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Reflection Paper

Baylee Turner

College of Health Sciences, Georgia College & States University

KINS 4306 – Internship in Public Health

Dr. Ernie Kaninjing

April 14, 2024

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Introduction

My name is Baylee Turner, and I am interning at East Georgia Healthcare Center in

Metter, Ga. East Georgia Healthcare Center is a non-profit, community-owned health center

providing services across 14 counties in southeast Georgia, including Emanuel, Bulloch,

Treutlen, Toombs, Tattnall, Jenkins, Candler, Appling, Wayne, Montgomery, Jenkins, Jefferson,

Screven, and Evans County. East Georgia Healthcare Center also has three mobile units that

enable the expansion of its reach beyond the clinic office. The first office was started in

Swainsboro, Ga in 1994 and now serves as the corporate office. East Georgia Healthcare Center

offers several services such as adult and pediatric medicine, chronic care management,

behavioral health, dental care, chiropractic care, family planning, pharmacy services, optometry,

telemedicine, and health insurance enrollment.

The staff at East Georgia Healthcare Center is made up of many teams and team

members. Across all locations, our providers consist of 28 family nurse practitioners, 5 licensed

clinical social workers, 4 physician assistants, 10 medical doctors, 3 pediatricians, 1 nurse

practitioner, 1 optometrist, 2 chiropractors, and 3 registered Pharmacists. At the Metter location,

we have 2 family nurse practitioners, 2 medical assistants, 1 patient representative, and 1 office

manager. Occasionally, providers and medical assistants from other locations assist us due to the

small size of our office and team.

At East Georgia Healthcare Center, we treat a wide range of clients with a wide range of

conditions. The most common reason patients come to see us is due to hypertension and diabetes

management. We also serve as the primary care provider for many individuals. We see patients

from all different types of backgrounds, cultures, and ages. The priority population at East

Georgia Healthcare Center is the low-income and uninsured.

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East Georgia Healthcare Center has a mission to help all people live healthy lives by

providing quality, primary, and preventive health services. The team at East Georgia Healthcare

Center welcomes all patients and provides the best care possible. The team works around any

barriers that may arise ensuring that everyone receives the attention and treatment they deserve. I

am very grateful for my internship experience at East Georgia Healthcare Center and the

opportunity to work with this dedicated team.

Description of Experiences

My role as an intern began as just shadowing our Nurse Practitioner Kim Fulmer and

Phyllis Dixon which involved observing their daily activities, interacting with patients, and

participating in various aspects of patient care. While shadowing I was able to ask our FNP's

questions and discuss any challenges that arose to ensure that I was able to get the most out of

the learning experience. As I became more familiar with the office environment, I was given

more responsibilities. I assisted in patient assessments and prepared patients for consultations

with our nurse practitioners. I also assisted in health screenings to underserved populations by

visiting camps using our mobile units. I reviewed patient records and documentation to ensure

they were up to date and accurate.

Working on my internship project was my favorite part and most rewarding part of my

internship. My project goal was to achieve a 10% increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening

rates at East Georgia Healthcare Center within the four months of my internship. I worked

towards this goal by educating patients about the importance of prioritizing CRC screenings and

the screening options available. I was able to keep track of my work by creating a chart

consisting of patients' age, sex, race, ethnicity, translator requirement, insurance type, provider,
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screening type, and results. Primarily, this was the best part of my internship because I felt as if I

was truly making a difference in our office by promoting preventive care.

The most challenging aspect and role of my internship was independently working

patients up and taking vitals. This was a new role for me because I lacked prior healthcare

experience, especially in patient care. Initially, this role was also difficult for me because I can

sometimes feel a bit reserved or hesitant when first meeting new people. However, engaging

with patients on a regular basis has allowed me to become more confident in initiating

conversations and effectively communicating important information. This experience has been

very helpful in overcoming my shyness and developing stronger interpersonal skills.

I do not believe there is anything in our office that I could have done more or less of. I

was assigned several responsibilities that I was able to excel in. I would not change any aspect of

my internship experience. This internship has been a valuable opportunity for my personal and

professional growth.

Perception and Evaluation of the Internship

My internship experience at East Georgia Healthcare Center exceeded my personal

expectations. Before I began my internship, I had anticipated being assigned basic tasks such as

shadowing providers, assisting the front desk, and running errands. While I did start with these

fundamental tasks and they served as a foundation for me to expand my skills and knowledge, I

was quickly trusted with more responsibilities than I had expected. The team at East Georgia

Healthcare Center also went beyond what I initially imagined. From my first day, the team

welcomed me and made me feel like a valued member of the team. Their support and

encouragement truly made my internship experience exceptional.

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Throughout my internship, the organization was consistently open and supportive of my

ideas and contributions. When I started on my project to enhance colorectal cancer screening

rates within the office, I was given complete control. I had the freedom to engage and educate

patients however I deemed most effective, with all the resources necessary to be successful. With

the shortage of a medical assistant in our office, I was quickly trusted with the task of assisting

and taking patient vitals. With just half a day of training, I was independently managing patient

vitals. This trust in my abilities made my internship experience very fulfilling.

My site supervisor, who is also the office manager, was very helpful during my time at

East Georgia Healthcare Center. She always had patience with me and took the time to ensure I

understood each task assigned to me. I always felt comfortable asking her for help or for

anything I needed. She was very flexible and allowed me to create my own work schedule so that

I was able to balance my educational responsibilities with my personal life.

