Clinical Care Extender Program vs. Scribe

[rls303]

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Hi everyone,
I have been doing some thinking lately about my clinical experiences. I have been a CCE for the about a year and a half, and it has been an average experience in terms of what I get to do. I suppose it suffices as patient exposure from the application POV. But it is getting quite tedious to make beds and coffee and perform other menial tasks. I mean don't get me wrong, I love the hospital and the fact that I am helping them, but I don't want to waste my time doing trivial things (just for hours).

I have been researching the Scribe program over at Emergency Medicine Specialists of Orange County and it seems like something that will give me more interaction with doctors and will expose me to the clinical aspects of the ways in which patients are treated. I have been shadowing primary care docs, but not in actual emergency situations in a hospital.

However, the demands of my academics and my parent's pending divorce has really put a big strain on the amount of time I can invest. Would such a program be worthwhile, if one were to volunteer 8 hours/week as a volunteer? My CCE position requires me to drive out of my way and this location is right on my route so that is a big incentive.

I have genuinely enjoyed working as a CCE and would love to continue it just because of the joy that I have felt interacting with such a sweet and caring staff as well as appreciative patients. But I can't help but wonder that the Scribe program might be more beneficial for me as a future medical school student.

As a side note, based on what I have heard from my counselor, having multiple clinical experiences over a span of less than 2 years is less favorable than having 1 or 2 for a longer time 2+ years, is that true?

I would love to matriculate this upcoming fall to any school, or even next fall, so I would definitely be doing the scribe program for less than 2 years, would it still be advisable to do it and quite the CCE?

Thanks for any help! :]

 

[Squeakers]

I was a CCE, and I graduated the program as soon as I had the 240 hours (I didn't much care for the program or how it was run). Since you've been there for so long, a change to a scribe might be nice. And it'll look good to have a variety of experiences on you app, especially since the experience of a scribe is something very different from the volunteering program. Just make sure you get a LOR from the program before you leave, while you're still fresh in their minds. Hope that helps. 🙂

 

[Potatoman1800]

lol to whatever counselors say. Just do what you feel like is most beneficial to your perspective concerning medicine.

Anyways...a scribe program would be a great way to really get in the grit of an ER, for example. Each program does have a time commitment each week or month so you have to be sure you can adhere to them, especially if you're a full time student (which can be difficult). Some programs make you work for ~1 year for a certain amount of time, or work the same number of hours while stretching it over 2 years. Just do some research online for places in your area.

CCE is so limited in SO many ways. Get a letter, get out and move on.

Good luck

 

[DbDan]

If your CCE program is anything like the program at Hoag, which it very well may be THE program at Hoag, you are very limited as was mentioend before. A scribe program is an infinitely better experience IMO since you follow physicians and got the experience of seeing patients and shadowing. Plus you get the experience of actually being in the ER in a faster and more relevant environment.

Personally, I would much prefer the scribe position and I even applied to one myself before getting my current job. As for multiple experiences vs. one long one, I personally believe getting a well rounded view of the medical field is more important than having 2+ years of the same. I think that the "short" experiences more pertain to someone who volunteers at 12 different places for one month each. A year and a half of CCE is not going to look bad and the scribe position only gives your application more depth.

 

[Catalystik]

based on what I have heard from my counselor, having multiple clinical experiences over a span of less than 2 years is less favorable than having 1 or 2 for a longer time 2+ years, is that true?

Get the scribe gig if you can. Multiple clinical experiences broadens your exposure to the field. I think many would look on 1-1.5 years of experience at each as demonstrating sufficent longevity to be "favorable".

 

[rls303]

Thanks for the responses guys! Yeah, it's the one at HOAG. I am completing the application as we speak.

 

[Atlas Shrugged]

The former president of the pre-medical club I am currently an officer in worked as a scribe and always seemed completely exhausted. She had to work nights many times a month even before exams. I don't believe she was accepted anywhere.

I thought about applying but after some consideration I feel that a flexible schedule in an unrelated field that allows me to study and keep my grades up is worth way more than this job opportunity.

I enjoy the CCE program with Citrus Valley Health Partners in Covina/West Covina where I'm in the ER and get to see some pretty interesting stuff and we have doctor shadowing and OR rotations if you qualify, though I have heard nothing but bad things about Hoag.

Basically if you feel unsatisfied with your current clinical experience and you can work nights without it affecting your schoolwork go for it.

 

[sunnysand]

I would def go for the scribe position.

