Bringing Joy and Positivity Each Day
Rebecca Melson, CMA, is a Medical Assistant at Bronson LakeView Family Care in Bangor, where she has been caring for patients and supporting her team for the past four years. During Sunshine Caregivers’ Week, Rebecca is reflecting on the importance of teamwork, compassion and being present for patients – especially in a small, close‑knit community where relationships matter. Her story highlights the behind‑the‑scenes work, quick decision‑making and everyday acts of kindness that define her role and help make Bronson a place where patients feel well cared for.
Rebecca’s Story
Upon completing the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Medical Assistant Program four years ago, I accepted a full-time job at Bronson LakeView Family Care in Bangor. I’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, and I am so happy that I have found such a great career as an MA for an amazing office.
The family medicine office in Bangor is very small, but we truly are a big family. Without my team members, I would not be able to do my job as well as I do. Our ability to work so well together directly impacts the care our patients receive and allows us to build long‑lasting relationships with them. Instead of calling, many of our patients stop into the office just to ask a question or update us on something they feel is important. No matter how busy we are, we always make time to listen.
I absolutely love working in family medicine and caring for patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. For me, a typical day includes rooming patients, running lab tests and returning patient phone calls. Behind the scenes, there is much more involved, such as handling prior authorizations, pre‑charting, managing Epic InBasket messages, performing quality control on lab machines, completing paperwork, checking expiration dates on supplies and medications, and keeping track of what supplies and vaccines that need to be ordered.
There have been many moments when our team has truly come together, but one situation that will always stick out in my mind is when a patient walked into our office complaining of chest pain. The patient did not speak English and had never been seen at Bronson, so we were unable to pull up a chart. Our team immediately stepped into action … calling an ambulance, pulling in the interpreter to help translate, taking vitals and an EKG, and getting a provider involved right away. It was amazing to see how quickly each person on the team responded, and I truly believe the patient was in the right place that day.
The most rewarding part of my job is being able to help patients. Whether I’m able to solve a problem with a patient or go and get an answer from their provider, I enjoy being someone they can rely on. I greet every patient with a smile and lead with care, empathy and compassion. I want every patient to have a great experience in our office, and I try to bring joy and positivity to the space every day. “You are the light of the world.” — Matthew 5:14
