A Day in the Life at Clinic Sofia
Vital signs and a vital culture. Patients and providers. Exams and education. A typical day at Clinic Sofia includes a lot of activity, connection and conversation. Before the doors open, the front desk team is already handling calls, fulfilling medical records requests and planning for the day ahead: “Water and chocolate…check. Pillows fluffed…check. Computer fired up…check. Door unlocked…check. Name tag on…double-check,” shared Clinic Sofia receptionist Amy Jo Lillibridge who said that her most important job is welcoming patients: “I equate it to having company over. I want them to feel welcome, appreciated and valued.” Lindsey Zielinski, a medical assistant who rotates between the Edina and Maple Grove locations, handles a variety of clinical and administrative duties – performing specimen collection and testing, explaining and assisting with patient exams and in-office procedures, and more: “Like any other clinic, patients check-in, fill out paperwork, go to the exam room to be seen by their provider, maybe even have an ultrasound or lab work. It’s all the things in between those steps that make Clinic Sofia such a special place. And where else can you go and talk to your OB/GYN like an old friend?”
In addition, Jodie Chafee, the RN Nurse manager who handles nurse calls, referrals, medical equipment and staffing issues to help improve patient care, notes that every day at Clinic Sofia is “very dynamic. Each patient receives individualized care – it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal. The people and the culture at what makes this place tick.” Clinic Sofia also focuses on ongoing education for patients and the team, creating a nurturing environment that starts when you open the door, answering questions with empathy and compassion, and creating a place for women of all ages and interests. “From a patient’s first gynecologist visit to menopause and beyond, patients are coming in at every stage of their life. Being a woman is just plain hard work and whether a patient comes in triumphant or scared, bewildered or cranky, sad or ecstatic, I am confident inviting them in to a place I know they will be cared for,” Lillibridge added. “I think what makes Clinic Sofia so exceptional among other women’s clinics is the genuineness of our team.” Every single person who works at Clinic Sofia loves the variety, the challenge and, most of all, the patients.
