Child life volunteering isn't a clinical experience?

[Taieruya]

Hey guys.

I just got an email from a school saying that my application is complete. The person in the email explained that she is putting my application on hold, because I do not have any clinical experiences apart from shadowing. She said that although I am a child-life volunteer, and interact directly with patients, I am not working with them in a medical capacity and that it does not count as a clinical experience. Has anyone dealt with this? I have read nothing about this at all. I posted a similar thread on another website and some people advised me to just ignore this school and keep going.

To clarify: I do activities with children-patients in their room, as well as our playroom. I often bring them toys and just hang out with them. I was told by many people that this was perfect for clinical volunteering.

What do you think?

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[differentiating]

I’m surprised- I’d definitely consider that clinical volunteering.

 

[Taieruya]

I’m surprised- I’d definitely consider that clinical volunteering.

Yes, I was advised by many that this was perfectly acceptable. My guess is that this might just be a school specific thing. Hopefully I do not run into it again.

 

[peanuttbuttah]

By this logic you basically have to be a NP/EMT-A/PA etc to have clinical experience.

I say ignore and move on, child life is great work

 

[chemdoctor]

Send her an email explaining to her specifically what you DO at the center. This is definitely clinical experience since you're touching and as @LizzyM states, you can SMELL them.

 

[Taieruya]

Send her an email explaining to her specifically what you DO at the center. This is definitely clinical experience since you're touching and as @LizzyM states, you can SMELL them.

I sent her an email explaining and this is her reply.

"I can appreciate they are patients but unfortunately as you mentioned you are playing with them....it isn't working with them in a clinical/medical capacity."

 

[chemdoctor]

I sent her an email explaining and this is her reply.

"I can appreciate they are patients but unfortunately as you mentioned you are playing with them....it isn't working with them in a clinical/medical capacity."

so weird... @gonnif ?

@Goro

@LizzyM

 

[Peter Pan.]

Hey guys.

I just got an email from a school saying that my application is complete. The person in the email explained that she is putting my application on hold, because I do not have any clinical experiences apart from shadowing. She said that although I am a child-life volunteer, and interact directly with patients, I am not working with them in a medical capacity and that it does not count as a clinical experience. Has anyone dealt with this? I have read nothing about this at all. I posted a similar thread on another website and some people advised me to just ignore this school and keep going.

To clarify: I do activities with children-patients in their room, as well as our playroom. I often bring them toys and just hang out with them. I was told by many people that this was perfect for clinical volunteering.

What do you think?

Wow what school is this? Over half of my 400 volunteering hours is child life. So handing out blankets at the ER (which I’ve also done) is working with them in a medical capacity? Literally anyone can do that and you’re just providing comfort (like playing with a child). It’s not anything medically related either. The medical experience of volunteering is being around patients and helping them in any way you can.

What school is this? If I applied I will be sure to withdraw my application and not waste money on a secondary application.

 

[Peter Pan.]

Hey guys.

I just got an email from a school saying that my application is complete. The person in the email explained that she is putting my application on hold, because I do not have any clinical experiences apart from shadowing. She said that although I am a child-life volunteer, and interact directly with patients, I am not working with them in a medical capacity and that it does not count as a clinical experience. Has anyone dealt with this? I have read nothing about this at all. I posted a similar thread on another website and some people advised me to just ignore this school and keep going.

To clarify: I do activities with children-patients in their room, as well as our playroom. I often bring them toys and just hang out with them. I was told by many people that this was perfect for clinical volunteering.

What do you think?

Ask them what they mean when they say work with them in a medical capacity. I’d be interested in their response.

 

[Taieruya]

Ask them what they mean when they say work with them in a medical capacity. I’d be interested in their response.

Hey, she explained that for it to count I would have to be under the supervision of a physician, involved directly in their medical care. I assume that means EMT, scribing, patient care tech, etc.

 

[peanuttbuttah]

tell her laughter is the best medicine and get back to us

 

[MyOdyssey]

Hey, she explained that for it to count I would have to be under the supervision of a physician, involved directly in their medical care. I assume that means EMT, scribing, patient care tech, etc.

What is this person's position at the medical school? Is she merely a go between or someone with real authority in admissions?

Under her logic, a lot of what passes for hospital volunteering wouldn't count as clinical - wayfarer work, volunteering in the ICU that typically doesn't involve the volunteer actually providing medical care, anything involving transporting a patient or restocking supplies.

Is this a state school or more of a T20 private medical school?

 

[MyOdyssey]

Hey, she explained that for it to count I would have to be under the supervision of a physician, involved directly in their medical care. I assume that means EMT, scribing, patient care tech, etc.

And physicians typically don't supervise hospital volunteers. Scribes aren't providing medical care - just taking down notes.

