Hello to future readers,
This is the last post for this blog. I am transitioning to another blog as well as Wordpress for posting about life and nursing. Thank you for reading up to this point.
See you in the future!
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Friday, September 30, 2022
More application essays
I've written so many application statements that I am kinda tired of writing them. Just posting a record of them up here. Maybe it will inspire others. Application Essays
4 Essential Questions to Answer in a Personal Statement:
1 - What do I want?
2 - Why is it important to me?
3 - How have I prepared for it?
4 - How will this further my goals?
Why do I want to be a doctor?
Introduction – Collapse of individual
v
Falling classmate, the MTA worker on the ground,
the man off the wheel chair
v
Crowding around
v
Nothing to do & not knowing what to do
v
Helplessness
Father MD
v
Past outlook on doctors
v
Getting better from being sick (Elementary)
v
Superman with the wings on his back (Middle)
v
The $$$ maker with safety (High)
v
The experience (College) & the rethinking
The Incident
v
Standing around à
Helping with water & sweets
v
911 – BC EMS, Fire department
v
What to do?
Helping Others
v
Tylenol thing
v
Nurse
v
The organization of health – Doctor to hold the
brunt of it
Not all doctors are created equal
v
PCP
v
Specialist
v
Obamacare
v
The $$$ issues
Losing the main purpose
v
Taking care of people
v
Community based
v
Individualism & technology
Humility, Hopes, and Wishes
v
Just a single person
v
Drop in the bucket
v
Fresh out of water
v
Medical prep. For the dangers ahead
Intros:
* The normalcy of life is shattered within seconds by
accidents. What was once a dull and boring sight is suddenly transformed into scene
of panic. The unfortunate is left on ground suffering while those around look
on. However, this predicament is a form of torture for the onlooker as well.
Without any knowledge on how to treat the casualty, the witness is easily
transformed into a background prop becoming just one of many motionless figures
loitering at the scene of the disaster. A feeling of helplessness sets in, since Dragging out too much in describing first event à Get to the point
* Being a medical professional is a dream? Goal rather than dream à Dream places in out of reach
context
* The class was almost half way through when “the incident”
happened.
-
Alternative medicine
-
Well organized
-
Leadership SKILZ
-
Analytic
-
Subway meta genomic
-
Prep for prep
-
Community health fair
#1 Primary
care physicians are the first line of treatment for the general populace. They
are the basic foundation upon which other medical specialties build on top. Their
roles bring them in contact with people the most. Primary
care is my main medical choice. My experience with my primary care
physician and at Henry J. Carter Hospital has strengthened my belief that the
primary care physician is the necessary bedrock of good patient health.
An
excellent doctor aims not only to alleviate patient symptoms, but also to
prevent future diseases. Allopathic medicine focuses heavily on acute medical
symptoms and often does little in terms of prevention. This issue is not the
sole fault of the doctor who is barraged by a variety of tasks ranging from
prescribing medication to filling out medical charts. My experience shadowing
my father at his private practice allowed me to witness first hand how much
pressure a three-member clinic can undergo. The doctor spends about fiftteen to
thirty minutes per patient. The front desk receptionist is beleaguered by
patient eligibility checks, appointment calls, and patient registration. The
medical biller submits claims and battles with insurance over various payments.
As a medical scribe I assisted my father by typing out
his medical summary. As a receptionist’s aid I had to help by answering phone
calls. As a volunteer biller I had to make sure the numbers for patient and
insurance payments added up. From morning to night the operations
continue at a fast pace especially on weekends when the crowds arrive.
With
such as packed schedule, health prevention falls towards the bottom of the priority
list. An additional factor of noncompliance also comes in. Even when the doctor
advises patients on healthy behavior such as smoking cessation and
“recommendations of diet and exercise,” patients do not always reform. I have seen
patients who failed to come to follow ups or go to specialist referrals. The
reasons vary from not having enough time to fear of certain procedures especially
the colonoscopy. Without information or knowledge of the patient’s situation, negative
stereotypical inferences start to develop. To combat
the decent into jadedness information about a patient’s livelihood is needed.
One method of learning more about a patient is through an informational survey.
My collection of surveys from the patients revealed to me that many were still
uninsured. Surveys and data might not look that important on paper, but when
combined with medical information they provide a large picture of the patient’s
health.
Hospitals are huge clinics with different facilities in
them. Like private clinics, hospitals deal with a large number of patients
suffering from a variety of ailments. My time at Henry
J Carter Specialty Hospital in the pharmacy helped me understand just how
closely each hospital department works to create a seamless network of patient
care. A doctor cannot treat a patient without medication, and
pharmacists work tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver medication to the
correct hospital wing in a timely manner. At Henry J Carter medication had to
be packaged and delivered to patients and nurses daily for operations to run
smoothly. In fact, volunteering on a daily basis with the pharmacists and
technicians made me appreciate the responsibility and knowledge of each
individual hospital staff member. The pharmacy workers knew the drugs, their
interactions, and the dosages by heart. Each pharmacy worker was not
only knowledgeable, but also open-minded and understanding. Their example
inspired me to communicate and share my questions when I couldn’t locate a
medication or was unsure how to prepare a medication. As a physician, I hope to
be just as well-informed, attentive, and responsible to instill ease in my
patients.
-
Primary care
-
Why: Full body health, PCP experience,
Hospital experience
-
My experience under primary care, My
experience in Henry J. Carter
-
Historians à Discredit science miracle
movement, medicine not the sole panacea
-
General practice – PCP exp., Every role:
front, assistant, billing
-
Hospital experience – Large organization
-
Conclusion say everything again
#2 My ideal medical profession is primary care. A primary
care physician is the first line of treatment and the core of the medical
establishment. As such the primary care
physician covers the vast field of general health, public health, and preventive
care. As a history major I know that general advances in life expectancy come
from public health efforts rather than scientific medicine. My experience in a
physician’s office has convinced me that more attention should be paid to
preventive care. Volunteering at Henry J. Carter’s pharmacy department has
demonstrated to me that a good supportive team is needed to provide successful
general care. These three experiences have shaped my ideals into one suited for
primary care.
At first glance, medical progress appears to flow linearly with each successive
era. However, the truth of improved life expectancy and better health lies with
advances in public health, not medical science. History has demonstrated that
scientific experiments and new discoveries take time to trickle down to people.
Often the newest advancements of scientific progress are out of reach of
patients who cannot afford to pay for such treatments. Instead the improvements
to human life come from efforts that aim towards public administration and
nutrition. A healthy diet that satisfies possible vitamin or mineral
deficiencies keeps the body strong against disease. The standardization of food
and medicine makes sure that possible sources of illness are kept out of our
food and pills. These realizations in my history class have fortified my belief
about the need for preventive medicineand public involvement in primary care.
My experience shadowing my father at his private clinic
required flexibility. I was assigned to fill up any role that was
lacking at the private practice at any moment. This predicament placed me in
three different roles: front desk receptionist, medical biller, and doctor’s
assistant. As a front desk receptionist I answered phone calls, registered patients,
and scanned documents for the clinic’s electronic health record. As a medical
biller I made sure patient payments and insurance payments added up. As a
doctor’s assistant I aided him when he needed a typists or instruments out of
his reach. All these roles helped me appreciate how much effort is needed to
set up a successful health treatment facility.
