Clinical volunteering- what exactly is it?

[apple_juice]

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Hi everyone, can someone provide some examples of things that would count as ‘clinical volunteering’ versus ‘non-clinical volunteering in a clinical setting?’ I know the old LizzyM adage of “if you can smell the patients, it’s clinical” but I’ve been seeing some posts that indicate clinical experience needs to come from actually being involved in patient care and not simply being around it.

Here are my volunteer tasks at a local hospital. Would some of these count as clinical?

1. Most of the time I pair up with another volunteer and walk around a few patient floors. I introduce myself to patients, engage in conversation, ask if there’s anything I can get or bring up to staff for them, and let them know where to call to find us.

2. Sometimes I greet people at one of the entrances and direct them around the hospital campus. Most of them are coming in for outpatient appointments.

3. Sometimes I help work the front desk. I answer calls from patients (Hi, this is ABC. Can I please have a newspaper/magazine/Wifi help? I’m in room XYZ) and either send a fellow volunteer up or go up myself to assist them.

4. Sometimes I walk around the ED and help nurses deliver blankets and food to admitted people, set up wifi, etc.

5. Sometimes I sit in the nurses’ station in a particular wing and answer the call lights. If a patient wants something simple like a towel or blanket, I get it for them. If it’s something like a snack or water I defer to their nurse.

 

[LizzyM]

OK... I'll bite.
1. you are face to face, speaking with patients. That's clinical.
2. you are speaking to paitents, that's clinical.
3. you speak with patients electronically and sometimes go to their bedside. That's clinical.
4. "admitted people" are "patients". You are seeing them face to face and helping them with things that they can't do for themselves. That's clinical.
5. Again, you are helping patients face-to-face. That's clinical.

Stuff that isn't clinical but that can be in a hospital:
working in the gift shop assisting shoppers
stocking shelves in the pharmacy
having an internship in the hospital's administrative offices
tending plantings on the hospital grounds

There are a few schools (Rush comes to mind) that really like applicants to have had a role as a clinical care provider (EMT, patient care tech, etc) but those are rare. Most schools do not have an expectation that you have been in a role that requires you to touch patients (many volunteer offices prohibit volunteers from touching patients) which is where my familiar adage about how close you need to be comes from.

 

[apple_juice]

OK... I'll bite.
1. you are face to face, speaking with patients. That's clinical.
2. you are speaking to paitents, that's clinical.
3. you speak with patients electronically and sometimes go to their bedside. That's clinical.
4. "admitted people" are "patients". You are seeing them face to face and helping them with things that they can't do for themselves. That's clinical.
5. Again, you are helping patients face-to-face. That's clinical.

Stuff that isn't clinical but that can be in a hospital:
working in the gift shop assisting shoppers
stocking shelves in the pharmacy
having an internship in the hospital's administrative offices
tending plantings on the hospital grounds

There are a few schools (Rush comes to mind) that really like applicants to have had a role as a clinical care provider (EMT, patient care tech, etc) but those are rare. Most schools do not have an expectation that you have been in a role that requires you to touch patients (many volunteer offices prohibit volunteers from touching patients) which is where my familiar adage about how close you need to be comes from.

Thank you! I really appreciate it.

 

[screwedpremed999]

I'm currently making phone calls to patients or loved ones of patients on behalf of a hospice center. Is this clinical or non-clinical?

 

[MyOdyssey]

OK... I'll bite.
1. you are face to face, speaking with patients. That's clinical.
2. you are speaking to paitents, that's clinical.
3. you speak with patients electronically and sometimes go to their bedside. That's clinical.
4. "admitted people" are "patients". You are seeing them face to face and helping them with things that they can't do for themselves. That's clinical.
5. Again, you are helping patients face-to-face. That's clinical.

Stuff that isn't clinical but that can be in a hospital:
working in the gift shop assisting shoppers
stocking shelves in the pharmacy
having an internship in the hospital's administrative offices
tending plantings on the hospital grounds

There are a few schools (Rush comes to mind) that really like applicants to have had a role as a clinical care provider (EMT, patient care tech, etc) but those are rare. Most schools do not have an expectation that you have been in a role that requires you to touch patients (many volunteer offices prohibit volunteers from touching patients) which is where my familiar adage about how close you need to be comes from.

Given your answer to #3 and electronic communications with patients, would volunteering for a depression hotline count as clinical?

“People dealing with depression may believe they will never feel better and that nothing and no one can help them. It is important to know, however, that these feelings can be treated. Free depression hotlines can help people understand their feelings and guide them to the best mental health resources.

Seeking help is the first step to conquer depression and begin feeling like yourself again. Free, national hotlines are available 24/7 for anyone who needs help managing their depression.”

 

[LizzyM]

Given your answer to #3 and electronic communications with patients, would volunteering for a depression hotline count as clinical?

“People dealing with depression may believe they will never feel better and that nothing and no one can help them. It is important to know, however, that these feelings can be treated. Free depression hotlines can help people understand their feelings and guide them to the best mental health resources.

Seeking help is the first step to conquer depression and begin feeling like yourself again. Free, national hotlines are available 24/7 for anyone who needs help managing their depression.”

That is missing out on the "sometimes going to their bedside" piece of the response. While the hotline work can be a good adjunct to other volunteerism, some face-to-face experience with patients, either paid or volunteer, is essential prior to making one's appllication for admission to medical school.