For registered nurse Joanna L., shifting from a hospital setting to on-site medical work ignited a newfound passion and excitement for her work, both out in the field and in the office. Learn why she encourages medical professionals to consider this alternative and rewarding career pathway.
Most rewarding part of your job?
I enjoy working with great people, not only within Mobile Medical but also with the companies we provide services for. From upper management to the trade workers, I have encountered so many wonderful people that make the day go by fast because we always have so much fun, even if we are just sitting in an orientation taking drug tests.
How do you build relationships with patients?
When I treat a patient, I see them as my friend. I want them to feel comfortable with me, so I always begin by introducing myself and trying to find common ground to relate to them. Of course, the injury is my main priority, but I make sure they understand what to expect from my care/treatment before I begin my assessment.
Walk us through a typical day. What do you do on a typical day?
When I worked at the on-site clinic at a large data center project, there were so many opportunities to get out in the field and chat with crews. They have tabling events at the lunch tent once a week, where we get to know everyone while we educate individuals about different wellness topics and have fun with games and raffle drawings. When I left that site, I left behind an incredible team, and I miss them dearly every single day. Now that I am in the office, I do a lot more "desk work," but I have also gained my CPR Instructor Cert. I never could have imagined how much I enjoy going out to our customers, no matter where they are, and teaching one of life's greatest skills. I still visit sites, although much smaller than where I began. Nonetheless, it is always an adventure to find a site and treat a patient in their own space.
What would you consider your main job responsibilities?
Supporting the Territory Managers by taking on any tasks they can delegate, drug testing for a large general contractor and their sister companies, as well as managing their work-related injury cases and patient care, responding to injuries on their job sites, and teaching CPR. I also get opportunities to join monthly lunches at the yard and get involved with Safety Week there as well.
How do you collaborate with other groups on-site, safety, outside referrals, etc?
It is not only a pleasure to collaborate with our customers, but it is also extremely important that it is not just done, but done properly, promptly, and with the utmost respect. We can bring ideas to the table, but at the end of the day, we are here to see out their ideas for how they want things to work to best fit their work culture.
What does a successful day look like to you?
Having the opportunity to get out of the office and work with the contractors are always my favorite days, but I consider an office day plenty successful because there are always packages to ship out, supplies to order, interviews to schedule, and so many other one off tasks that I can take off the shoulders of our hard-working Territory Managers so that they can focus on their job specific tasks.
How did you get into this field/industry?
This is one of my favorite questions. I grew up next door to Ryan Baker, MMC On-Site Medical Services Director, and his family. He has known me since I was born. He reached out asking if I knew any medical professionals looking for a job in occupational health, and coincidentally, that was ME! I started in July of 2022, and I never have nor will I ever look back.
Describe one of your favorite work memories
I think the most memorable moments from working this job come from the Annual BBQs at a data center project. Ryan's BBQ and the whole atmosphere with friends and family and raffle prizes is just something I will never forget. This year will be my 4th.
Advice for anyone looking to get into the occupational health field?
Do not hesitate. DO IT! Before the word gets out that this job exists, and there are no more spots left. I can't imagine working anywhere else. Coming from the hospital setting, my life is exponentially happier since finding Mobile Medical.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I am a mom of 2. Parenting is much more difficult than working with my friends at the office, so when I leave at the end of the day, I say it's time to go to work. But when I am home, I like playing video games, jumping on the trampoline, and in the summer, we visit Worlds and Oceans of Fun quite a bit. If you have babies at home, I promise it will get better (not easier) when your kids can hang out with you and do fun things you enjoy too.
What is a new skill or thing you have learned since taking on this role with MMC?
Teaching CPR is one of my new skills, as well as being a Certified Nurse Case Manager. Mobile Medical graciously supports me in my journey to more education.
What do you look forward to the most when you come to work each day?
I look forward to keeping everything organized so that nothing gets missed. I take pride in my work and the promptness with which I get my documentation done and sent to the proper recipients. This is especially important when it comes to the relationship I have built with the general contractors and their sister companies.
What is the most important lesson you've learned from working with the MMC On-site medical team?
Even if you are the only person on shift at your clinic now, you are never alone. I have been supported through the thick and the thin, both with my coworkers present and when I was the last person in the clinic to close and go home. We are a team, and teamwork makes the dream work.
Brag about yourself! What is your proudest professional accomplishment? (doesn't have to be with MMC)
My proudest professional accomplishment is definitely the relationship that I have built and maintained with our large GC client. Nothing makes me happier than their preference to have me personally come and check on their injuries or do drug tests on sites that already have medics/drug testers on site. Their satisfaction with my work makes me even more motivated to keep doing what I am doing and work on improvements as we go along, because even when something is working, it may not always work. Changes are necessary with growth, and I am dedicated to keeping things running smoothly.
Where do you think you can have the biggest impact in your role?
I think the most important thing you can offer to the company we work for and for their customers is to be consistent in your excellence in everything that you do every single day. All the little things that happen daily can truly make a big impact. It may be routine and boring to do drug testing day after day, but it is still important to get your documentation done and sent to any recipients who are expecting it right away. That goes for patient care as well. If you get several laceration patients that were not critical and were typical first aid, that may seem non-emergent to you, but to the customer, having that documentation promptly can make a big difference in your relationship with them, and that is relevant to more than just the site you work on; it impacts all present and future opportunities to work with said company.