The experience at my father’s clinic was not without its setbacks. The staff
workload is immense and tedious with little time to even eat. Patients are
numerous and all require a different battery of procedures for a variety of
problems. Although closing times are clearly printed on the door patients
continue to flood in one after the other. It is easy to see how cynical staff
can become by the environment generated at the private practice. To prevent a
descent into jadedness, I needed to keep a view of the bigger picture . The
nobility of the profession of medicine is to improve and maintain the wellbeing
of people. Keeping this close to heart and providing the best care possible
should remain the highest priority. Critical to helping out patients is
efficient organization.
The organization of hospitals requires numerous staff to help keep the facility
running 24/7. The New York City Health + Hospital, Henry J. Carter Specialty
Hospital is no different. My experience at the hospital’s pharmacy department
revealed to me how a regular medication schedule is maintained. Pharmacists and
lab technicians work quickly to fill out labels and package medications
conveniently for nurses to use. Daily volunteering at the pharmacy department
made me appreciate how diligently the staff work behind the scenes to make sure
the system continues to operate effectively. The department’s friendly and benevolent
staff encouraged me to work to the fullest and not shy away from tasks.
As a
history major, I have learned that the experiences of clinical care and
hospital care can be placed into the setting of general health care. In the
past the basic clinic was the mainstay of health care. Hospitals were places of
instruction for new doctors looking to learn from direct observation of disease
diagnosis and treatment. With the rise of scientific advancement hospitals
became the center of health care because of their access to more expensive
instruments such as x-rays. However, this change did not displace the need of
private clinics capable of servicing the general populace closer to home. What
resulted is observable today. Private clinics work in conjunction with
hospitals to provide health care for the general population.
My studies as a historian, my experiences in a private clinic, and my encounter
with effective organization during my time at Henry J. Carter all developed
open mindedness of medical treatment for me. My historical studies have
convinced me of the need of public health. The multiple roles I played at my
father’s clinic brought home for me the need for efficient organization, while
the effective organization of Henry J. Carter’s pharmacy department gave me a
comparison group. I intend to use my knowledge from these experiences to pursue
a career as a primary care physician – not just for treating symptoms, but for
enhancing general health and well-being.
Why do I want to become a Lawyer?
Introduction – Legal contracts galore
v
Paperwork of modern society
v
Fine print à EULA, “I agree”
v
Problems when legal laws are broken
Understanding the Contract
v
Party responsibility
v
Culpability
#3 My ideal medical profession is primary
care. A primary care physician is the first line of treatment and the core of
the medical establishment. Primary care physicians are swamped with patients
suffering from issues ranging from open lacerations to mild stomach pain. Often
the physicians deal more with routine medical examinations accompanied by the
standard referral to specialists. However, every once in a while an urgent case
of surgery is required. My experience in a physician’s
office has allowed me to witness how quickly the procedures of the medical
clinic can transform into a stimulating surgical operation. Volunteering
at New York City Health + Hospitals, Henry J. Carter’s pharmacy department has
demonstrated to me that a good supportive team for dispensing medication is
needed to provide successful general care. History has permitted me to place
these experiences into the context of coordinated treatment. These experiences
have shaped my ideals into one suited for primary care.
My
experience in shadowing at primary care clinic required flexibility. I
was assigned to fill up any role that was lacking at the private practice at
any moment. This predicament placed me in three different roles: front desk
receptionist, medical billing assistant, and doctor’s assistant. As a front
desk receptionist I answered phone calls, registered patients, and scanned
documents for the clinic’s electronic health record. As a billing assistant I
made sure patient payments and insurance payments added up. As a doctor’s
assistant I aided him when he needed a medical scribe or instruments out of his
reach. All these roles helped me respect the effort needed to run a successful primary
care facility.
The
experience at my father’s clinic was not without its setbacks. The staff
workload is immense with little time to even eat. Patients all require different
procedures for a variety of problems. Although closing times are printed on the
door. Patients continue to flood in one after the other. It is easy to see how
cynical staff can become by the environment generated at the private practice.
Surgical operations are one invigorating aspect of medical care that capable
for reviving this bigger picture.
I remembered when a patient came
to the clinic suffering from a finger infection. The abscess was large because
the patient was ignoring it until the pain from the finger forced them to go to
a doctor. The patient’s finger is sterilized twice once with iodine solution and
a second time with isopropyl alcohol. After injecting local anesthesia and incising
the abscess, the doctor squeezes out all the pus. The operation brings to life
the practice of medicine through the physical application of the cure. The goal
is to improve and maintain the wellbeing of people. Critical to helping out
patients is efficient organization.
The organization of hospitals
requires numerous staff to keep the facility running 24/7. The New York City
Health + Hospital, Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility is
no different. My experience at the hospital’s pharmacy department revealed to
me how a regular medication schedule is maintained. Pharmacists and lab
technicians work quickly to make sure that medications are adequately placed
with instructions for nurses to use. Daily volunteering at the pharmacy
department made me appreciate how diligently the staff work behind the scenes
to make sure the system continues to operate effectively. The department’s
friendly and benevolent staff encouraged me to work to the fullest and not shy
away from tasks.
As a
history major the past has amply demonstrated its force on the present. The
previous advances of medical science render once dangerous health detriments
into common aliments. The successful operation of a finger abscess in the
present was one that would have disabled the victim’s whole hand in the past. The
packaging of medication in Carter’s pharmacy department was one absolute hazard
in the past. I hope to be apart of this rising trend of progression as society
moves to a new era. As we move forward into the brighter future we must not
forget the past.
My
experiences in a private clinic, and my encounter with effective organization
during my time at Henry J. Carter have convinced me of the importance of
primary care. The multiple roles I perform at my father’s clinic as well as my
first surgical experience illustrated how primary care physicians are capable
of treating majority of the common illnesses of patients. The effective
organization of Henry J. Carter’s pharmacy department gave me the opportunity
to see treatment applied at large. I intend to use my knowledge from these
experiences to pursue a career as a primary care physician – not just for
treating symptoms, but also for enhancing general health and well being.
#4?
Found on USB, Possibly for Professor O’Keeffe
-
Primary care
-
Why: Full body health, PCP experience,
Hospital experience
-
My experience under primary care, My
experience in Henry J. Carter
-
Historians à Discredit science miracle
movement, medicine not the sole panacea
-
General practice – PCP exp., Every role:
front, assistant, billing
-
Hospital experience – Large organization
Conclusion
say everything again
My
ideal medical profession is primary care. A primary care physician is the first
line of treatment and the basic function of the medical establishment. As such
the primary care physician covers the vast field of general health, public
health, and preventative care. As a history major I know that general advances
in life expectancy come from public health efforts rather than scientific
medicine. My experience in my physician’s office has convinced me that more
attention is needed for preventative care. Volunteering at Henry J. Carter’s
pharmacy department has demonstrated to me that a good supportive team is
needed to provide successful general care. These three experiences have shaped
my ideals into one suited for primary care.
