Practicum Review and Critique

Maria Torres

May 5, 2017

Practicum 460

Practicum Review and Critique

During my practicum, I was able to attend the Health Alliance meetings and learn the many resources and services organizations offer to the community. One of the meetings that I attended was extremely helpful, they discussed Medicaid expansion and its benefits. Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the proposed law in March. One great resource that I learned during this meeting was a program that the YMCA offers to patients that have just been diagnosed as pre-diabetes patients and referred from their primary doctors to the program. The plans consist of developing a healthy food plan and exercise plan so the patient can refrain from becoming diagnosed with diabetes. They stated this is the only program of its kind here in Kansas and at the beginning of this year it will be covered by Medicaid. Thorough this meetings, I was able to use my Community Dimension of Practice Skills because I learned of different resources available for our community. Another great event I was invited to be part of was the Susan G. Komen event, that Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation sponsors at Wesley Medical Center. The event was a round table discussion about addressing breast cancer and disparities in our community.  During this event, I learned breast cancer is a big problem for African Americans in our state. In Sedgwick County, between the years of 2010-2014 the percentage of African Americans diagnosed with breast cancer was at 32.3% compared to whites which was only 17.6%. During this event, I was able to use my communications skills because we were sharing our opinions on how some women are treated differently in our health care systems. Another core competency, I was able to use during this event was my Community Dimension of Practice Skills because I learned of some of the programs that are available in our state for women to do their yearly visits at low cost or no cost. The state has a program call the early detection works program where the women after the age of 40 get a free mammogram each year. I don’t work directly with women older than 40, but in our public health you meet with different stakeholder that may need that information. The last event I was able to attend during my practicum was the fourth annual Health Care Ethics conference that my practicum site organizes every year. The conference was amazing with excellent speakers that had a lot of good information. The first speaker was Dr. Wynne Morrison, she discussed ethics at the end of life in pediatrics. She told great stories about critically ill children and how she has always tried to support the parents’ decisions if she knew the patient will live a little bit longer. She stated “the only time I approached them with other believes is when I know we did everything medical possible to help the patient.”  Another great speaker was Malachi Winters from the Sedgwick Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department. He gave us great examples of when it is appropriate to call 911. He also explained how the EMS department has tried to implement better services for the EMS department to cope with the all the deaths they deal with. He stated “we need better services and if you have any suggestions please share them with me.” It’s sad to know the EMS department do not have the resources for their employees to have psychology benefits. On this day I was able to use my community dimension skills because I learned some of the benefits the EMS departments here in Sedgwick County do not have. I also learned, what are acceptable reasons to call 911. During these three events, I was able to use two of my three competencies my Communication Skills and Community Dimension of Practice Skills. My third core competency is Analytic/Assessment skills and I was able to practice my skills when I worked on one of my main project of updating IRB (Institutional Review Board) forms.

Through my practicum, I gained great experience using developer in Microsoft Word and learned to create different kinds of forms. I also gained great experience on the IRB (Institutional Review Board) and learned what the job duties of the committee are. Also, through my practicum I learned the process of all the forms investigators have to submit when they are developing a new research study.

I started to plan for my practicum since last year because I wanted it to be complete the class last Summer, but my plans change after talking to my advisor. I knew I wanted to get a different perspective on the research world that is why I contacted WMREF (Wichita Medical Education Foundation). I decided to start with my practicum early in the semester because I wanted to be able to finish early, but my plans changed after accepting a great opportunity. I started with my dream job at the beginning of March and just because of the circumstances of the events at my new job I had to take a week off from my practicum. With my new job I traveled a lot, but I have been able to manage my hours to still work 30-35 hours per week and finish my practicum just in time.

Both of my preceptors were great they provided me with all the resources available in the organization for me to be able to perform my job. One strength both of my preceptors possess is their communications. I appreciated when they would share their expertise about the IRB processes and the steps investigators take when they submit their new study. They always communicated well with me what forms needed to get done. Also, they told me when they believed I was able to improve the forms and that was a great key for my success in the agency.  Another great strength that both of my preceptors have is their flexibility. They trusted me to know how to arrange my day and allowed me to work the hours that were more convenient for me. We tried to set up a schedule for the convenience of all of us, but if a day didn’t work with me they were open to change dates and time for me to meet my hours. One weakness of both of my preceptors was their time. Both of my preceptors are busy women and sometimes they didn’t have the time to interact with me as much as I would have liked. Towards the end of the semester it seems they had less time because all of the residents were trying to close their studies and they seemed busier. I was able to tell when they were under stress and I tried to not bother them unless it was necessary. As I mention early both of my preceptors were great with their communications, but one think they failed on their communications was to tell me little details of the organization, example: do not print from certain printers, and other details that would have been helpful to know.

The organization welcomed me even though they knew it may be stressful having a student with them. They haven’t had a student in years, but they decided to give it a try and I greatly appreciate them for that. One strength of the agency was their flexibility to work with me in my hours. My preceptors work from home on Mondays, but they told me I was able to come to the office and get my hours in. If I had any issues I was able to reach them right away. The flexibility of the agency may help any student, but I think they have decided to not get students for a while because they believe they do not have the time a student needs to gain a good experience in the research field.  One thing the organization can improve on is their communication. I know that is contradicting what I said about my preceptors, but I believe the organization should communicate more often on what is going on with their job at each level.  Another suggestion for the agency is not necessary to help improve with a student, but it may help the organization. During my practicum, they invited me to different events, but the person who was organizing the event was not sharing the event details to the organization and at the last minute they were struggling to get things done.

As I start my health care experience one skill I need to improve is to understand more of the process on how to write grants. Now, that I work in non-profit organization I know we depend on grants to be able to offer the services to the community.  Another skill I need to improve in my career is my writing and oral communication. During my practicum I was able to practice my communications skills, but not as much as I should. The key to success in a non-profit organization is to learn to network with the right people and engage in a conversation.  My first goal in five years is to obtain my Master Degree either my MPH or MPA. My first strategy to decide what master program I want to persuade is to work in the field and decide which master will better fit where I see my career heading. I’m going to try to apply for my Master Degree in the fall of 2018 or the spring of 2019. My next goal in five years is to accomplish my job description and have trained Safe Sleep Instructors (SSI) around the entire state of Kansas. At this point my grant may end, but I know this would only mean that I will change the outcome of our community. My third goal is to work hard and keep my current position, if we find other grants to support it or find a different position in a non-profit organization where I will continue to better the health of our community. While working in a non-profit organization we depend on grants for almost everything, but all my goals tie in with one another and if I can develop the skills needed in order to write grants properly I may be able to apply for other grants to keep my position. I enjoy my current position because I feel I am making a difference in the community and I hope in five years grant money allows me to still be a part of a great organization.