3 Skills for a Successful Service Term by Brooke Panzarella
Posted on: March 22, 2021Philadelphia
I have been a member of NHC since beginning my first service term in August 2019. After almost two service terms, I have taken the time to reflect on the skills that I have strengthened that have allowed me to successfully provide medications for patients.
For these past two terms, I have been serving as a patient advocate through one of Philadelphia's Department of Public Health’s clinics. My role consists of providing uninsured or underinsured patients with access to free or reduced costs medications through prescription assistance programs.
Serving in this role has emphasized the importance of clear and concise communication with patients. The process for obtaining medications for a patient can take anywhere from one to six weeks. I make sure to explain to patients the entire application process and that the program does not operate like a typical pharmacy. I have learned that creating a space for open communication can be helpful and comforting for patients going through the program .
When handling applications and medications for many patients, staying organized is important in order to successfully provide for your patients. On any given day, I could receive anywhere from one to ten medications in the office. It is extremely important to make sure that each patient receives not only the correct medication, but also the correct amount of medication. These tasks are achieved by following the organizational system set in place by the clinic and previous AmeriCorps’ members.
Oftentimes, one may find that a medication arriving “tomorrow” actually arrives three days later. For situations like this, it is necessary to be flexible. There are several moving parts that go into obtaining a medication for a patient which can create hiccups in the process. For instance, typically a patient is required to provide proof of income, but for some patients this could take weeks to obtain. Emphasizing your flexibility to a patient can help to take away some of the stress that they may feel.
Ultimately, I have learned that to successfully provide medications for patients:
1. Communication is key,
2. Staying organized is important,
Brooke graduated from The Catholic University of America. She is serving her second term with NHC Philadelphia and hopes to learn more about the community that she serves.
Serving in this role has emphasized the importance of clear and concise communication with patients. The process for obtaining medications for a patient can take anywhere from one to six weeks. I make sure to explain to patients the entire application process and that the program does not operate like a typical pharmacy. I have learned that creating a space for open communication can be helpful and comforting for patients going through the program .
When handling applications and medications for many patients, staying organized is important in order to successfully provide for your patients. On any given day, I could receive anywhere from one to ten medications in the office. It is extremely important to make sure that each patient receives not only the correct medication, but also the correct amount of medication. These tasks are achieved by following the organizational system set in place by the clinic and previous AmeriCorps’ members. 