At
first the advent of medicine progress appears to flow linearly with each
successive era. However, the truth of improved life expectancy and better
health lies with the advances in public health, not medical science. History
has demonstrated that scientific experiments and new discoveries take time to
trickle down to people. Often the newest advancements of scientific progress
are out of reach of patients that cannot afford to pay for such treatments.
Instead the improvements to human life come from efforts that aim towards
public administration and nutrition. A healthy diet that satisfies possible
vitamin or mineral deficiencies keeps the body strong against disease. The
standardization of food and medicine makes sure that possible sources of
illness are kept out of our food and pills. These realizations in my history
class have fortified my belief about the need for preventative and public
involvement in primary care.
My
experience shadowing my father at his private clinic was one that required
flexibility. I was assigned to fill up any role that was lacking at the private
practice at the moment. This predicament placed me in three different roles
front desk receptionist, medical biller, and doctor’s assistant. As a front
desk receptionist I answered phone calls, registered patients, and scanned
documents for the clinic’s electronic health record. As a medical biller I made
sure patient payments and insurance payments added up. As a doctor’s assistant
I aided him when he needed a typists or instruments out of his reach. All these
roles helped me appreciate how much effort is needed to set up a success health
treatment facility.
The
experience at my father’s clinic was not without its setbacks. The staff
workload is immense and tedious with little time to even eat food. Patients are
numerous and all require a different battery of procedures for a variety of
problems. Although closing times are clearly printed on the door patients
continue to flood in one after the other. It is easy to see how cynical staff
can become by the environment generated at the private practice. To prevent a
descent into jadedness a view of the bigger picture is needed. The nobility of
the profession of medicine is improve and maintain the wellbeing of people.
Keeping this close to heart and providing the best care there is should remain
a priority. Critical to helping out patients is efficient organization.
The
organization of hospitals requires numerous staff to help keep the facility
running 24/7. The Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital is no different. My
experience at the hospital’s pharmacy department revealed to me how a regular
medication schedule is maintained. Pharmacists and lab technicians work quickly
to fill out labels and package medication conveniently for nurses to use. Daily
volunteering at the pharmacy department made me appreciate how the staff work
behind the scenes to make sure the system continues to operate effectively. The
department’s friendly and benevolent staff encouraged me to work to the fullest
and not shy away from tasks.
My
studies as a historian, my experiences in a private clinic, and my encounter
with effective organization during my time at Henry J. Carter all developed
open mindedness of medical treatment for me. My historical studies have
convinced me of the need of public health. The multiple roles of my father’s
clinic illustrated the need for efficient organization, while the effective
organization of Henry J. Carter’s pharmacy department gave me a group to
compare to. I intend to use my knowledge from these to pursue a career as a
primary care physician. Not just for treating symptoms, but for the pursuit of
all-encompassing general health.
#4 Sweat formed on my forehead as I palpated the
area one final time. In my mind, I reviewed the steps needed to pull off this
deceptively simple task. Then in one slow but precise movement, I pierced the
butterfly needle through the skin. For a terrifying second, there was nothing.
I inched the needle forward in anticipation. Suddenly, a flash of red blood
colored the tube. I slid forth the serum separator tube and watched as the
blood poured in, breathing a sigh of relief. The rest of the procedure went
smoothly as I switched over to Burmese to talk to the patient about their
healthcare concerns and day-to-day life. My success with the phlebotomy
procedure highlighted three vital aspects of healthcare: technique,
communication, and luck.
Just
a few weeks earlier I was a novice fresh from a phlebotomy-training course. My
internship at a Bayside private practice was the first time I was confronted by
a large variety of body types with different vein placements. One situation in
particular still leaves me reeling every time I remember it. A wheelchair-bound elderly lady needed a
whole batch of blood tests for a preoperative evaluation. Although I managed to
access the vein on my first try, it was during the needle removal that things
went awry. I left the tourniquet on after pulling out the needle resulting in a
stream of blood spilling from the site. Fortunately, the senior medical assistant came to the
rescue and performed the blood draw seamlessly while I collected the pieces of
my shattered confidence.
It
was this same senior medical assistant that would serve as my mentor for the
internship. She trained me and provided guidance on how to approach phlebotomy
such as setting up the blood drawing apparatus first and communicating with the
patient to assuage their fears. With her supervision, I honed my phlebotomy
skills and improved enough to start recognizing the optimal veins to draw blood
from. Compliments provided by the patients further developed both my phlebotomy
and speaking skills. By the end of my internship, I was far from the trainee I
originally was.
Previously
I was working as a part-time receptionist and support staff for an Elmhurst
private practice. My training as a phlebotomy and electrocardiogram (ECG)
technician supplied me with the confidence to apply myself to the new
responsibilities of a medical assistant. The transition from receptionist to
medical assistant went rather smoothly. However despite the improved workflow
of the clinic, the practice continually ran into problems with insurance
coverage, documentation follow ups, and billing claims. Seeing the
complications of administrative healthcare pique my interest in the field. I
decided to get a taste of administration through volunteering at a New
York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
The
three vital aspects of healthcare: technique, communication, and luck also
applied there. Applying for a volunteer position in administration was a stroke
of luck for me. The new Interim Director of Physician Assistant Services was
overloaded with multiple responsibilities. I leaped at the opportunity to help
in any way possible. We first organized all the documentation for each
physician assistant with everyone given their own folder for their
certifications, reviews, and annual evaluations. Other duties involved
scheduling for shift coverage and producing a new manual for standardized
procedures. The various pros and cons of hospital management gave me insight into
the private practice setting. The icing on the cake was that the Director of
Physician Assistant Services was himself an active physician assistant. As
thanks for helping him out with administrative duties, he allowed me to tag
along with him during his surgical operations.
I
had not considered becoming a physician assistant before, but seeing the
director in action at the surgery table and at consultations inspired me to put
more research into the career. A physician assistant in the private practice
setting opened more doors to improved workflows and less physician burnout. If
I became a physician assistant I could not only help the doctor deal with less
severe issues, but I could also treat the patients myself.
The three vital aspects of healthcare have
applied to the various positions I have found myself in from the private
practice to the hospital. Private practices rely closely on the teamwork of
their staff and making sure that each procedure is being done efficiently.
Hospital administration also relies on similar aspects, requiring communication
between the departments and the staff. Even out of the healthcare setting
technique, communication, and luck still apply. Being a physician assistant
also requires good technique in treatment, solid communication with patients,
and a bit of luck when dealing with other factors ranging from administration
to insurance. The various previous roles have prepared me adequately for the
challenges to follow.
#5 I am a history major interested in
problem solving, facts, and trends – elements that reflect my experience and
goal of being a doctor. Doctors solve problems of medical health with the
ultimate goal of human wellbeing. Included in this wellbeing are the facts of
surgery, a detailed procedure capable of remedying dire situations. Surgeries
bring to life the practice of medicine in direct application of the cure. Yet
the surgery does not remove the importance of supportive groups in the practice
of medicine. Pharmacists and technicians are equally indispensible and the
trends of health care will insure so.
