Working as a medical assistant in the underserved community of Hawthorne, Florida taught me a great deal about rural clinics as well as associated patients. The lack of resources at the Open Arms Medical Center engendered several issues. When our medical supplies were low we were required to be more cognizant of using them sparingly and effectively. In doing so, I learned to not take supplies for granted. The inadequate amount of supplies also showed me the frustrations of being limited in the care a clinician can provide. For example, it was not optimal for the clinic to turn away patients or write referrals when we wished to treat the patients ourselves; however, it reinforced the importance of focusing on what was best for our patients.
