Medical assistant shares message of hope

Like so many others, Alex Abodeely, CMA, has put aside her normal routine to help those with COVID-19.

Before the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Abodeely spent the last two and half years working as a medical assistant in a procedure suite at Iowa River Landing (IRL). When COVID-19 arrived, she was among the first to volunteer to work at the respiratory clinic dedicated to care for patients with respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.

“Working in a procedure suite, I knew that all of our nonessential procedures would be canceled,” says Abodeely. “I wanted to make a difference.”

Dedicated to patients

Abodeely’s new clinical responsibilities differ greatly from those in the procedure suite at the IRL. Within the respiratory clinic, her team determines whether patients are at risk for COVID-19 or have another respiratory illness that requires further testing on site.

“In this new clinical setting, we have to use a lot of critical thinking, and we’re in much closer contact with patients,” says Abodeely. “We try to stay at least one step ahead so we can keep things moving efficiently.”

Abodeely and her coworkers often arrive at the clinic at 6:45 a.m. and don’t leave until 7:30 p.m.

“Everyone here has sacrificed their normal work hours. We come in a lot earlier and stay a lot later. We work with doctors we don’t know. We train new staff and try to guide people through the day. We’re all just trying to adapt,” she says.

Showing compassion and positivity

As with other clinics across the country and around the globe, Abodeely is realizing the day-to-day challenges the respiratory clinic faces with the nature of COVID-19.

“I think the most difficult part of this is seeing the fear in patients,” she says. “There are so many unknowns that it’s easy to be fearful.”

Yet Abodeely also believes her work is an opportunity to demonstrate resilience and hope.

“If we can find a way to show a little compassion and positivity, it helps our patients stay more at ease,” she says. “In situations like this, I think everyone just sort of comes together and does whatever is in their power to help the situation. That’s what we’re doing.”