The primary care physician is the
center of the medical establishment and faces a variety of problems on a daily
basis. My personal experience volunteering at a primary care facility can
attest to the staggering amount of difficulties to overcome. The staff workload
is immense with little time to even eat. Patients all require different
procedures for a variety of problems ranging from nasal congestion to chest
pain. Multiple referrals may be required per patient, with insurance checks also
lengthening the duration of appointments. At the private practice, I filled up
any role that was lacking at any moment. This predicament placed me in three
different roles: front desk receptionist, medical billing assistant, and
doctor’s assistant. As a front desk receptionist I answered phone calls,
registered patients, and scanned documents for the clinic’s electronic health
record. As a billing assistant I made sure patient payments and insurance
payments added up. As a doctor’s assistant I aided him when he needed a medical
scribe or instruments out of his reach. All these roles helped me respect the
effort needed to run a successful primary care facility. However, the most
exciting role is that of medical procedures, specifically surgical operations.
Surgery cuts the fog of illness to
reveal the bare flesh underneath changing prognosis to diagnosis. I remembered
when a patient came to the clinic suffering from a finger infection. The
abscess was large because the patient was ignoring it until the pain forced
them to go to a doctor. What followed was a step-by-step procedure. The
patient’s finger is sterilized twice once with iodine solution and a second
time with isopropyl alcohol. After injecting local anesthesia and incising the
abscess, the doctor squeezes out all the pus. Once clear of all pus the finger
was wrapped in gauze and the patient’s pain was alleviated. The operation
brings to life the hard facts of medicine through the physical application of
the cure.
Although doctors perform lifesaving
surgery, the support staff plays their own vital role. My experience at the
pharmacy department of New York City Health + Hospital, Henry J. Carter
Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility revealed to me the power of efficient
support. Doctors ordered medication through quick print labels. Pharmacists and
lab technicians worked quickly to prepare and label medications. From there the
technicians delivered the medication to the nurses, who applied or gave it to
the patients. Daily volunteering at the pharmacy department made me appreciate
how diligently the staff work behind the scenes to make sure the system
continues to operate. The department’s friendly and benevolent staff encouraged
me to work to the fullest and not shy away from tasks.
As
a history major aiming for a career in medicine, the past has amply
demonstrated its force on the present. The previous advances of medical science
render once dangerous health detriments into common ailments. The successful
operation of a finger abscess in the present was one that would have disabled
the victim’s whole hand in the past. The packaging of medication in Carter’s
pharmacy department was one absolute hazard in the past. I aim to be a part of
this trend of progression as society moves to a new era, the golden age of the
medical profession.
OR (Similar) ~
Long unedited version:
I am a history major fascinated by
problem solving and trends – elements that reflect my experience and goal of
being a physician assistant. Physician assistants are an emerging trend in the
field of primary care. The whole field of primary care itself is undergoing
change at a rapid pace thanks to emerging technologies and shifts in patient
management. The original long reigning trend was medical reductionism with a
focus on different specialties working independently. However, there is a new
push for greater access to primary care through telemedicine and advanced
practice providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
Working as a medical assistant under a primary care physician has allowed me to
witness these changing trends right before my eyes.
The office of a primary care physician is
quite mundane and equipped with the standard examination bed, otoscope, and
ophthalmoscope. However, beneath this plain exterior is the foundation of
preventative medical care. Working in a busy medical office is a Sysphysian
task and as a medical assistant I was buried in duties. At the front desk,
countless documents needed to be authorized, scanned, copied, or filed.
Eligibility checks on health insurance were another important problem since
some insurances limited patients to only one primary care physician. Phone
calls periodically broke the tranquil atmosphere and interrupted the flow of
work. In the exam room, I had to record basic patient complaints, medications,
medical history, and vital signs. Even after all the patient appointments were
done for the day, there was another arduous chore of following up on billing
payments. These different roles helped me to understand the complexities of
primary care practice.
Despite the complexities of paperwork in
a practice, the doctor by far holds onto one of the most stressful positions.
Everything from billing to treatment is linked to the doctor’s license to
practice within the state. Thus, doctors are required to approve medications,
treatments, review labs, and analyze incoming consultation notes. In addition
with the rise of electronic health records, doctors are required to
electronically validate each of their actions. With so many different liability
factors to account for, it is quite common for the medical care provided to be
a fractured mess. At the practice, this was often the experience with patients
who were transitioning from one primary care physician to another or being
discharged from the hospital. Some patients did not come to the doctor for a
discharge follow up. Other patients went to visit multiple primary care
physicians without sending us follow up patient summary reports. Add on privacy
laws that prevent the fluid flow of information, and the result is a
conglomerated mess.
The advanced practice providers enter the
scene of this train wreck of a health system, to help alleviate the doctor’s
burden. Physician assistants can treat patients and prescribe medications just
like doctors. With ease of training and lower cost, physician assistants have become
the latest trend in healthcare management. This rising trend has been
accelerated by the changes to reimbursement model from a pay-for-service to a
pay-for-performance or quality. The “quality” in this case is proven by endless
reports, procedures, and performance assessments. As a medical assistant, I had
to compile many reports using the electronic health records registry to look
for “high risk” patients with comorbidities, patients missing follow up
appointments, and patients missing benchmark diagnostics. These new benchmark
requirements led to standardization of once neglected coordination tasks like
following up for medication reconciliation and specialty patient assessments
forms. Performance measures like Meaningful Use and the Merit-Based Incentive
Payment System also incentivize for greater coordination between doctors and
patients. With so many metrics to follow up on, doctors needed subordinates
like physician assistants capable of working semi-independently.
My experienced with the new pay for
quality model has been mixed. The new standardized reports have been helpful in
identifying patients with high risk of disease, yet the large number of reports
and notices has led to a huge backlog of paperwork. Each patient identified
needs to be called for follow up appointments, given referrals for special
services, and educated on potential health hazards associated with their
currently condition and treatment. On top of that there is a growing list of
requirements for health coordination and medical billing. For a small practice
with less than 10 staff and without any advanced practice providers, the new
quality standards are challenging to reach and maintain.
On other hand, hospitals suffer the
complete opposite problem, bureaucracy. The plethora of employees in hospitals
makes the management difficult. Lack of communications between the various
departments can lead to a lot of unnecessary waste of material and time.
However, the hospital remains an important aspect of the healthcare chain as
tertiary care with the ability to provide advanced healthcare interventions.
From my experience shadowing neuro physician assistants in hospitals, I know
that surgery looks visually impressive. There is nothing more spectacular than
a surgeon slowly peeling back the layers of skin to reveal the underlying
anatomy. Pages of anatomy textbooks and biology lessons will never quite
prepare you for the actual visual appearance of the inner human body. There is
little to no blood present and there is a sheen over the fleshy bits of the
body. Putting the body back together after the operation is another whole
procedure of making sure nothing is left behind inside the patient’s body. In
total the entire procedure highlights the strongest aspect of hospitals,
specialize care.
