Clinical Experience / EC's Question

[D3athstroke]

So I'm currently a Junior, and while I severely lack EC's, I'm hoping I'll get enough hours and experience by the time I apply (this Summer depending on how I fare on the MCAT).

I've only shadowed one specialist for about 60+ hours. In terms of volunteering, this past Summer I volunteered at a free clinic for only about 20 hours. However, it was mostly filing - but I did get some patient interaction as they would exit through the door since it was close to the filing room (do I count that as a mixture of clinical and non-clinical volunteering?)

Now, over the Summer I was able to get some on-the-job training to be an EEG tech. I currently work as an EEG tech one to two days a week, which has given me plenty of patient interaction (generally with older patients but I do see patients in their 20's - 30's occasionally). I'll probably have 250+ hours of clinical experience by the time I apply.

With that said, what other areas of EC's/volunteering should I work on? I was thinking of volunteering at a hospice, but I think I'll have enough clinical experience from the job alone. I am not sure if "clinical volunteering" is mandatory or if simply clinical experience is sufficient. Also, can my on-the-job training count for any form of hours? Obviously unpaid and it was a mixture of helping the trained EEG techs there and getting hands-on experience myself. Lastly, would volunteering at a daycare (specifically one that my neighbor owns) be an okay choice for non-clinical volunteering? I tend to get along with kids and enjoy teaching them.

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[Catalystik]

1) I've only shadowed one specialist for about 60+ hours.
2) In terms of volunteering, this past Summer I volunteered at a free clinic for only about 20 hours. However, it was mostly filing - but I did get some patient interaction as they would exit through the door since it was close to the filing room (do I count that as a mixture of clinical and non-clinical volunteering?)

3) Now, over the Summer I was able to get some on-the-job training to be an EEG tech. I currently work as an EEG tech one to two days a week, which has given me plenty of patient interaction (generally with older patients but I do see patients in their 20's - 30's occasionally). I'll probably have 250+ hours of clinical experience by the time I apply.

4) With that said, what other areas of EC's/volunteering should I work on? I was thinking of volunteering at a hospice, but I think I'll have enough clinical experience from the job alone.
5) I am not sure if "clinical volunteering" is mandatory or if simply clinical experience is sufficient.
6) Also, can my on-the-job training count for any form of hours? Obviously unpaid and it was a mixture of helping the trained EEG techs there and getting hands-on experience myself.
7) Lastly, would volunteering at a daycare (specifically one that my neighbor owns) be an okay choice for non-clinical volunteering? I tend to get along with kids and enjoy teaching them.

1) What specialty?

2) What percent of the 20 hours was patient contact time?

3) Sounds good.

4) Teaching, research, and leadership are good areas to have represented on your application.

5) Active patient interactive experience is an unwritten requirement. It is best if some of this takes place in a clinical environment.

6) Usually, no. But if you were interacting with patients, you could make an argument that it should count. You might just want to mention it in the affiliated space and say you trained for XX hours working with patients while supervised, and that this amount was not included in the above Total Hours.

7) Yes, it would count as nonmedical volunteering, but you'd get more of an application boost if you volunteer helping those in need, assuming this isn't a site that serves low-income parents primarily.

 

[LizzyM]

Concur with the above. Volunteering at a non-profit would be a better use of your time than volunteering at a for-profit daycare. Serving without pay at a for-profit whether it is a medical office or a daycare facility isn't considered "community service" as you are not helping the needy but helping a business make more money given that they need not hire someone to do what you will do for free.

 

[Lost in Translation]

it was mostly filing - but I did get some patient interaction as they would exit through the door since it was close to the filing room (do I count that as a mixture of clinical and non-clinical volunteering?)

What do you think it should count as?

 

[D3athstroke]

@Catalystik : The doctor I shadowed was a neurologist. Through him, I was able to get the job opportunity. Also, the EEG room is one room in the clinical Neurology office. By that I mean that the rooms next door are where the patients are waiting to see the neurologist (after the MA), so I continually see patients walking in and out. Would that count as a clinical environment? Thank you for your responses to my other questions. ^^

@LizzyM : You and Cata make a great point. I'll try to see if I can find any non-profit daycares. Actually, I've also been thinking of volunteering at an orphanage. Do you think that's a good idea? Reason I ask is because I haven't found any threads about it except one volunteering at an orphanage abroad. I'll have to look into whether they're non-profit or not.

