Going The Extra Mile Is Second Nature

In April, a father brought his 11-year-old daughter to CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic for school vaccinations. The family, who were recent arrivals from Guatemala, came to the Clinic at the end of the day. They were instructed to return the following day and were sent home with the required vaccination paperwork to fill out.

Language was a barrier for the family with the dad speaking his native language and the daughter speaking a little Spanish. “The daughter’s vaccine record was sparse and barely legible,” said Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. “They had a family friend who could read and write Spanish and agreed to help them fill out the forms.”

When the man and his daughter came the next day, it was clear from looking at the form the questions on the vaccine questionnaire were not fully understood. Vaccines could not be administered without the form filled out correctly and completely.

Edgar Chay, a Registered Nurse at the Clinic, stepped in to see that the forms were completed. “He called the family friend on speakerphone, and together with the father, they were able to complete the questionnaire and indeed the whole form,” said Popp. After a final consent signature, they were ready for vaccines. “The father was extremely appreciative of Edgar taking the time to help him complete the needed forms, especially since he had been turned away from several clinics already.”

The daughter thanked Edgar and told him she couldn’t wait to get into school and start learning. Edgar is proud to work at a place where extra assistance is second nature. “Going beyond for the patients and families might mean doing something extra like spending more time or doing more things for someone,” he said. “However most of the time, it is simply treating and helping the ones in need the way you would like your loved ones to be treated.”