Advice Please! Volunteer @ Doctor's Office v. Hospital

[AnotherJD]

Hi,

I just landed a volunteer position at a small doctor's office but didn't start yet. I've volunteered at a hospital before but this is all pretty much new to me. Can anyone please tell me what the substantive difference is in volunteering at a hospital versus a doctor's office? I am worried that most of my time at the doctor's office would be spent doing paperwork and answering phone calls - not that I mind doing them but I don't want that to be all that I do.

Which brings me to my next question, do you think that volunteering at a hospital is better/worse than at a small doctor's office? I think you get more exposure at a hospital but greater chances of shadowing and knowing what goes on at a small clinic?

Also, unlike a hospital where set hours are required each week, what is the general guidelines in terms of time commitment for volunteering at a doctor's office? I want to give my fair share but am worried about not having enough time to study for classes. Is 10 hours a week normal/reasonable?

Many thanks in advance for all your help.

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[cabinbuilder]

Hi,

I just landed a volunteer position at a small doctor's office but didn't start yet. I've volunteered at a hospital before but this is all pretty much new to me. Can anyone please tell me what the substantive difference is in volunteering at a hospital versus a doctor's office? I am worried that most of my time at the doctor's office would be spent doing paperwork and answering phone calls - not that I mind doing them but I don't want that to be all that I do.

Which brings me to my next question, do you think that volunteering at a hospital is better/worse than at a small doctor's office? I think you get more exposure at a hospital but greater chances of shadowing and knowing what goes on at a small clinic?

Also, unlike a hospital where set hours are required each week, what is the general guidelines in terms of time commitment for volunteering at a doctor's office? I want to give my fair share but am worried about not having enough time to study for classes. Is 10 hours a week normal/reasonable?

Many thanks in advance for all your help.

You should not be answering phones or filing in a clinic office - HIPAA for one thing, you are there to learn and be exposed to the medicine. The thinking that goes behind why medications are prescribed and why certain tests are ordered. You should be in with the patient when the doctor is interviewing them.

Inpatient medicine and outpatient medicine are two separate entities. You should be exposed to both. Some specialties do both some don't. Clinic is good to see even when you are a surgeon or specialist those doctors' lives are a combo of both. They see patients so many days a week in clinic and then do procedures or major surgeries then follow those patients in the hospital. Internist and family practice doctors also do inpatient and outpatient medicine. You may want to follow a hospitalist service who only do inpatient and don't maintain an office. You may want to follow ER where it's patch the patient up, urgent care, or serious emergencies based on the size of the hospital.

 

[DOPharmD2B]

I say go both. You want as much exposure to be able to understand medicine in a variety of situations. That is very unique then.

 

[AnotherJD]

Thanks so much for your replies. I was wondering short of shadowing and/or helping doctors run tests what exactly do volunteers at an outpatient clinic do? And are there any differences between an outpatient clinic versus a regular doctor's office?

Also, how do you professionally draw the balance between being seen as uncooperative and as being a pushover where you do too much paperwork? I feel a little unease mainly because at a hospital setting there is usually a formal program where I know what is expected of me whereas in an outpatient clinic I don't.

My apologies in advance if these seem like very basic questions. I'm fairly new to this whole thing.