 

[Taieruya]

What is this person's position at the medical school? Is she merely a go between or someone with real authority in admissions?

Under her logic, a lot of what passes for hospital volunteering wouldn't count as clinical - wayfarer work, volunteering in the ICU that typically doesn't involve the volunteer actually providing medical care, anything involving transporting a patient or restocking supplies.

Is this a state school or more of a T20 private medical school?

Hello. I do not believe that she is on the admissions committee, her title was admissions director. I think the issue is that I don't have any real clinical experience. I am a waiter/bartender at a restaurant, and my only other clinical experience is shadowing an OB/GYN for 25 hours. Also this is a private school, but it is not T20.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Hello. I do not believe that she is on the admissions committee, her title was admissions director. I think the issue is that I don't have any real clinical experience. I am a waiter/bartender at a restaurant, and my only other clinical experience is shadowing an OB/GYN for 25 hours. Also this is a private school, but it is not T20.

Sounds like you have to get some different clinical experience and update them if you're still interested in this school. Did you ask her about that option?

 

[Taieruya]

Sounds like you have to get some different clinical experience and update them if you're still interested in this school. Did you ask her about that option?

Yes, I can update them. But I must admit, I am not totally invested in this school. I think I would probably prefer to look elsewhere. I will try to shore up my clinical experience, but it would probably only be effective for next cycle, assuming I don't get in. Do you think my clinical volunteering would count sufficiently as clinical experience at most schools?

 

[MyOdyssey]

Yes, I can update them. But I must admit, I am not totally invested in this school. I think I would probably prefer to look elsewhere. I will try to shore up my clinical experience, but it would probably only be effective for next cycle, assuming I don't get in. Do you think my clinical volunteering would count sufficiently as clinical experience at most schools?

I'm not the one to ask that as I'm a premed myself.
@Catalystik @gyngyn @gonnif @Goro @LizzyM

 

[gyngyn]

Do you think my clinical volunteering would count sufficiently as clinical experience at most schools?

It would at mine.

 

[Taieruya]

It would at mine.

Thanks for the reply. I spoke to my premed committee chair and he said I should be fine, he seems to be mostly confused by this email I got.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the reply. I spoke to my premed committee chair and he said I should be fine, he seems to be mostly confused by this email I got.

It would count as clinical volunteering, sufficient may be another matter.

 

[Goro]

Hey guys.

I just got an email from a school saying that my application is complete. The person in the email explained that she is putting my application on hold, because I do not have any clinical experiences apart from shadowing. She said that although I am a child-life volunteer, and interact directly with patients, I am not working with them in a medical capacity and that it does not count as a clinical experience. Has anyone dealt with this? I have read nothing about this at all. I posted a similar thread on another website and some people advised me to just ignore this school and keep going.

To clarify: I do activities with children-patients in their room, as well as our playroom. I often bring them toys and just hang out with them. I was told by many people that this was perfect for clinical volunteering.

What do you think?

sounds clinical to me. perhaps the description of the activity in the application does not sound clinical to the person reading the application?

 

[Taieruya]

1) I would like to know what school would be able to report that an application is complete on the first day of transmission
2) I would not consider child-life as sufficient clinical experience by itself.

1. I realize I have posted in the incorrect thread, this is a DO school.
2. I have shadowing experience, naturally but not sure if that is enough.

 

[capriccio]

Very bizarre. The vast majority of my clinical experience was nearly identical to yours (playing with patients both in their rooms and in the playroom), had no problems at any of the schools I applied to.

 

[gyngyn]

1. I realize I have posted in the incorrect thread, this is a DO school.
2. I have shadowing experience, naturally but not sure if that is enough.

1. I've moved it over.
2. Shadowing is for you, volunteering is for others.

 

[Taieruya]

1. I've moved it over.
2. Shadowing is for you, volunteering is for others.

I meant as far as clinical experience goes. If I am mistaken and shadowing doesn't go under that category please let me know. Thank you!

 

[peanuttbuttah]

I meant as far as clinical experience goes. If I am mistaken and shadowing doesn't go under that category please let me know. Thank you!

Shadowing is one way of showing you understand the role of a physician. Clinical volunteering is one way of showing you want to work with sick people as a career. They are different but both necessary I think.

 

[Taieruya]

Shadowing is one way of showing you understand the role of a physician. Clinical volunteering is one way of showing you want to work with sick people as a career. They are different but both necessary I think.

Okay, thank you. The individual that I spoke with via email said I would need to either increase my shadowing hours or increase my clinical experience hours.

 

[gyngyn]

I meant as far as clinical experience goes. If I am mistaken and shadowing doesn't go under that category please let me know. Thank you!

Shadowing is a type of clinical experience done on behalf of yourself. 40 hours is plenty (as long as it is mostly primary care).
A sufficient amount of other clinical experience is needed to round out a strong application.