Unfortunately, hospitals have also become
primary care providers through their outpatient facilities and emergency
services. The patient lines are long and communication with patients is
difficult as many provide false information or refuse to follow up. Hospital
emergency rooms cannot turn away patients, so demand remains high, especially
in public city hospitals. Helping the patient centered medical home efforts in
the hospital was arduous due to choppy nature of information. I oversaw surveys
to determine patient reaction to the hospital’s new online health portal. The
results were mixed with some patients willing to take the survey due to their
long-term commitment to the hospital while other refused outright to have any
of their information collected.
As a history major aiming for a career in
medicine, the past has amply demonstrated its force on the present. Healthcare,
long broken into separate silos of primary care, secondary care, and tertiary
care, faces a new challenge of patient integration. Bringing in more
preventative care measures as well as technology is crucial to effective
healthcare. Trying to prevent the overuse of tertiary services is needed to
providing long term stability to healthcare. Physicians assistants and other
advanced practice providers are integral to this new shift from pay for service
to pay for performance. My experiences as a medical assistant and patient
centered medical home assistant have adequately prepared me for this phase of
healthcare.
#6
4 essential questions to a personal statement:
1 - What do I want?
2 - Why is it important to me?
3 - How have I prepared for it?
4 - How will this further my goals?
Primary care physicians are the
first line of treatment for the general populace. They are the basic foundation
upon which other medical specialties build on top. Their roles bring them in
contact with people the most. Primary care is my main
medical choice. My experience with my primary care physician and at
Henry J. Carter Hospital has strengthened my belief that the primary care
physician is the necessary bedrock of good patient health.
An
excellent doctor aims not only to alleviate patient symptoms, but also to
prevent future diseases. Allopathic medicine focuses heavily on acute medical
symptoms and often does little in terms of prevention. This issue is not the
sole fault of the doctor who is barraged by a variety of tasks ranging from
prescribing medication to filling out medical charts. My experience shadowing
my father at his private practice allowed me to witness first hand how much
pressure a three-member clinic can undergo. The doctor spends about fiftteen to
thirty minutes per patient. The front desk receptionist is beleaguered by
patient eligibility checks, appointment calls, and patient registration. The
medical biller submits claims and battles with insurance over various payments.
As a medical scribe I assisted my father by typing out
his medical summary. As a receptionist’s aid I had to help by answering phone
calls. As a volunteer biller I had to make sure the numbers for patient and
insurance payments added up. From morning to night the operations
continue at a fast pace especially on weekends when the crowds arrive.
With
such as packed schedule, health prevention falls towards the bottom of the
priority list. An additional factor of noncompliance also comes in. Even when
the doctor advises patients on healthy behavior such as smoking cessation and
“recommendations of diet and exercise,” patients do not always reform. I have
seen patients who failed to come to follow ups or go to specialist referrals.
The reasons vary from not having enough time to fear of certain procedures
especially the colonoscopy. Without information or knowledge of the patient’s
situation, negative stereotypical inferences start to develop. To combat the decent into jadedness information about a
patient’s livelihood is needed. One method of learning more about a
patient is through an informational survey. My collection of surveys from the
patients revealed to me that many were still uninsured. Surveys and data might
not look that important on paper, but when combined with medical information
they provide a large picture of the patient’s health.
Hospitals are huge clinics with
different facilities in them. Like private clinics, hospitals deal with a large
number of patients suffering from a variety of ailments. My time at Henry J Carter Specialty Hospital in the pharmacy
helped me understand just how closely each hospital department works to create
a seamless network of patient care. A doctor cannot treat a patient
without medication, and pharmacists work tirelessly behind the scenes to
deliver medication to the correct hospital wing in a timely manner. At Henry J
Carter medication had to be packaged and delivered to patients and nurses daily
for operations to run smoothly. In fact, volunteering on a daily basis with the
pharmacists and technicians made me appreciate the responsibility and knowledge
of each individual hospital staff member. The pharmacy workers knew the drugs,
their interactions, and the dosages by heart. Each pharmacy worker
was not only knowledgeable, but also open-minded and understanding. Their
example inspired me to communicate and share my questions when I couldn’t
locate a medication or was unsure how to prepare a medication. As a physician,
I hope to be just as well-informed, attentive, and responsible to instill ease
in my patients.
Disqualified # 7 Not written
by me
It was
a quiet afternoon interrupted by the ringing of the intercom. I had worked in
various healthcare settings ranging from small private practice to emergency
services before. Yet the period from March to October was filled with the most
stressful patient care experiences I had ever experienced. Patients were
showing up at the clinic deathly afraid that they had the COVID 19 infection.
The only protection we had on hand were gloves and regular face masks.
Protocols were quite unclear, constantly oscillating between testing all
patients for COVID 19 or refusing to see sick patients. It was a time of
rampant fear, with death swooping in to suddenly claim patients’ lives. Despite
all these complications, healthcare workers like us continued to serve patients
throughout the quarantine. The rewards of firsthand patient care experience
strengthened my dedication to the healthcare field.
In my
high school years, I admired my history teachers, the way they thought and how
persuasive they were. It inspired me to follow in their footsteps by pursuing
an undergraduate education in History. The ancient Egyptians used willow bark
as a traditional medicine for pain relief. Centuries later, aspirin is the most
used drug in the world to prevent secondary heart attacks, and strokes. The
studies of changes from ancient times to the present is
remarkable. My passion had changed gradually, eager to learn more about medical
related healing and curing. I decided to become a healthcare worker who can
promote patient’s quality of life and the prevention in care. I started as a
phlebotomist and EKG technicians three years ago. From there I slowly took all
the required courses needed for Physician Assistant studies. In the process I
also obtained a certificate in Healthcare Administration at the CUNY School of
Professional Studies. Through this entire process, my love for medicine has
solidified.
It has
been a rewarding learning experience as a medical assistant at the primary care
physician office. Under the direction of a physician, I conduct health
screenings, take vitals, collect required specimen samples as well as EKG as
needed. I have an opportunity to meet with people from all walks of life and
learn something new every time. Increase in demand for medical services during
pandemic has changed my thought, the practice cannot act alone with a medical
physician. Advanced practice providers can assist in reaching out not only
to the person of care but also can build a circle of care for patient’s
family members and specialists who also provided care. Witnessing the team of
medical doctor and PA not giving up and work together to saving life. In my
work, I have been told that I am a compassionate, friendly, capable of working
under pressure. Even thought my current work and duties are like PA, I realized
I need to get proper trained and my journey to become a reflection of who I
respect.
Tips for hook:
·
Seeing a PA in action, “this is the kind of
person I would like to be during an emergency”
o
Blank, blank, and blank – how aspects of life
contributed to these pillars
#7
As a history major, I am often working with a set of limited
primary source clues about past events. However, connecting the dots and
understanding how these different clues connect to form an overall big picture
is a major aspect of not only history, but healthcare as well. Healthcare in
the United States is a fragmented mess that is difficult to piece together. On
the front end, there are main faces of healthcare: primary care physicians,
community health centers, and emergency rooms. On the back end, there are numerous
allied health professions, support staff, and administrators that help keep the
system running in the background. Another recent factor to consider is the
massive growth of technology and computers in the healthcare sector. Computers,
once a novelty only designed for office work, have come to inhabit all types of
medical devices. Yet to understand each of these factors of healthcare and how
they work together requires looking at healthcare from different viewpoints. My
experience as a medical assistant, administrative volunteer, and pharmacy
volunteer, allow me to catch a glimpse of the big picture.
