Difficult time accumulating shadowing experience

[jgipson05]

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Does anybody else have a difficult time finding physicians to let you shadow? I am from Fort Smith, Arkansas. A large number of the local doctors are employed by just a few different companies. These companies will not let anybody come in to shadow unless they are already in medical school due to HIPAA concerns.

Why do they expect us to have the shadowing experience, and then tell us that there are legal concerns with getting it? It just doesn't seem fair.

 

[flip26]

Does anybody else have a difficult time finding physicians to let you shadow? I am from Fort Smith, Arkansas. A large number of the local doctors are employed by just a few different companies. These companies will not let anybody come in to shadow unless they are already in medical school due to HIPAA concerns.

Why do they expect us to have the shadowing experience, and then tell us that there are legal concerns with getting it? It just doesn't seem fair.

Is your college in Ft Smith?

The availability of shadowing seems very community dependent. I encountered lots of hurdles where I live, too, because of HIPAA concerns.

Personally, I think shadowing is vastly overrated. Concentrate more on getting good clinical experience. Any shadowing you do is a bonus - and through your clinical work, you are more likely to find a friendly doc who will let you tag along...

 

[jm192]

See if there are any physicians with in a 30 minute drive that would let you shadow them.

It certainly helps to shadow. Adcoms want to know you have an idea what you're getting yourself into, shadowing is a great way to see what goes on.

 

[Dannyw]

I had a terrible time accumulating shadowing hours. First I started cold calling every doctor in my area, got one bite after about 20 calls, a Pediatrician.

Next I called my primary care physician and shadowed him for a day.

I soon realized that shadowing in primary care is too intimate and most physicians won't allow you to come in. That's the case in my area anyway.

I started calling up surgeons and I've shadowed quite a few of them and then started networking while in the OR.
-- since most of them essentially work as 'contractors' (renting out the OR to do procedures through their personal corporation, they don't have to have to go through the hospital for background checks and crap, that's what I was told anyway) they can bring you in whenever they want.

I also shadowed a bit while volunteering at a free clinic.