 

[Taieruya]

Shadowing is a type of clinical experience done on behalf of yourself. 40 hours is plenty (as long as it is mostly primary care).
A sufficient amount of other clinical experience is needed to round out a strong application.

Understood. Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately all I have is shadowing and my child life volunteering. If that is not adequate then I will try to work on other options in the coming months.

 

[The Hound]

I sent her an email explaining and this is her reply.

"I can appreciate they are patients but unfortunately as you mentioned you are playing with them....it isn't working with them in a clinical/medical capacity."

I don't understand this logic. I volunteer at a pediatric hospice and respite care unit and play games, watch movies, and do crafts with patients all the time. I wouldn't consider my volunteering nonclinical.

 

[drducky.]

Is this a newer DO school? I interviewed at one and the admissions director said my hospice volunteering didnt count as clinical either.

 

[The Hound]

Is this a newer DO school? I interviewed at one and the admissions director said my hospice volunteering didnt count as clinical either.

what a joke..

 

[Catalystik]

Do you think my clinical volunteering would count sufficiently as clinical experience at most schools?

It would at mine.

sounds clinical to me.

Ditto.

 

[LizzyM]

It would count at mine but I do know of at least one MD school that looks for EMT or patient care technician experience as the ideal. That's also true of physician assistant programs. However, it is rather odd for a school to review and send you a message of that kind. Does the school's admission materials make clear the explicit requirements for admission. If clinical patient care experience is not explicitly stated, you should call the school out for making unwritten requirements before an application will be reviewed.

 

[Taieruya]

It would count at mine but I do know of at least one MD school that looks for EMT or patient care technician experience as the ideal. That's also true of physician assistant programs. However, it is rather odd for a school to review and send you a message of that kind. Does the school's admission materials make clear the explicit requirements for admission. If clinical patient care experience is not explicitly stated, you should call the school out for making unwritten requirements before an application will be reviewed.

I am honored that you replied to my post. Thank you.

I have been looking through the schools admission information and I cannot find anything explicitly stating a hard requirement on this type of clinical experience, but I am possibly missing something. Here is a snippet of the email to give a little bit of clarification.

"While your time spent working with children at the X Children's Hospital is a wonderful experience, it isn't the clinical exposure we are looking for in our applicants. We are going to place your application on hold today."

After a few emails she said that she would go ahead and send my application through to the committee and await a decision.

As long as this is not a recurring issue then I suppose I will just take this loss and carry on. 🙁

 

[LizzyM]

The question I have is what is on the school website and/or in the MSAR with regard to requirements.

You might also inquire -- later in the cycle -- on the school specific page, about the experiences that applicants who were interviewed applied with. You may find that the school is targeting people who have worked as patient care technicians or in other more hands on clinical roles.

 

[Taieruya]

The question I have is what is on the school website and/or in the MSAR with regard to requirements.

You might also inquire -- later in the cycle -- on the school specific page, about the experiences that applicants who were interviewed applied with. You may find that the school is targeting people who have worked as patient care technicians or in other more hands on clinical roles.

This is a DO school, so no MSAR. 🙁 Here are some snippets from their admissions page.

"The applicant is strongly encouraged to have clinical exposure in a healthcare environment."
"Significant clinical shadowing or experience (100 hours strongly recommended)" - Which I suppose could mean experience in a medical capacity.

As far as a specific definition of what kind of clinical exposure they are looking for, I cannot find that. I only got that information from her email after I paid for the secondary.

 

[LizzyM]

Well, 100 hours isn't much -- a part-time employee could get that in a month or two. Too bad you paid a secondary fee. Maybe the person screening is new and doesn't know better. I find it highly irregular to tell someone that they their application is piss-poor and won't be sent for review.

 

[Medic741]

Hey there, this is going to be the first of many examples of when you have to say ‘yes ma’am’ with a smile on your face. The sooner you get used to doing this professionally and without pushing back the happier you’re be and the better your admin relationships will become.

Just say roger and move on.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Well, 100 hours isn't much -- a part-time employee could get that in a month or two. Too bad you paid a secondary fee. Maybe the person screening is new and doesn't know better. I find it highly irregular to tell someone that they their application is piss-poor and won't be sent for review.

The only reason I can think of for the advance notice is to let the OP know that s/he needs to update his/her clinical/shadowing experience and to give an update if OP wants the application to be considered in this cycle.

 

[LizzyM]

The reason I think that the person sending out this notice must be new is that this attention to detail and encouragement of applicants to send updates will double or triple the workload in a cycle and eventually be draining to the employee. Maybe this school doesn't get many applications and can afford all this personalized attention?? Just seems odd to me.

 

[WoundupKnight]

Sounds like KCOM to me. Friend had a similar experience.
I'd take the L, forget about it and keep going OP.