Dental Clinic and other Affairs

Well as I wrote on my previous post, I was finally volunteering at the Dental Clinic. Let me say something about San Jose Dental Clinic. As I mentioned before, the clinic has 3 floors. The first floor deals with signing in and out, scheduling appointments, becoming a member, and mostly about organizing papers! The second floor locates the Pharmacy, medical, optometric, and pediatric aisles. The third floor is where the dental clinic is located and some human resources offices. Yesterday I was thinking of this structure as the inverse of what you see in Dante's Inferno. As you know, Dante lowered through all the circles of Hell, each worse than the previous one, so he could go to through Purgatory and finally get to the Paradiso to see his beloved Beatrice. Well, I see each level of the clinic as a circle of Paradiso where the Dental Clinic is the final step. Very funny, I know... My experience in the Dental facilities really helped me to understand what it is that you need to become a dentist. So much needs to happen to get that flow going around the Clinic. I feel grateful that I had the chance to experience what happens at San Jose Clinic. The staff is very appreciative of your volunteer work and they let you know every time you go there. Although I was not so sure about volunteering at the beggining mostly because I had to work and deal with family and other affairs, I would treasure this experience forever.

This is the entrance to the dental clinic located at the third floor in the San Jose Clinic

One of the stations were I was stationed during my volunteer time.

One of the doctors at the dental clinic!

Finally... Dental Clinic part 1

So, I was able to work at the Dental Clinic this week. It was pretty hectic and the nurses just let me go around the place. I really liked how clean and efficient the facility is. The head dentist was so funny! He was making jokes with me about how painful dental school is going to be. The other doctors seem to enjoy the company of others. They were very easy going with the patients too. I got nothing to do the first hour. It was very dissapointed, to be honest. But, I got the opportunity to see how it works to be a dentist and to treat patients. For example, this patient came very nervous, it was his first time going to the dentist and he was well over 50. He needed work on his front teeth. The dentist took all the time familiarizing with the patient, talking to him about what he expected to do with his new teeth. And I thought that was amazing because the dentist used the future to motivate the patient. I guess few people realize that there must be this friendly empathic side on each dentist.

Playing Receptionist vol. 2

Well this week I worked helping the girls scheduling patients. It was a very hectic couple of hours because many of the doctors were not able to see their patients on their usual schedule, so everything just piled up! On top of calling to re-schedule appointments, we had to call to remind other patients of their upcoming visits. I did several doctors' worksheets and ocassionally I found myself on a long over the phone conversation with one or two patients. It is amazing how many of the patients do not remember their doctor's appointment, or their doctor at all!! In the meantime, I became friends with the girls who work so hard keeping the clinic on schedule. For sure, I am seeing receptionists, and other people who keep offices, clinics, practices running smoothly with so much respect after these past weeks.

First floor Reception Area

The last three weeks of volunteer work, I was working with the scheduling ladies making sure that patients would be reminded of their upcomming appointments.

Another pic with the most happiests, laughable, nicests receptionist I have ever met in my entire life!