Volunteers in Medicine

Katie D.

October 1, 2009 - 5:36 PM

After six months away, I returned to my volunteer position as an interpreter at Volunteers in Medicine yesterday. I have to admit that I was pretty nervous about coming back after such a long time! I have worked very hard to learn the necessary medical Spanish, and to practice during this time away, but I was afraid of making mistakes that might affect a patient's health, afraid that the place would feel unwelcome after so long, and just plain afraid that I'd say something dumb. Despite all my practicing and the amount of time I have spent with them in the past, I would call all of these reasonable fears.

The first thing I heard when the doors opened in the morning was one woman remarking to another that she had never received better care than she does at Volunteers in Medicine.

Let me contextualize this. As I have written in a previous blog, Volunteers in Medicine is a free medical clinic that serves the uninsured members of our community living above the poverty line, but below an income level that would allow for the acquisition of private health care.

Without places like Volunteers in Medicine, our clients would probably find themselves without any health care at all, or relying exclusively on emergency procedures and drowning in hospital bills. The clinic has a tiny staff, and relies on members of the community to volunteer their time and experience as doctors, nurses, records keepers, phlebotomists, office staff, pharmacists, eligibility screeners, and interpreters. Many of these positions require a high level of skills and training, and the professionals who volunteer their time at VIM could probably find high-paying employment elsewhere.

We volunteer there because, as that client told her friend, there are few options for quality health care for those with low incomes. And we also keep coming back for another reason that she cited: because the volunteers, employees, and clients of the clinic are all so dedicated to the organization.

I have never served in a volunteer position that was more rewarding. I feel useful during the whole time I am there. Yesterday as I worked as English/Spanish interpreter I made reminder phone calls, worked as a greeter, translated for two people, and helped new volunteer trainees find their meeting room. I love being able to apply my Spanish in such an important way. I often translate for the nurses as they check patients in and go over preliminary symptoms and procedures, like taking temperature and blood pressure. But I also sometimes translate for the doctors themselves, enabling a conversation that could make a serious difference in the health and happiness of the patient.

I have volunteered at VIM off and on for three years now. During fall term I will be volunteering there every Wednesday morning from 8:30 to noon. I hope I will have the opportunity to improve my Spanish, to make new friends among the other volunteers, and to put my studies to use in the community.

After all, if my academic skills don't translate into the real world, then what's the point?