My internship site and team could not have done anything more to improve my

experience. I am grateful to have been able to work in a positive and supportive environment

where I not only gained insights into healthcare but also discovered a lot about myself. I would

recommend this setting to future interns who are wanting to pursue a career in public health. I

was able to apply a lot of my public health education because a large part of East Georgia

Healthcare Center's mission is to promote and provide preventive care. This experience allowed

me to narrow my career interest and realize that I would not consider a career that requires direct

patient interaction. Instead, I have realized that I enjoy communicating with staff and working to

enhance the quality and efficiency of patient care, therefore, I would consider an administrative

career in this setting.

Internship Preparedness
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My Public Health education prepared me with a strong academic foundation that was

very helpful during my internship at East Georgia Healthcare Center. The coursework and

experiences I gained during my time at GCSU prepared me for the challenges and

responsibilities I encountered as an intern. I felt the most prepared in educating patients about

prevention methods which was a large part of my internship experience. I found it came naturally

to educate patients about the importance of colorectal cancer prevention screenings and the

different screening methods available. I was well-prepared to address patients' questions and

handle situations where they were hesitant about the need for preventive screenings. I also felt

confident and prepared to work with a diverse population because my education emphasized the

importance of cultural competency. Since East Georgia Healthcare Center primarily serves low-

income and uninsured patients as a nonprofit organization, practicing cultural competence is

crucial. I believe my education enabled me to contribute to the welcoming environment at East

Georgia Healthcare Center.

I felt the least prepared when it came to assisting with patient assessments, particularly in

taking patient vitals. When I was first assigned this role at my internship, I did not feel confident

in my ability to perform these tasks accurately or effectively communicate the vitals taken to the

provider. My coursework did not cover this area which is understandable because this is not

typically a primary role of a public health professional. I believe taking vitals is more closely

associated with nursing rather than public health. While it may not be a primary responsibility of

public health professionals to take patient vitals, having a basic understanding of how to do so

can be beneficial. I think the School of Health and Human Performance could better prepare

Public Health students for their future by requiring a class on the basics of taking vitals just as

students are required to become CPR certified for the Community Health course. Public Health
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professionals often work in teams and collaborate with other professionals involved in direct

patient care therefore, understanding vitals can enhance communication. Additionally, in the

public health and healthcare fields, emergencies can occur where public health professionals may

need to assist with taking or monitoring vitals in high stress situations. A class covering the

basics of vitals would have better prepared me for my internship experience.

I believe each course I have completed at GCSU prepared me for my internship

placement at East Georgia Healthcare Center. I used concepts from Public Health Policy &

Systems with abiding by HIPAA guidelines when reviewing and updating patient records and

documents, shadowing our nurse practitioners, and assisting with health screenings. I used

concepts from Health Promotion Program Planning to plan, implement, and evaluate my efforts

to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in our clinic office. I used concepts from both

Global Public Health and Community Health to understand the diverse cultural backgrounds,

beliefs, values, and practices that influence health behaviors. These courses allowed me to

understand the unique challenges faced by different populations and communities.

Internship Performance

My internship helped me acquire skills and knowledge in many areas. I have improved in

my ability to communicate efficiently with my team members. Working with healthcare

professionals and coworkers in a team setting has enhanced my teamwork and collaboration

skills. I have developed clinical skills through shadowing nurse practitioners and assisting with

patient assessments. I have gained experience in educating patients about preventive care

measures and proved that I can effectively communicate health information to diverse

populations. Working with a diverse patient population, I have also gained a better understanding

of the importance of cultural competence in healthcare delivery.

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I have been very satisfied with my performance on all assignments I have completed for

my internship course as well as my internship site. Each assignment has been done to the best of

my ability and has been completed days in advance of the deadline. I have successfully managed

my time efficiently to balance my education, internship, and personal life. Positive feedback

from providers and office staff highlights my successful performance and high-quality work

during my internship. Several providers and our office manager have mentioned they will miss

having me around after April.

As I mentioned earlier, I can sometimes feel nervous when meeting someone for the first

time, however my internship experience has helped me overcome this nervous feeling. After

completing my internship, I will continue to develop in this area to be as successful as possible

after graduation.

Personal/Professional Insights/Benefits

My internship at East Georgia Healthcare Center has greatly impacted my professional

goals. Before this experience, I thought I might pursue a path working directly with patients.

However, as I explored different aspects of Public Health and the healthcare system, my interests

became more focused. I discovered that I do not have a strong passion for direct patient

interaction, instead, I enjoy communicating with staff and improving patient care quality and

efficiency. This internship hasn't just shaped my professional growth but also my personal

development. Being trusted with various responsibilities and tasks, including those outside of my

initial comfort zone, has boosted my confidence and shown me that I'm adaptable and flexible.

Previously, I believed I did not handle change well, but this experience proved different. I have

also built connections and a network that will benefit my future. I am truly grateful for the

opportunities this internship has given me.

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Through my experience at East Georgia Healthcare Center, I have gained insights into the

challenges faced by the priority population we serve, which primarily consists of low-income

and uninsured individuals. These individuals often face several challenges that can place them at

higher risk for health and social problems. Without insurance, accessing healthcare services

becomes more difficult due to financial barriers. This can lead to a lack of preventative care and

worsened health conditions. Low-income individuals may find it challenging to prioritize

healthcare expenses or afford medications, leading to poorer health outcomes. East Georgia

Healthcare Center has several effective resources to address these challenges. We have a sliding

scale payment system, government grants, foundational grants, and patient assistant programs to

provide high-quality, affordable healthcare services. EGHC has their own pharmacy which

makes prescriptions significantly cheaper for our patients. We also go to camp sites and work

sites to provide healthcare to those who cannot make it to us. I can honestly say that East

Georgia Healthcare Center fulfills its mission to help all people live healthy lives by providing

quality, primary, and preventive health services.