INTERVIEW
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How has the medical field shaped you to the person you are today?
AMANDA:I feel that it has helped me learn to manage my time is different ways. When you work in this field everyday is different so you just roll with the punches
Reflection: From hearing this, it makes me think of all the new things I will learn with being in this field and the interesting things I will learn.
QUESTIONS BY: ADAIZHA PINNOCK
ANSWERED BY: AMANDA MOORE AND TIFFANY BAKER
2. What is the best part of working in the medical field?
AMANDA:The best part of working in this field is everyday you learn something new.
Reflection: I’ve heard this a lot from people in this field and very thrilled that this is something I will have for a lifetime.
3. What are two reasons you chose to become to CMA?
AMANDA: I really never chose the medical field in the beginning. I have an associates in early childhood, so I could be that mom that was at home with my kids on the weekends, nights and summer. However I have always had the want to help people just wasn't sure what direction. So once my children got older I decided to see what was out there and what doors would open for me. And there is something about the human body that fascinates me.
Reflection: I can relate to this because at first I wanted to go into teaching, but then I realized knowing about the human body is more interesting. I figured out that I could still work with kids if I go into the pediatrics area in this field.
4. Why did you choose to work in an orthopedic office?
AMANDA:When I started I never chose one specialty. I looked on website to see where I could get my foot in the door.
Reflection: This outlook can be helpful to people and not always you can start where you actually want to be at.
5. How do you balance work life with personal life?
AMANDA:I try my best to never take what happens at work to home and vice versa.
Reflection: I understand this completely and I have to do this now when I have stressful days at school while going through stressful days at cheer.
6. What are your biggest complaints about the medical field?
TIFFANY: so our biggest complaint would be being overworked and underpaid. Unfortunately, you run into this in any medical environment.
Reflection: I definitely agree with this. They do a lot with helping the doctors and taking care of the patients. They should be able to have a higher pay because they spend more time with the patients then the doctors do.
7. How do you try and create a great patient experience?
AMANDA:I always try to think of the patient as my family. If someone was dealing with my parents/grandparents or child I would want them to be kind and caring. And just take that extra time to know someone cares.
Reflections: I’ve seen this a lot in my office and I believe it creates a better environment. Me as a patient, I like when the nurses and doctors bring a welcoming attitude when you walk through the office.
8. How do you deal with stressful days at work?
AMANDA:So when days get stressful I try to remember that I am blessed to have a job that I love going to and I can make a difference in someone's life. I also try to remember that I'm only one person and I can only do what I am trained to do.
Reflection: This is a great outlook in a job and you have to stay blessed that you have a job that you like rather than you being miserable with a job you don't like. I want to be able to enjoy my life in the career I love.
9. Explain one situation where you had to deal with a patient that didn’t want to corporate.
AMANDA: So when you work in Orthopedics you have to remember people come to us because they are in pain or they have been injured. I remember one patient that was not a happy from the start. Nothing we did made her happy. After years of hurting she finally came into the office and after a examination and X-rays she was told that she would need to have a knee replacement. A few months later she had this done and was very bitter at the fact that her pain was still present. She would always call the office and for some reason would only ask for just ME!! She would fuss me out every time. It didn't matter if it was because she was in pain, she needed a refill, or just had a question about aftercare she was not pleasant. All knew was to just listen and apologize even though it wasn't my fault. You have to remember that you don't know what people have went through or struggled with before they came to us.
Reflection: the way she handled this situation was great and I’ve even experienced a patient getting mad at the office I am at. In this field not every patient will be happy even if you do everything possible for them.
10. What is one positive and one negative about having this job?
AMANDA:Some positive/rewarding things about my job is every day is something new. We get to create bonds with patients that come to us not being able to walk or needs assistance of device to help them get around. And once we do surgery they get their independent back and it gives them a new lease on life!! And I also completely blessed to work with people that feel more like family.
And some negatives Would be that sometimes there are patients you can't help and have to say no to because having surgery would do more harm to them. Also when you deal with people in pain they can be very mean at times. So just learning to be a listening ear and a shut mouth is hard at times.
Reflection: I think the positives definitely outweigh the negatives and it's great when you can identify these.