There's No 'I' in Team

“There is no ‘I’ in team.” I am sure at some point of everyone’s lives he or she has encountered that expression. In today’s society, where large organizations and companies are always raving about the significance of teamwork and cooperation, the individuals are rarely celebrated and often overshadowed by the larger collective. When I first entered the gateways of the National Health Corps Philadelphia, I was thoroughly impressed by what they have done as an AmeriCorps program. I could barely contain my excitement as I eagerly waited to start my service term. That view, however, slowly changed as I progressed into the second week of Pre-Service Orientation. This altered perception was not because I was no longer excited about my position or my service. Rather, it was because, during this time, I had the opportunity to meet and befriend an amazing group of kind-hearted, empathetic people at PSO. I was saddened by the mere thought of leaving them behind as when we depart for our respective host sites; it was as if my morning coffee just lost part of its rich aroma.

Through a mixture of team-bonding and friendly chitchat, I gained a deeper understanding of everyone’s dreams and motivations. It was the first time I realized that NHC Philly is a beautiful mosaic of individuals; individuals who possess the incredible ability to share, enthusiasm to help, and determination to serve. Being a part of this team truly makes me humble about my capabilities but, more importantly, it restored bits of my naivete. When I walked out of PSO, not only was I filled with a newfound inspiration but also with a certainty that together we have the means to genuinely ameliorate the current healthcare trend in the city of Philadelphia and its surrounding counties.

Distributed across 17 different healthcare facilities, my fellow NHC Philly members and I have witnessed different sides of healthcare at our respective locations. At Health Center #2, where I currently serve as a Patient Advocate with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Ambulatory Health Services, the fairly diverse population is predominantly of Chinese, Vietnamese and South American origins. Most patients do not have health insurance and therefore, cannot afford their essential medications. My position allows me to contact pharmaceutical companies on the patients' behalves and assist patients in applying to Prescription Assistance Programs. Lately I have been guiding more patients to the Benefit Counselors and the Insurance Specialists as the Affordable Care Act takes shape. In their capable hands, an increasing number of patients are receiving medical benefits. Although it pains me to see these patients leave my care, I am thrilled to celebrate the first step towards equality in health care coverage. 

With the continuation of community-conscious organizations like NHC, further cultivation of compassionate individuals who serve in them, and the additional expansion of the ACA, hopefully my current service position will become a distant memory. It would be marvelous day in this great nation when healthcare inequality becomes yet another mythical legend. Until then, I know my fellow NHC members and I will do our best to protect the overall health of our communities as well as its citizens.

This post was written by NHC member Y.C. Liu.

Y.C. serves as a Patient Advocate at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Ambulatory Health Services, Health Center #2.