I first started working in a medical clinic as an office
assistant way back in high school. The work at the time was relatively easy
with simple data entry tasks being the focus of the job. Over time I expanded
my duties. First as a temporary replacement for the receptionist when she was
absent. Second as a phlebotomist to draw blood from patients. Eventually I
worked up to medical assistant, a role combining the office assistant duties
with that of a healthcare technician. As a medical assistant I performed
electrocardiograms, drew blood from patients, recorded patient vitals and
history, as well as performed clerical tasks.
Of course, not all went smoothly. There were times where I
simply could not find the vein on a patient leading to more than 3 attempts of
sticking the patient with the needle. Other times drawing the blood was a
success but labeling and sending out the blood samples became a disaster.
However, each accident or disaster was a learning experience. I learned how to
“feel” for patient veins. I also learned to write patients names down
immediately before drawing their blood instead of waiting to place labels on
the tubes. These periods of growth from failure were only possible because the
small nature of the office, which allowed for quick feedback from both the
doctor and administrators. The environment of the hospital was different
altogether.
I received a taste of hospital employment through my
experience as a volunteer in New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist hospital.
The difference between the small private practice and the hospital is like
night and day. Unlike the small tight knit staff of the private practice,
hospitals have multiple independent groups working in a somewhat coordinated
fashion through the instructions of the administration. Instructions from
someone you do not know up high come down to regulate your everyday actions. As
a result, disciplinary measures and changes to the workflow often take a while
to trickle down the hierarchy. You also never quite get the close knit feeling
possible in a private practice in a hospital due to the large number of
rotating staff (especially for residents, rotational students, or contract
staff). The patients come in an endless tide of outpatient and emergency room
visits and you often do not feel the close physician-patient relationships. Even
with this less cordial atmosphere, hospitals remain the bedrock of American
healthcare. Hospitals house hundreds of specialists capable of diagnosing a
huge assortment of patient ailments. Specialist equipment is present to give
quick results within the same day. Anytime the patients in the clinic are
having medical emergencies they are told to rush to the hospital immediately. Regardless
of the type of emergency, whether it be diabetic ketoacidosis or intense
abdominal pain due to appendicitis the hospital remains the final stop. Having
the ability to consult more than 5 different specialties within the same
building gives you the comfort of knowing that the patient will be given the
best possible care.
As an administrative volunteer I was given a chance to catch
glimpses of different departments within the hospital when transporting
paperwork to them. There was the technology department in the basement which
maintained the vital monitors. Next to it was the mail room where all inbound
and out bound mail was sorted into large bins. Upstairs on the first floor was
the cafeteria, phlebotomy room and the emergency room. On the 8th
and 7th floors was the neurology and rehabilitation department. Way
up on the top floor were the heads of administration as well as the CEO
himself. Yet by far the department I was most acquainted with was the physician
assistant department as the hospital had recently instated a new interim
director that need help with paperwork. Physician assistants work alongside
doctors to provide healthcare to patients. They occupy a growing niche in
healthcare called advanced practice providers. Given similar responsibilities
to doctors, but limited by doctor supervision, they are envisioned to provide
healthcare on a larger scale to more patients. Here they are images of the next
new wave of healthcare, a new generation of primary care providers that give
the system more flexibility in both labor and management.
To complete the forming image is my stint as a pharmacy
volunteer at Carter Hospital added to my overall perception of healthcare.
Often the only aspect of pharmacies commonly seen are the dispensing of
medication. Yet this one simple sounding task is closely associated with many
healthcare treatments. Changes in dosage or drug type can have a devastating
effect on the human body. Making sure the right medication is sent to the right
patient is an additional complexity. At Carter, I oversaw sorting the
prepackaged medication into bags with the appropriate labels placed on to
indicate the different wards and floors of the hospital. While the task felt
mundane, the way the task was connected to patient treatment was not. Diabetics
needing insulin, sedentary patients needing blood thinners, and hypertensive
patients needing blood pressure medication are but some of the many different
patients that relied on the medications provided by the pharmacy department.
The volunteer duties at the pharmacy demonstrated how the small tasks
contribute to the larger comprehensive treatment.
Together the doctors, administrators, physician assistants,
pharmacists, and surgeons help to run the healthcare system. Yet I have not
included untold numbers of other occupations such as physical therapists,
nutritionists, and nurses. The bigger picture of healthcare is a vast
assortment of occupations all attempt to work in coordination to help treat the
patient. I have experienced a large variety of roles through my job as a
medical assistant and through my experience as a volunteer in different
hospital departments. Physician assistants occupy an excellent position of
flexibility of being able to increase patient interaction through their
healthcare knowledge while at the same time able to coordinate their activities
with doctors.
As a history major aiming for a career in medicine, the
various pieces of healthcare combine to form an overall picture like how we
imagine the past through pieces of pictures and film. On the face of
healthcare, we have the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and receptionists. They
provide the upfront healthcare treatments directly to the patients. Yet behind
them are armies of supportive staff ranging from physician assistants to
administrators. I aim to join this massive healthcare system and hope to
combine my insights gained from my experiences to connect the different pieces
of healthcare together.
Para 1: Intro – H major 1) problem solving 2) trends/system
3) technology
Para 2: Problem solving – PCP à
versatile worker (w/ different roles) + exp/event where you stepped into
situation and made it better.
Para 3: Trends/systems – Working alongside pharmacy/PT à helps you understand
“big picture” of all the players in healthcare (not just Dr/RN) à PA choice
Para 4 Advances in tech – surgery – not just steps what was
learned + demonstrate
-
Application of medical knowledge
-
Adapting to new tech constantly
-
Grace under pressure
Para 5 Conclusion – Keep conclusion along same lines:
“As a history major aiming for a career in medicine, the
past has amply demonstrated its force on the present. The previous advances of
medical science render once dangerous health detriments into common ailments.
The successful operation of a finger abscess in the present was one that would
have disabled the victim’s whole hand in the past. The packaging of medication
in Carter’s pharmacy department was one absolute hazard in the past. I aim to
be a part of this trend of progression as society moves to a new era, the
golden age of the medical profession.”
OR Similar ~
#7.2
As a history major, I work with
limited clues about past events. Understanding how these different clues form a
big picture is a major aspect of not only history, but also healthcare.
Healthcare in the United States is complex. On the front end, there are primary
care physicians, community health centers, and emergency rooms. On the back
end, there are numerous allied health professions, support staff, and administrators.
Understanding each of these and how they work together requires looking at
healthcare from different viewpoints. My experience as a medical assistant
(MA), administrative assistant, pharmacy assistant, and emergency medical
technician (EMT) placed me in the position to view the key players who make
healthcare possible.
