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Keeping the Clinic Open - brainstorming

Hi everybody.

I'm starting this as a separate thread in order to focus on the single issue of keeping the clinic open during breaks. I'm hoping to have some good, open communication and hear some different perspectives and ideas for the mutual benefit of both the students and the administration.

The recent policy change to require students to make up missed clinic shifts during the break has been met with less than an enthusiastic response from students. What I'm hearing from students is that you feel this is a "punitive" decision and that you don't like being 'punished' for getting sick. I'm concerned about hearing people say that this policy will lead them to choose to work their clinic shifts even when they are ill. So for me, this is two issues; keeping the clinic open during breaks and encouraging interns to take the day off when they are sick.

Let's look at this from a professional perspective. You don't want to treat patients when you are sick; it isn't good for business. Patients don't want to sit in a small room with a person who is contagious. It's very bad for your business to pass your illnesses on to patients. You don't look good when you're sick. Patients do not want to be treated by someone that looks ill. It does not inspire confidence. You want your patients to feel safe when they come to see you. If they are worrying about what cooties you're spreading, they don't feel safe. This may mean that they don't come back to see you again. When you're paying for your clinic hours, maybe that's not such a big deal, but when you're paying rent on a space, you really care about how many people return to see you again.

I want you to feel like staying home when you're sick is the very best choice you can make. For yourself, for your patient, for your practice, for the community at AIMC. So, to that end, how can AIMC encourage you to make that wise choice?

Now about the other issue. The fact of the matter is, we need to keep the clinic open during breaks. Closing the clinic (as has been the practice for many years) causes a significant lull in the schedule for the first few weeks of every trimester. Our patients get out of the habit of coming every week and find other uses for the money they spend at AIMC. We need to figure out how to reverse that trend. It is a benefit to both the school and the interns that we maintain a steady flow of patients and income. So, how do we do it?

The short answer is, interns need to work over break. Obviously it isn't helpful to the professional setting if those interns are insolent and angry that they are here. We need you to want to be here.

What incentives can AIMC offer you? What sorts of things can you think of that would make intersession clinic an attractive option for you? What do you need to inspire you to "take one for the team'" as it were, and do intersession clinic?

Brainstorming is a process where we open our minds and consider all the ideas that come into it. They will not all be good ideas. They will not all be viable or sustainable ideas. Throw them out there anyway, please. From an unsustainable idea may come a sustainable one, you never know. I also think it is really important to develop our communicative skills and practice communicating with each other in a warm, respectful, professional manner. With that, I open the floor. I'm very excited to hear your ideas.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Valerie on October 10, 2009 at 11:02am: Deb you are amazing!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Petra Schirra on October 14, 2009 at 4:23pm: Hi there,

thank you Deb for putting in all this effort and making it all so clear. I wanted to say something about communication. I am a new transfer student at this school and so don't know how it all works yet. I feel there is a big communication gap here at AIMC. I know more about issues at this school then some of my class mates who have been here from the start. In my opinion it should be the student councils job to help with the process of communication. I don't see that happening. I am worried that decisions are made with a whole bunch of students never knowing what is going on. Maybe my impression is wrong since I don't know the whole system yet. I would like to know how student council works and if there is a president of the student council. I would be great if people that are involved in student council could take turns coming to meetings with the administrations and bring in the concerns of their cohorts and report back about the outcome of the meetings via a school wide email. I don't know if that is unrealistic, but I am willing to help with communication. I am not the best writer, but would like to see better communication.

I also want to say another thing about the rooms. I have had 3 treatments here at this clinic so far and I really miss heat lamps. My feet tend to get cold lying there and I am sure not the only one who gets cold feet. In order to have a good and successful treatment it is important not to freeze. I heard that especially in the winter it gets cold. For me as a client I will think twice about getting treated at AIMC if I know I will freeze during an apt. Heat lamps are a good way to keep feet and legs warm, even when the room is not at an optimal temperature.

So if anyone could give me the lowdown about student council and how it works I would very much appreciate it.

Petra; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Donna Chang on October 14, 2009 at 6:21pm: I agree that since not all students can attend the town hall meetings and not everyone checks the Acu Channel, there has to be an alternative way to communicate. To be honest, since I am a "straggler", I am not entirely sure how student council communicate to other students regarding what they do, except on occasion when they talk casually to other students about "what's going on in the school" before class, during class breaks etc. But I think there should be a better way to get the meetings details than "thru the grapevine" only. I suggest that all Town Hall meetings summaries to be emailed to all students or publicized in some ways. I know Ken has been summarizing the key points discussed in Town Hall meetings on poster-size paper. I wonder, if instead he can type them in (projected live on white board) as the meeting progress and send them out afterwards?

Thanks
Donna
(I will email him on that too, in case he doesn't read this.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Deb Gorman on October 14, 2009 at 7:55pm: Well, due to the weather and some other unforeseen circumstances, my meeting with Beau did not happen. We had a bit of email exchange and this is her summary...

I had my regular Tuesday meetings today and I have to admit they were short and yet
fruitful. The student meetings were so important to have. Both Teri and I feel they
are very effective. We're going through the list of issues and address at least 2-3
of the issues at our leadership meetings.

Teri will email everyone on the fee schedule decision. It was a unanimous vote and
we'll test it out this trimester. I think you'll be pleased.

I spoke to many students about the need for academic support or advisors and we came
up with a very good solution to create that support. I am super happy about this
one.

In regards to practice building for the clinic I'd like to try limited promotions.
Like monthly specials, $5 Tuesdays, Senior Saturdays, etc.

Beau

I will make another attempt to connect tomorrow.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Deb Gorman on October 14, 2009 at 8:02pm: Petra,

I agree, it would be amazing to have the wheels of student council working. Unfortunately a few cohorts are unrepresented and our two reps (T4) are resigning. I will speak for myself and say that the process at school has been disturbing for the past two semesters and I for one am in no hurry to put myself into that level of process. That's why I took on my own piece that felt appropriate for me. We do have a president, Tony, he's in our Formulas class. He was at the "town meeting" I attended and reported that the student council is following the bylaws to deal with the representation problem. I will talk to him about how I might fit in with the conversation I am having with Beau.

Thanks for your contribution.

I have no idea about the heat lamps. I am just getting started down there. It sounds like a good idea. I think Beau would be the person to direct your question to. She is the clinic supervisor.

Deb; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Petra Schirra on October 16, 2009 at 10:39am: Thank you Deb, I will approach Tony and see how I can help.

Petra; ▶ Reply to This