Physicians CareConnection Salutes the Efforts of Volunteers
Being named an Outstanding Community Volunteer wasn’t necessarily the thing that made Dorothy Beehner feel special. It was the way the people at Physicians CareConnection let her know about the award that truly made that happen.
“They surprised me with a banner and a bouquet of flowers and all of the other volunteers were there,” Dorothy said. “That was pretty cool! I liked that!”
Dorothy was one of a group of dedicated physicians and community volunteers honored at the 27th Annual Physicians CareConnection Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at The Grange Insurance Center at Scioto Audubon Park on April 20.
A 20-year volunteer and two-time Outstanding Community Volunteer honoree, Dorothy reluctantly had to miss the event as she and her husband celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with friends in Louisiana.
However, she said, the recognition isn’t what has kept her coming back to PCC’s Monday night clinic for the last two decades.
“That’s not why I do it. I would be back there next Monday either way,” she said with a laugh. “My husband wouldn’t know what to do if I was home on a Monday night.”
Each Monday, PCC’s team of volunteers conducts the free medical, dental, and vision clinic at the Columbus Public Health Department.
From physicians to community volunteers, there are many important roles for volunteers to fill.
Dorothy is known as a concierge, which means she reviews medical charts after the doctors are finished with them, makes copies of them as needed, and prepares the finalized file for patient check-out.
“It’s part of my life now,” she said. “The free clinic is a really good service to the community.”
Dorothy spent 35 years working for the Social Security Administration. During that time, a medical expert in her office – Dr. Patricia Wongsam – was volunteering with PCC and suggested to Dorothy that it might be an opportunity that she would enjoy.
She said that through all the years that she’s been with PCC, she has enjoyed seeing the way the clinic has evolved to provide care for those who need it.
“It is extremely well-run, and I love that they’re always open to change,” Dorothy said. “In 20 years it has changed radically, but always to incorporate better practices.”
Physicians CareConnection, an affiliate of the Columbus Medical Association, is a volunteer-based charitable organization that helps coordinate care for vulnerable adults in Central Ohio. PCC serves any person who has healthcare challenges due to individual barriers across a seven-county area that includes Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Union, and Madison counties.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities, visit pcchealth.org/get-involved/volunteer.