I have done both the CCE program at HOAG and I am currently an emergency room scribel. When I compare what I do now as a scribe to what I used to do when I was in CCE I laugh! With CCE the most I did was take patient vitals and I think I assisted a nurse twice with a bath, and only because I kept asking her. As a scribe, I DO SOOOO MUCH! And I have learned so much! I know how to chart, document physical exams, write prescriptions, etc. I pretty much do everything the doctor does and all he does is sign. It is such a great learning experience and the doctors know you want to go to medical school and so they take the time to teach you which is awesome! I know how to read xrays, I know which splints to order for what fractures, what type of antibiotics to give based on the diagnosis, and I know a lot of the medical terms that I will be using later in medical school. I def feel like this position has really prepared me for medical school! I've been doing it for about a year and half and its pretty cool being able to go into the exam room with the doctor and patient and being able to already figure out the correct diagnosis before the doctor tells you. Even if you only scribed for a year, you would learn a lot!!

I can't stress enough how great of a learning opportunity it is being a scribe. Not only that, I think it will also reaffirm to you if medicine is the right path for you. You really get to take on the role of a doctor and working that closely with doctors you get to really see what their job entails on a daily basis.

Also when it comes to getting LOR, I feel that the letter I got from the doctor I scribe with was MUCH stronger than the CCE letter. Although I have heard that the CCE letter is well known and respected with medical schools.

If you are interested in the scribe job, PM me. We have a lot of scribes that will be leaving us in march/april due to medical school acceptances.

 

[Atlas Shrugged]

I would def go for the scribe position.

I have done both the CCE program at HOAG and I am currently an emergency room scribel. When I compare what I do now as a scribe to what I used to do when I was in CCE I laugh! With CCE the most I did was take patient vitals and I think I assisted a nurse twice with a bath, and only because I kept asking her. As a scribe, I DO SOOOO MUCH! And I have learned so much! I know how to chart, document physical exams, write prescriptions, etc. I pretty much do everything the doctor does and all he does is sign. It is such a great learning experience and the doctors know you want to go to medical school and so they take the time to teach you which is awesome! I know how to read xrays, I know which splints to order for what fractures, what type of antibiotics to give based on the diagnosis, and I know a lot of the medical terms that I will be using later in medical school. I def feel like this position has really prepared me for medical school! I've been doing it for about a year and half and its pretty cool being able to go into the exam room with the doctor and patient and being able to already figure out the correct diagnosis before the doctor tells you. Even if you only scribed for a year, you would learn a lot!!

I can't stress enough how great of a learning opportunity it is being a scribe. Not only that, I think it will also reaffirm to you if medicine is the right path for you. You really get to take on the role of a doctor and working that closely with doctors you get to really see what their job entails on a daily basis.

Also when it comes to getting LOR, I feel that the letter I got from the doctor I scribe with was MUCH stronger than the CCE letter. Although I have heard that the CCE letter is well known and respected with medical schools.

If you are interested in the scribe job, PM me. We have a lot of scribes that will be leaving us in march/april due to medical school acceptances.

Which hospital do you scribe for and how often do you have to work overnight? Do you believe it affect your studies in anyway?

I'm really interested in the program but I can't be working overnight when I have an exam in the morning.

 

[docelh]

The former president of the pre-medical club I am currently an officer in worked as a scribe and always seemed completely exhausted. She had to work nights many times a month even before exams. I don't believe she was accepted anywhere.

I thought about applying but after some consideration I feel that a flexible schedule in an unrelated field that allows me to study and keep my grades up is worth way more than this job opportunity.

I enjoy the CCE program with Citrus Valley Health Partners in Covina/West Covina where I'm in the ER and get to see some pretty interesting stuff and we have doctor shadowing and OR rotations if you qualify, though I have heard nothing but bad things about Hoag.

Basically if you feel unsatisfied with your current clinical experience and you can work nights without it affecting your schoolwork go for it.

👍

Scribes are paid. The program here requires part-timers to put in 3 eight hour shifts per week, and to be flexible with scheduling.

 

[sunnysand]

Which hospital do you scribe for and how often do you have to work overnight? Do you believe it affect your studies in anyway?

I'm really interested in the program but I can't be working overnight when I have an exam in the morning.

PM me if you want to know details about the hospital. As for the schedule we have morning shifts, night shifts and weekend shifts. I personally like the morning shifts better and I have never worked overnight. Also, our program limits scribes to working 2 shifts a week. As for it getting in the way of my studies, it never has. All of our scribes are students, so we are really flexible about scribes taking time off for midterms, finals, interviews, mcat studies, etc. I significantly reduced the number of hours I worked when I was studying for the MCAT...
If anything, this program has helped with my studies. For example, when I was taking hematology, ordering CBC's and interpreting them at work really helped me ace my hematology class!

 

[ILikeDrugs]

How much do these scribe positions here in southern CA pay?

 

[sunnysand]

How much do these scribe positions here in southern CA pay?

$8-$15/hour. Depends on how long you've been working there too. We start out all our scribes on the lower end and after the first 3 months we bump it up a couple of dollars, followed by more pay increases the longer you work you there.