote health, prevent illness and maintain health. Although the health care reform designed to address the problem of inequalities in healthcare in that United States has increased the proportion of insured patients remarkably, many members of the vulnerable population still receive disparate healthcare treatments. The solutions to this crisis are enormously complex, but hope persists. Hope, because in the cry of injustice there is also a call for innovative thinkers, for big day dreamers and for folks who love medicine, learning, imagination, creativity, cultures and most of all, people. To start with, when I was preparing for admission into the Physician Assistant School, I shadowed physician assistants at the Conejo Valley Family Medical Group and Fillmore Family Medical Group &Urgent care and I discovered the role they play in the United States healthcare system.
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Being one of the first points of contact for many patients, the primary care physician assistants occupy a unique and strategic position for catching potentially serious medical conditions and institution of early intervention. Even though their responsibilities are often delegated by the supervising physician, they conduct clinical evaluation of patients, perform medical procedures, and provide preventive clinical services like cancer screening, counseling, and immunizations just to mention a few. Still, they are involved in the provision of continuity care to many other patients, especially those with chronic diseases and pregnant women. Also, they help to improve access to care by assisting patients to navigate through the system barriers that often hinder patients from getting the needed care. The diversity in the patient population that the primary care physician assistants serve is noteworthy. It refreshed my interest in primary care medicine considering that I had worked as a primary care physician in Nigeria for four years prior .This experiential learning made me realize that every medical encounter in potentially a cross-cultural experience and negotiating this divide is a challenge for both patients and healthcare providers. In addition, I have operated as a phlebotomy technician in the last 5 years at the Ventura County Medical Center Laboratory and magnified my work through dedication, empathy, friendliness and demonstration of the leadership skills that I have developed in the course of my professional and religious endeavors. I have worked with a health care team that is collaborative in care and committed to ensuring and maintaining patients’ safety at all times. Therefore, I have gained a deeper insight into the importance of teamwork and laboratory quality control protocols in the delivery of quality care to patients. Also, I have been actively involved in the training of phlebotomy students on externship in our laboratory. Through this activity, I have refined my teaching abilities and made learning an integral part of my personal development. From my direct patient care experiences, I have come to appreciate that a holistic approach to healthcare based on the bio-psychosocial model remains a crucial element of quality patient care. In the future, specifically upon my graduation from the PA school, I would like to work as a primary care PA committed to providing compassionate and high-quality care for individuals and families regardless of their race, ethnicity, literacy level, socioeconomic status and cultural beliefs. …show more content…
To this end, I would align my personal and professional values to the benefit of the patients under my care. I would consider it an honor to work with the vulnerable population and build a relationship of trust and care with my patients because the lack of trust in the health care system and the healthcare provider remains one of the determinants of health care disparities. Moreover, a relationship-centered practice forges a bond that can stand the vicissitudes of the patient’s illness, its treatment, and conflict as it arises in the relationship itself. Furthermore, I believe that
Being one of the first points of contact for many patients, the primary care physician assistants occupy a unique and strategic position for catching potentially serious medical conditions and institution of early intervention. Even though their responsibilities are often delegated by the supervising physician, they conduct clinical evaluation of patients, perform medical procedures, and provide preventive clinical services like cancer screening, counseling, and immunizations just to mention a few. Still, they are involved in the provision of continuity care to many other patients, especially those with chronic diseases and pregnant women. Also, they help to improve access to care by assisting patients to navigate through the system barriers that often hinder patients from getting the needed care. The diversity in the patient population that the primary care physician assistants serve is noteworthy. It refreshed my interest in primary care medicine considering that I had worked as a primary care physician in Nigeria for four years prior .This experiential learning made me realize that every medical encounter in potentially a cross-cultural experience and negotiating this divide is a challenge for both patients and healthcare providers. In addition, I have operated as a phlebotomy technician in the last 5 years at the Ventura County Medical Center Laboratory and magnified my work through dedication, empathy, friendliness and demonstration of the leadership skills that I have developed in the course of my professional and religious endeavors. I have worked with a health care team that is collaborative in care and committed to ensuring and maintaining patients’ safety at all times. Therefore, I have gained a deeper insight into the importance of teamwork and laboratory quality control protocols in the delivery of quality care to patients. Also, I have been actively involved in the training of phlebotomy students on externship in our laboratory. Through this activity, I have refined my teaching abilities and made learning an integral part of my personal development. From my direct patient care experiences, I have come to appreciate that a holistic approach to healthcare based on the bio-psychosocial model remains a crucial element of quality patient care. In the future, specifically upon my graduation from the PA school, I would like to work as a primary care PA committed to providing compassionate and high-quality care for individuals and families regardless of their race, ethnicity, literacy level, socioeconomic status and cultural beliefs. …show more content…
To this end, I would align my personal and professional values to the benefit of the patients under my care. I would consider it an honor to work with the vulnerable population and build a relationship of trust and care with my patients because the lack of trust in the health care system and the healthcare provider remains one of the determinants of health care disparities. Moreover, a relationship-centered practice forges a bond that can stand the vicissitudes of the patient’s illness, its treatment, and conflict as it arises in the relationship itself. Furthermore, I believe that