Applying this cycle with no shadowing...yet

[westsidestoryz]

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So I have been trying to contact doctors but most were rejects and I am currently waiting to hear back from a few.
In terms on "required" shadowing, I already volunteer at an ED and interact with doctors and nurses and see what they do on a daily basis. I have been with the hospital for two years and worked outside of the ED department as well. They let me look at charts, watch surgeries, and give me some awesome advice in terms of medically-related topics.

So I have seen and worked with doctors of all backgrounds and such but I have no direct clinic-setting shadowing hours. I will continually try but would this be a red-flag in terms on my apps? I have about 3 months to get a doctor to shadow so hopefully I will have decent hours.

 

[wb100]

1. You shouldn't have been looking at charts unless you're the physician, nurse, or scribe. I wouldn't mention that in interviews/app.

Ask the ED docs if you can shadow them. Also dress nice and go to the physician offices and ask in person if you can shadow with a CV on hand. You can wait until the doc has a minute to spare in between patients to ask directly. Every time I've done this it works. Best to show up around 11:30am before lunch or at 4:30pm before office closes. That way you can ask during the lunch break or at end of clinic. Keep it short and straight like "Hi, my name is Wb100 and I'm interested in (name of specialty). My experiences are ___,___,___ and I would appreciate you allowing me to shadow ___ hours a week. I'm applying to medical school this upcoming cycle and would love to have more of a perspective on a physician's day to day schedule".

Make sure you look up what specialty they're in and brush up on some terminology that they would use in clinic.


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[CliveStaples]

Your application needs to answer the question "does this person know what a doctor does?"

Shadowing is one way to do it. Volunteering in a setting that lets you witness the doctor/patient interaction is another way. You've seen what a doctor in the ED does; I would continue to seek shadowing opportunities in other settings (clinic, OR, etc.) but that's just for you own personal benefit, not to pad an arbitrary application hoop. You'll be fine.

 

[Endoxifen]

1. You shouldn't have been looking at charts unless you're the physician, nurse, or scribe. I wouldn't mention that in interviews/app

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I don't know if that's true. If you sign a non-disclosure agreement and they thought it would be an educational experience, I'm sure that it's ethical.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

1. You shouldn't have been looking at charts unless you're the physician, nurse, or scribe. I wouldn't mention that in interviews/app.

Ask the ED docs if you can shadow them. Also dress nice and go to the physician offices and ask in person if you can shadow with a CV on hand. You can wait until the doc has a minute to spare in between patients to ask directly. Every time I've done this it works. Best to show up around 11:30am before lunch or at 4:30pm before office closes. That way you can ask during the lunch break or at end of clinic. Keep it short and straight like "Hi, my name is Wb100 and I'm interested in (name of specialty). My experiences are ___,___,___ and I would appreciate you allowing me to shadow ___ hours a week. I'm applying to medical school this upcoming cycle and would love to have more of a perspective on a physician's day to day schedule".

Make sure you look up what specialty they're in and brush up on some terminology that they would use in clinic.


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You have a lot of confidence to be able to just walk into their office and ask them point blank.

 

[westsidestoryz]

I also forgot to mention that I will be shadowing a doctor this week for 3 hours and will have lunch with him. I dont know if that constitutes as good enough??

Shadowing allows you to gauge if what doctors do everyday is of interest to you, and I am sure that path is the right one for me. So I do not think I need a lot of hours but I still want to shadow.

Also, a lot of conflicting ideas. Anyone have a clear answer for the "chart" dilemma?

 

[coffeeandcodeine]

I shadowed numerous highly respected physicians, all of whom made me do HIPAA training and sign a nondisclosure agreement, but then allowed me full access to patient charts. I don't think it's a problem.

I also forgot to mention that I will be shadowing a doctor this week for 3 hours and will have lunch with him. I dont know if that constitutes as good enough??

Shadowing allows you to gauge if what doctors do everyday is of interest to you, and I am sure that path is the right one for me. So I do not think I need a lot of hours but I still want to shadow.

Also, a lot of conflicting ideas. Anyone have a clear answer for the "chart" dilemma?

 

[jb94mg]

You have a lot of confidence to be able to just walk into their office and ask them point blank.

Right? Is that what's required of pre-meds these days? We need to be able to cold approach doctors like we're out running game on girls at the mall?

 

[Nalsjewels]

I did a lot of clinical volunteering as an EMT as well as in the ER but had no official shadowing. I am doing just fine this cycle. So as long as you have experiences that allow you to have a deep understanding of what a physician does I don't think shadowing is necessary.

 

[westsidestoryz]

So shadowing would be good but it is not necessary, yes? (unless you were not 100% sure)

 

[piii]

My SO got into multiple top 20s with only 15 hours of shadowing done right before applications. Get some hours but you have nothing to worry about

 

[dnm93]

If anyone is from Jersey or close enough to travel, private message me. I know of an awesome shadowing program that I took part in during the summer between my Junior and Senior year in college. Also, about the chart thing - as long as you sign a confidentiality agreement, you are absolutely allowed to look at charts.

 

[wb100]

What types of offices are you talking about?? Hospitals?? Private practices?? I've had a lot of difficulty finding shadowing opportunities. It seems like hospitals with shadowing programs basically want you to set everything up too.

Private offices are easier since there is less oversight.

Usually a call with the office manager works but if OP is really wanting to start on shadowing then asking in person is the fastest way to do it. I've asked doctors I worked with in the ER and seen students come in and ask at the clinic I worked at. Its not a big deal and the docs are usually happy to have a student (it kinda shows that you're serious about shadowing them too).

And yes I take it back about looking at charts. If you've signed an agreement then you can look at charts.

 

[RogueBanana]

If anyone is from Jersey or close enough to travel, private message me. I know of an awesome shadowing program that I took part in during the summer between my Junior and Senior year in college. Also, about the chart thing - as long as you sign a confidentiality agreement, you are absolutely allowed to look at charts.

"The Hollywood Upstairs Health Professions Shadowing Program"

 

[dnm93]

"The Hollywood Upstairs Health Professions Shadowing Program"

What?


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[RogueBanana]

What?


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@libertyyne

 

[westsidestoryz]

So I shadowed a doctor today for about 5 hours and we had lunch/discussion for the rest of the day. Would that still be enough to call it shadowing?

 

[flip_08]

If you're already a volunteer you've probably done all of the required HIPAA which will make this much easier. Ask the ER docs to shadow them, or if they know someone you can shadow in X specialty. Chances are they will help you out. That's how I got my shadowing experiences.

 

[Lawpy]

And have gone thru the required HIPPA training, which is often an short online course that all volunteers may have to complete