As my alarm goes off at 6:30 and I look outside to see it still being pitch black, I get up to begin my day. Going downtown is my favorite part of my week, as I currently live back home with my family in Plainfield, IL and always look forward to being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city. However, that means I have a long commute ahead of me. My Metra ride to Union Station gives me a ton of time to read a book, listen to music, or catch up on sleep. Once I arrive at Union Station, I usually grab a quick bite to eat and head up to the Adams street exit to begin my short 15 minute walk to the Legal Council for Health Justice.
My typical day at the Legal Council for Health Justice begins at 9am, where I log into Epic, our Electronic Medical Records System, and check our clinic schedules. Our legal clinic is partnered with Howard Brown Health and Christian Community Health Center, where we staff attorneys and advocates to assist with any legal needs that impact the health of our clients. I call our clients to confirm their appointments, as well as document a quick summary of their legal issue so our staff can be prepared ahead of time. Our Howard Brown Sheridan location has been especially busy as of late, so for simpler issues, such as requesting a name change or applying for public benefits such as SNAP, I can direct the interview and relay information over to my supervisor so they can provide any legal advice.
Around 10am is the time that our staff begins what we call CAM (Case Acceptance Meeting). CAM is a collective effort that our attorneys and advocates have to give advice on new cases, and to decide if we will accept, bring back, or deny a case. My responsibility during CAM is to document the notes for each new case, and to keep our referral guide up to date. Our legal team provides services primarily to those who are patients of our partnered clinics or are HIV+. If we cannot provide direct representation ourselves, we work together to provide the best possible referrals and advice needed to ensure the client has the direction needed to get their issue addressed.
After grabbing lunch, my day can vary greatly depending on the current tasks I have assigned by our attorneys. Today, I have an appointment to assist a client with a Social Security Disability Application. Due to the stressful nature of these applications, I offer clients the option to stop by our office so we can fill out these applications together. Throughout these applications, I truly get to know our clients at a deeper level, as they entrust with me the confidence to be vulnerable regarding their current health and financial situations. As an aspiring physician, I truly value the opportunity I get to listen and support our clients through these applications, as it gives me a critically important perspective into the social determinants of our community members' health. I greatly appreciate the effort our clients give me throughout my time working with them, so at the end of our appointments I always thank and acknowledge the trust they’ve given me.
To round out my day, I typically meet with my host site supervisor to provide updates and discuss my assignment load . A common assignment I have is to review medical records for our attorneys, as these documents allow us to gain insight into the objective medical findings from our client’s physicians in regards to their conditions. Doing a deep dive into a client’s medical records is typically accompanied by looking into the Social Security Blue Book of Disability Listings, as these contain the objective requirements for a person’s condition to meet a disability listing. Before I leave for the day, I check Epic again to assure I did not miss any new appointments for our legal clinic.
I greatly value the opportunity I have to connect with individuals from all walks of life throughout my service with the Legal Council for Health Justice, and look forward to continuing to learn more about the resources available to help assist those in obtaining the dignity, wellness, and care they deserve.
Position Title: Special Populations, Community, Client, and Partner Liaison
Where are you from? I was raised in Plainfield, IL
Why did you decide to join NHC?
After working in an ER and being exposed to many of the healthcare inequalities that our patients faced, I decided to join the NHC so I can make a positive impact on the community while playing a role in addressing these issues.
What are you hoping to gain or learn during your service term?
