This is Jean-Paul. He is a peer specialist on the addiction team. He visits various units in the hospital and supports those who use substances and helps them navigate their way through the system. He is now redeployed as a greeter at the main entrance.
“I still get those micro-interactions with folks that can be very powerful and at a very difficult time in their life.
Shelters, detoxes, and treatment beds are closed. Everything’s closed for these people and they’re coming here to use the washroom – but our washroom is closed.
Life gets very simple at that point for people, right?
I mean, it’s very desperate times. So I think it’s a good thing that I’m able to see them even in the slightest way. At least they get a friendly face.
The most remarkable thing of this whole experience is watching teams of people that have been redeployed into this new effort of supporting people, navigating their way through our hospital, or through the front door. I mean I work with ENT techs, echo techs, blood techs, and phlebotomists – all people that I’ve never met before. And we’re all kind of pulling together in this redeployment team to help. It’s been really uplifting actually.
I look forward to going into my work, even with all the PPE that I’m donning every day and the risks that we’re taking. I feel like more than ever the role that I play is a vital one.”
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