AOA Says No To Shadowing

[Gmw1386]

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One of the recent posts on SDN told readers to contact the AOA for help finding DO to shadow. When I e-mailed them asking for some contacts they said that it goes against privacy acts to shadow a DO and that I should just look for one to interview me and write me a letter of recomendation. This brings up a couple of questions with applying...

Has anyone had a random DO just interview them and write a LoR?
Could you potentially get in trouble for admitting to shadowing in your application? (This sounds ridiculous to me)

I guess I'll just have to try to find a DO at the hospital that I'm doing an school internship at since that seems to be the only legal way to get any shadowing time.

 

[OMMFan]

Hmm, I believe that if the patient agrees to allow you to observe then shadowing is fine. This may not apply in hospitals, which have their own rules (in the one where I volunteered, you had to be a volunteer to interact with patients). I shadowed a DO in private practice. Unless patient privacy laws have been dramatically strengthened since HIPAA was enacted, it seems that you should be able to find someone willing to let you shadow.

I agree with those who suggest calling DOs in the phone book/online directory to see if they would be willing to let you shadow them in their private practice. The worst thing they could say is no, and you might at least find one (or more!) who is willing to meet with you for an informational session about his/her career. It won't guarantee that you get a DO LOR, but it's not a bad way to start. It's also a good way to show schools that you have done your homework regarding osteopathic medicine (e.g., you might shadow one DO but interview several different ones to get a broad range of perspectives).

 

[the alchemist]

u could always call up ur local DO school if u live near one - i called up UMDNJ and asked them 2 recommend me a DO who practices OMT in the area. they hooked me up with one of their faculty who also has a private practice and i got 2 shadow along with the OSM-I students who were precepting with him. either the doctor or the older OSM students (3rd, 4th years) introduced me as a 'student doctor' (a little fib, it would take 2 long 2 explain the situation 2 the patient) and always asked the patient if they minded me observing and not once did they say no.

if u don't live that near a DO school, u could always still call up one (probably the closest one) and ask if they have any alumni in ur area who wouldn't mind being shadowed by a prospective student. otherwise i dunno how schools would expect applicants 2 get a DO letter, especially a strong one from someone who's observed u more than just a one time interview.

 

[Zerosixjt]

You should call a local DO that you may be interested in shadowing and ask to interview them first. Find out about their practice and schedule, and then if they seem willing, ask if you could shadow.

 

[mdage]

You should call a local DO that you may be interested in shadowing and ask to interview them first. Find out about their practice and schedule, and then if they seem willing, ask if you could shadow.

When I tried to find a DO to shadow, most doctors didn't accepted me because of the HIPPA regulation. But I shadowed a DO in hospital...The hospital put me under the volunteer department. And I had to go through two days of lecture regarding cultrue diversity, HIPPA regulation and infectious control etc.

I found the doctor I shadowed through:
http://www.osteopathic.org/YOM/Mentor_recognition.htm

Good luck 👍

 

[stoic]

oh that's a bunch of crap.

as long as you've received some hippa training (which even as a premed you have to have to get within 20 feet of a patient) you're golden. docs who don't want to have people shadowing use the hippa thing and a shield.

just start calling DO's until you find one who will let you shadow.

shame on the AOA, for this and so much more. what douches.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

Physicians in private practice are more willing to let you shadow than those in a hospital. Ask physicians you know if they know any DOs in the area.

 

[OSUdoc08]

One of the recent posts on SDN told readers to contact the AOA for help finding DO to shadow. When I e-mailed them asking for some contacts they said that it goes against privacy acts to shadow a DO and that I should just look for one to interview me and write me a letter of recomendation. This brings up a couple of questions with applying...

Has anyone had a random DO just interview them and write a LoR?
Could you potentially get in trouble for admitting to shadowing in your application? (This sounds ridiculous to me)

I guess I'll just have to try to find a DO at the hospital that I'm doing an school internship at since that seems to be the only legal way to get any shadowing time.

Contact your state osteopathic association. They will give you a list of physicians who take on students.

 

[Noeljan]

contact your premed association. They probably have shadowing available, I know ours does/did

 

[Boner]

Most doctors who are not willing to have a shadow are just too busy and don't really care about HIPAA. I shadowed a doc who just had me sit out a couple of rooms because sensitive info might be shared or a patient might be uncomfortable sharing info with me in the room (i.e. an HIV/AIDS patient). Some docs will use HIPAA as a nice way to say they're way too busy to have a shadow or they just don't want to. With some simple HIPAA training (i.e. viewing a powerpoint presentation on it and signing off that you understand), should it be available, you should be able to get around this.
Another quick tip for shadowing: it is much easier to shadow a hospital affiliated physician if you volunteer at the doctor's affiliated hospital. It is much easier on a physician if someone should ask any questions because you've been through hospital orientation, have an ID badge, background check, immunization updates, HIPAA training, etc...

 

[nvshelat]

Try going through an academic institution, it might be easier. When I shadowed at my UG institution's hospital, all I did was walk through the ED doors and ask to meet Dr. X. 2 minutes later I was watching a trauma. No paperwork, no HIPAA, nothin.

 

[Gmw1386]

I did shadow a PA in a private MD-dermatology practice and they just checked with the patients first and I sat out anything that might be too sensitive. I just didn't know why the AOA was being so unhelpful. I signed up with the mentor program so hopefully i'll get some call backs from those doctors. Regardless of whether I get anything this summer I will be getting some experience at a hospital by my school. (i do the hippa training beforehand) I just want to get as much as I can and not look like i'm wasting my summers.

Thanks everyone

 

[strawberryfield]

Contact your state osteopathic association. They will give you a list of physicians who take on students.

That's what I did... and it worked out just fine! 😳 they gave me her email address and that's how I got in touch with her.

 

[exmike]

One of the recent posts on SDN told readers to contact the AOA for help finding DO to shadow. When I e-mailed them asking for some contacts they said that it goes against privacy acts to shadow a DO and that I should just look for one to interview me and write me a letter of recomendation. This brings up a couple of questions with applying...

Has anyone had a random DO just interview them and write a LoR?
Could you potentially get in trouble for admitting to shadowing in your application? (This sounds ridiculous to me)

I guess I'll just have to try to find a DO at the hospital that I'm doing an school internship at since that seems to be the only legal way to get any shadowing time.

geeze what better way to get aspiring young physicians interested in osteopathy than to have the AOA slam shadowing.

 

[QCOM2006]

I just contacted a random DO from the phone book and got them to write an LOR. However, I wish that I would have had time to shadow some as well. I don't think most DO's would mind a pre-med following them for a day or so.

 

[DrMom]

I wonder if the AOA received complaints from enough Drs on the lists they used to give out that they decided to stop distributing them.

As said before, state Osteopathic associations may be a better bet. Also, if you can shadow a DO at an academic institution, they're used to having students and residents around & often are more open to pre-med shadowing.