@Lost in Translation : Definitely non-clinical as the majority. Maybe 2-3 hours of clinical if the accumulation of the brief patient contacts count, but not sure if that would be worth putting.

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik1) The doctor I shadowed was a neurologist.
2) Also, the EEG room is one room in the clinical Neurology office. By that I mean that the rooms next door are where the patients are waiting to see the neurologist (after the MA), so I continually see patients walking in and out. Would that count as a clinical environment?

1) 60 hours of shadowing is generally considered to be adequate, however this presumes that you've observed a diversity of physician-patient interaction types and that the doc provides longitudinal care to patients over a long period of time. If he is a neurologist specializing in one area, like seizure management, your shadowing might be considered too focused. If he manages seizure disorders, Alzheimer's, MCI, MS, cerebral palsy, headache, vertigo, post-stroke care, post-concussion syndrome, spinal cord injury, CNS neoplasms, etc, etc, thn you're in good shape.

2) A neurology office is a clinical environment, but if you didn't have helpful interactions with current patients during that 20 hours, I'd call it nonclinical. Seeing them walk by isn't sufficient to call it "clinical."

 

[D3athstroke]

1) 60 hours of shadowing is generally considered to be adequate, however this presumes that you've observed a diversity of physician-patient interaction types and that the doc provides longitudinal care to patients over a long period of time. If he is a neurologist specializing in one area, like seizure management, your shadowing might be considered too focused. If he manages seizure disorders, Alzheimer's, MCI, MS, cerebral palsy, headache, vertigo, post-stroke care, post-concussion syndrome, spinal cord injury, CNS neoplasms, etc, etc, thn you're in good shape.

2) A neurology office is a clinical environment, but if you didn't have helpful interactions with current patients during that 20 hours, I'd call it nonclinical. Seeing them walk by isn't sufficient to call it "clinical."

1) Yes, he deals with multiple areas like most of those you mentioned as well as Parkinson's, pinched nerves, carpel tunnel, etc.

2) Well here's my typical day: I'll get my EEG schedule for the day, get ready, and call the first patient. I'll help them towards the EEG room and then describe the overall test. Then I'll start applying the electrodes while talking to the patient. Next I transfer them to the examination table and conduct the test. Finally (after removing electrodes, cleaning them up, etc) I'll walk them out to the front desk where they'll check for any follow ups. In between my scheduled patients I get to interact with other patients that may just be coming to see the neurologist (sometimes they end up being my patients if they schedule an EEG). I don't mean to use "my patients" to act like I'm a doctor haha, but not sure how to word it otherwise.

So if that counts as clinical experience, do I also need clinical volunteering (hospice, hospital, free clinic) too?

 

[Catalystik]

So if that counts as clinical experience, do I also need clinical volunteering (hospice, hospital, free clinic) too?

IMO you are fine as you are, so far as active clinical experience is concerned, with all of it being paid employment. Unless you want to enhance the breadth of your experience for your own sake, you don't need more of other types. But you'd be wise to have additional volunteerism of some type (as discussed above) to list on the application. The 20 hours you mentioned won't impress anyone.

 

[D3athstroke]

IMO you are fine as you are, so far as active clinical experience is concerned, with all of it being paid employment. Unless you want to enhance the breadth of your experience for your own sake, you don't need more of other types. But you'd be wise to have additional volunteerism of some type (as discussed above) to list on the application. The 20 hours you mentioned won't impress anyone.

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Catalystik]

Happy to help.

 

[MedTRON]

take a summer class to be an EMT and start working part time

 

[228]

I don't mean to hijack the thread..but I apply in late spring/early summer 2017..this isn't enough time for me to get a medical certification and accumulate significant work experience..

My question: would I be ok without holding a job as a medical technician of some sort as long as I have tons of shadowing hours and volunteering hours around patients?

Thanks!

 

[Lost in Translation]

@228 applying in the late spring/early summer 2017...? Do you mean for the 2017-2018 application cycle?

 

[228]

Yes that is what I meant. I am just concerned I will not have enough time in a medical position to be competitive for the ADCOM