I first started working in a
medical clinic as an office assistant in high school. At first, the work was
relatively easy with data entry tasks. Over time I expanded my duties. First as
a replacement for the receptionist when she was absent. Second as a certified
phlebotomist who drew blood from patients. Eventually I worked up to MA, a role
combining the office assistant duties with those of a healthcare technician. I
performed electrocardiograms, drew blood from patients, took vital signs and
patient’s history, never forgetting the skills from my other roles that brought
me to this point. Of course, not all went smoothly. Sometimes I could not find
the vein on a patient. Other times, drawing the blood was a success but
labeling the blood samples was a disaster. Overtime, I learned how to “feel”
for veins. I was able to grow from failure because of the small scale of the
private clinic, which allowed for direct feedback from both the doctor and
clinic staff. My next page of my medical journey was working in pharmacy in
Carter Hospital.
Most people only think of
pharmacies as an institution that dispenses medication. Yet this one simple
task is closely associated with many patient treatments. Changes in dosage or
drug type can be detrimental to the human body. Making sure the right
medication is sent to the right patient was an additional complexity at Carter.
While the task felt mundane, the way the task was connected to patient treatment
was not. Diabetics needing insulin and hypertensive patients needing blood
pressure medication were some of the patients who relied on the pharmacy
department. The volunteer duties at the pharmacy demonstrated how the small
tasks contribute to the larger comprehensive treatment.
On the other hand, emergency
medical technicians work more directly with patients in crisis. On my path to
become a certified emergency medical technician, I shadowed Senior Care EMTs at
Mount Sinai Hospital. In the ambulances, we treated young adults, drug addicts
and elders on site. With such an immediate setting, our treatments were
limited. Working as an EMT revealed to me that I longed for engagement with
patients. I was always curious about the patient’s conditions after they had
left our gurney. This incomplete and gnawing feeling persisted until the end of
the day when we could follow up on the cases. The excitement of arriving on the
scene first was undeniable, but nothing quite felt as good as knowing that the
patient recovered. Working at the hospital solidified this sentiment.
My duties as an administrative
assistant at New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital was different
from the tight-knit staff of the private practice. Hospitals have multiple
independent groups working in a coordinated fashion. I caught glimpses of
different departments within the hospital while delivering paperwork. The
administration side of healthcare was the opposite of other healthcare
professions. There was little to no patient interaction and most of the daily
activities revolved around policies and procedures. You learned about new
procedures and changes before they were executed. I was fortunate enough to
attend staff meetings with my mentor, the Director of Physician Assistant
Services, and with the same director, I was able to witness my first vertebral
surgery.
The various facets of healthcare
professionals who provide direct care, combine to form an overall picture like
how we put together the past using pictures. Yet behind them are armies of
support staff ranging from Physician Assistants to administrators. Physician
Assistants retain the multifaceted function of the MA with the close
interaction of the EMT. Out of all the
roles thus far, the Physician Assistant stands out the most. With a tier of
supervision above them, Physician Assistants can work in a semi-autonomous
state. Physician Assistants are pioneers of the next wave of healthcare, a new
generation of primary care providers that give the system more flexibility in
both labor and management. With insights from my different experiences in
healthcare, I hope to find my place as a Physician Assistant while joining
hands with other essential workers, connecting the pieces of healthcare
together.
2020 PA Application
Have you ever previously been enrolled as a
student in a Physician Assistant program, Medical School (including foreign),
or any health profession, including but not limited to DO, Dentistry, Physical
Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, etc.?
Please EXPLAIN (250 charac):
I previously was
enrolled in St. Georges University – School of Medicine back in 2017. Straight
from college and worried about not making it into medical school, I took a dive
for the Caribbean Medical schools. I was caught completely unprepared for the rigors
of medical study and had to withdraw.
Please
describe how COVID-19 has impacted your pathway to becoming a Physician
Assistant. The questions below will help you get started, but do not limit your
responses to only these considerations. (2500 charc)
·
Academic: Did your school move to an online-only
curriculum? Were you able to interact with your professors? Did you have to
leave an academic program stateside or abroad? Did your school require you to
move to the Pass/Fail grading system? Did your original GRE exam get canceled
or delayed? Were there Other academic barriers?
·
Professional: Did you hold a job? Did you have to go
out and seek new job opportunities? Did you lose a job? Were there other
financial or professional barriers that you faced?
·
Personal: Did you have to move out of a house or
dorm? Did you have to cancel travel plans? Did you modify your planned
experiences related to healthcare or volunteer opportunities? Did you seek out
volunteer opportunities that arose from the crisis?
A massive global pandemic came suddenly into my life in March
when the NY governor first announced the closing of schools, non-essential
institutions and businesses. Since February, rumors about the new virus were
circulating through the community. However, I underestimated the threat of the
virus, thinking that it would be short lived like the 2009 Swine flu. Then March
came and suddenly everything was thrown into chaos.
At work, a large number of patients started to arrive with
complaints of fever, coughing, or difficulty breathing. One patient, a morbidly
obese diabetic, was particularly worrisome. He had come to the clinic three
times in the past month complaining about a chronic cough. When I took his
vitals this time, he had a 101-degree fever as well as tachycardia. The doctor
took a nasal sample for testing that ended up confirming our worst fears: COVID
19 had now reached Elmhurst. A couple of weeks later, the patient died, a foreboding
sign of things to come. The clinic was closed for a short period, before
reopening for telehealth and appointment visits only. Thankfully, my job was
still secure. However, my life was now in peril every time we had an in-person
office visit. I wore N95 respirators throughout the entire day and lost track
of the number of times I had to change my gloves. I was determined to fulfill
my role as an essential worker during these times of crisis.
At home, I was horrified to discover that the GRE tests were
being postponed. In addition, classes for the upcoming summer semester were
also changed to online courses leaving me worried about whether or not they
would be still counted towards of the schools prerequisites. Even my volunteer
program, the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, was cancelled robbing me of
my enjoyment of helping the community. Despite the set backs, I pressed on,
hopeful that updates in the future would improve the situation.
Everyone experiences the pandemic in unique and important
ways. For me the experience was akin to a baptism by fire. I came face-to-face
dozens of times with patients positive for COVID 19. Seeing healthy patients
suddenly die regardless of treatment was harrowing. The situation at home was
no better. I was stuck cooped up with chances to communicate and volunteer
limited. Yet the experience has hardened my resolve to continue advancing in
healthcare. I hope to be able to treat patients to a greater capacity than I
currently can in the future.
Hofstra
3 Reason to Choose Hofstra
-
-
-
How do you align with Hofstra PA program's
mission? Please discuss, briefly. (700 characters)?
SUNY Upstate
How do your educational and professional goals
align with our mission?
2021 PA Application
#8 PA
When I was young, I used to think healthcare revolved around
the clinical skills of the doctor. However, it was not until I started working
in healthcare that I noticed how vital other staff like allied health
professionals and administration were. My experience as a phlebotomist,
administrative assistant, and currently, as a medical assistant, has enabled me
to see firsthand how patient care extends far beyond the examination room. My
previous role as a phlebotomist taught me the importance of healthcare management.
While my short stint as an administrative assistant helped to illuminate the
confusing mire of healthcare, it also highlighted my interest in patient care
over management. My current role as a medical assistant has granted me the best
of both worlds: direct patient interaction and patient care management.
However, my scope of practice as a medical assistant is limited and my next
focus is to further expand my capabilities as a physician assistant (PA).
After completing college, I wandered around searching for
possible careers in a desultory fashion. My recent healthcare focus had fizzled
out and I was stuck without any skills whatsoever. I decided to start small by
focusing on phlebotomy. After drawing blood from more than 50 patients within a
few months, I was confident in my skills. Unfortunately, my excellent blood
draws had no effect on administrative billing policies. I could get the blood
from the patients, but often ran into the issue of coding and insurance
coverage. Irate patients would return demanding to know why they were given a
bill for certain tests. There was also a lot of confusion over what tests would
be covered, especially for special tests. These insurance issues repeatedly
jeopardized good doctor-patient relations and revealed the importance of the
administrative side of healthcare to me. In fact, most patient complaints were
usually involving insurance coverages of tests and medication instead of
healthcare decisions. Curious, I turned from phlebotomy to healthcare administration
inspired to get to the core of patient issues.
What I faced in healthcare administration was a perspective
full of compliance and regulations. Everything was scheduled to follow a
specific workflow or policy. In administration, the daily tool was the phone
and email instead of the stethoscope and syringe. By far the most fulfilling
aspect was the ability to fully address patient economic and social concerns.
From giving discounts for medical services to changing a doctor’s appointment
due a sudden family emergency, administration always had the final say in the
issue. However, most of the day was spent dealing with paperwork or meetings.
In addition, we had to deal with complaints from not only patients, but
employees as well. Staff issues revolved around pay, time off, and the work
schedule. The work gave me access to medical professionals like doctors,
nurses, physician assistants, and medical assistants. I listened to the various
issues about the current healthcare system and gained insight into their scopes
of practice. After a year of volunteering as an administrative assistant, the
lack of hands-on patient interaction was draining my psyche. I turned back
towards healthcare this time focused on the occupation of physician
assistant.
I first encountered PAs while training as a phlebotomist at
a Bayside private practice. The practice served as a rotation site for
physician assistants from NYIT and St. Johns. I was fortunate enough to work
with these PAs and see how they fulfilled similar duties as physicians. To
further explore the occupation, I shadowed under another PA at Brooklyn
Methodist Hospital. This experience differed in that the PA specialized in
neurosurgery, giving me a chance to see a cervical spine disc replacement in
person. Both experiences demonstrated that the PA occupation was versatile and
open to various career pathways. Just like doctors, PAs could practice primary
care as well as specialized in different body systems. The only major
difference arises from limited PA responsibilities due to physician
supervision.
Pursuing a career as an PA helps to fulfill my itch for
direct healthcare interaction. Patient interactions are the foundation of
healthcare and are important to not only patients, but medical professionals as
well. Patients require trust in their relationship with their doctor and this
extends to the doctor’s management of the practice. Doctors and other
associated healthcare personnel, in turn, rely on patients both financially and
socially, for without patients, healthcare loses its meaning. The best way to
keep the doctor-patient relation stable is to keep both the administrative
section and healthcare section closely coordinated. To that end, being a PA
leaves open the possibly of a dual administration and provider role, leading to
a higher quality of healthcare.
#9 Application Written by 3AM Fever Dream
I am a history major fascinated by problem solving and
trends – elements that reflect my experience and goal of being a physician
assistant. Physician assistants are an emerging trend in the field of primary
care. The whole field of primary care itself is undergoing change at a rapid
pace thanks to emerging technologies and shifts in patient management. The
original long reigning trend was medical reductionism with a focus on different
specialties working independently. However, there is a new push for greater
access to primary care through telemedicine and advanced practice providers
such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Working as a medical
assistant under a primary care physician has allowed me to witness these
changing trends right before my eyes.
My first internship at a primary care physician was a
Sysphysian task. As a medical assistant I was buried in duties, countless
documents needed to be authorized, scanned, copied, or filed. Phone calls
periodically broke the tranquil atmosphere and interrupted the flow of work.
Even after all the patient appointments were done for the day, there was
another arduous chore of following up on billing payments. At our medical
practice was a group of intern physician assistants working right by me. I was
able to witness their skills firsthand and wanted to emulate them. They had a
leading role in treating patients, taking careful notes, and address patient
concerns. Their careful and through treatments for each patient inspired me.
I first encountered PAs while training as a phlebotomist
at a Bayside private practice. The practice served as a rotation site for
physician assistants from NYIT and St. Johns. I was fortunate enough to work
with these PAs and see how they fulfilled similar duties as physicians. They
performed full examination on patients and could prescribe medication and
referrals. Essentially, they were the equivalent of doctors in the private
practice and could work for most part on their own in this primary care role.
My time shadowing the neuro physician assistant at
Brooklyn Methodist Hospital further expanded my outlook on physician
assistants. There I was able to work in an administrative capacity, while also
getting hands on experience about practice workflow. I was fortunate enough to
witness two major surgical operations, and coordination among the physician
assistants and surgeons. Their displays of competence in saving people lives
impressed me. There is nothing more spectacular than a surgeon slowly peeling
back the layers of skin to reveal the underlying anatomy. Pages of anatomy
textbooks and biology lessons will never quite prepare you for the actual
visual appearance of the inner human body. There is little to no blood present
and there is a sheen over the fleshy bits of the body. Putting the body back
together after the operation is another whole procedure of making sure nothing
is left behind inside the patient’s body. The real shocker was physician
assistant role as a co surgeon during and after the procedure, which
highlighted the diverse roles possible for physician assistants.
With shortages of medical doctors in nation, especially in
rural areas, the role of physician assistant can fill out this missing gap in
care. Physician assistants can treat patients and prescribe medications just
like doctors. With ease of training and lower cost, physician assistants have
become the latest trend in healthcare management. The rapid changes of
reimbursement model from a pay-for-service to a pay-for-performance or quality.
The “quality” in this case is proven by endless reports, procedures, and
performance assessments. As a medical assistant, I compiled many reports using
the electronic health records registry to look for “high risk” patients with
comorbidities, patients missing follow up appointments, and patients missing
benchmark diagnostics. These new benchmark requirements led to standardization
of once neglected coordination tasks like following up for medication
reconciliation and specialty patient assessments forms. Performance measures
like Meaningful Use and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System also
incentivize for greater coordination between doctors and patients. With so many
metrics to follow up on, doctors needed subordinates like physician assistants
capable of working semi-independently.
As a history major aiming for a career in medicine, the
past has amply demonstrated its force on the present. Healthcare, long broken
into separate silos of primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, faces a
new challenge of patient integration. Bringing in more preventative care
measures as well as technology is crucial to effective healthcare. Trying to
prevent the overuse of tertiary services is needed to providing long term
stability to healthcare. Physician assistants and other advanced practice
providers are integral to this new shift from pay for service to pay for
performance. With my experiences as a phlebotomist and medical assistant, I
look forwards to taking the next step as a physician assistant.
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