EMT for clinical experience?

[anonymousaxolotl]

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Is being an EMT considered good clinical experience? I know one school said that they're looking for doctor-patient interactions and you don't see much of that as an EMT. I am shadowing a doctor though, so I thought EMT would be good for direct patient interactions. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[MyOdyssey]

Is being an EMT considered good clinical experience? I know one school said that they're looking for doctor-patient interactions and you don't see much of that as an EMT. I am shadowing a doctor though, so I thought EMT would be good for direct patient interactions. Any advice is appreciated!

So what does that one school believe to be "good" clinical experience?

 

[doomer_md]

Scribe? Less training and you probably will get better hours. Pay is probably worse though.

 

[LizzyM]

Can you direct us to something in writing from that school? Is that comment on the school's website? It might help to see the text itself.

 

[anonymousaxolotl]

There's no direct statement on the school's website, but when I called the admissions office, they said that "you're not exactly doing what a doctor does" as an EMT and that they'd prefer to see an experience with doctor-patient interactions like scribing.

However, I thought that patient interactions was considered clinical experience, so I guess I'm a bit confused on what exactly counts as clinical experience: doctor-patient interactions or direct patient interactions?

 

[MyOdyssey]

There's no direct statement on the school's website, but when I called the admissions office, they said that "you're not exactly doing what a doctor does" as an EMT and that they'd prefer to see an experience with doctor-patient interactions like scribing.

However, I thought that patient interactions was considered clinical experience, so I guess I'm a bit confused on what exactly counts as clinical experience: doctor-patient interactions or direct patient interactions?

Did you speak to an admissions dean or, alternatively, admissions committee member? I'm also curious about how this conversation took place. Did you call up asking about clinical experience or perhaps whether there were any weaknesses in your application?

 

[LizzyM]

There's no direct statement on the school's website, but when I called the admissions office, they said that "you're not exactly doing what a doctor does" as an EMT and that they'd prefer to see an experience with doctor-patient interactions like scribing.

However, I thought that patient interactions was considered clinical experience, so I guess I'm a bit confused on what exactly counts as clinical experience: doctor-patient interactions or direct patient interactions?

What an asinine comment from an admissions office. You aren't exactly doing what a doctor does because you are not a freaking doctor! However, if they want to say that they prefer that clinical experiences involve being shoulder to shoulder with a physician then scribing is ideal and hospice, nursing homes, pediatric inpatient playroom and much more is out. Seems odd but some schools have their fetishes.

 

[MyOdyssey]

What an asinine comment from an admissions office. You aren't exactly doing what a doctor does because you are not a freaking doctor! However, if they want to say that they prefer that clinical experiences involve being shoulder to shoulder with a physician then scribing is ideal and hospice, nursing homes, pediatric inpatient playroom and much more is out. Seems odd but some schools have their fetishes.

In contrast, UVA specifically identifies EMT and shadowing as important clinical experience:

"In addition, working in the health field, such as by shadowing a doctor or working in an EMT organization, helps highlight a student's drive to enter the medical profession."

University of Virginia Medical School's Prerequisites

www.theclassroom.com

 

[LizzyM]

In contrast, UVA specifically identifies EMT and shadowing as important clinical experience:

"In addition, working in the health field, such as by shadowing a doctor or working in an EMT organization, helps highlight a student's drive to enter the medical profession."

University of Virginia Medical School's Prerequisites

www.theclassroom.com

The key word there is "working". they are giving examples of the type of work one might do to demonstrate one's drive to enter the medical professoin.

 

[MyOdyssey]

The key word their is "working". they are giving examples of the type of work one might do to demonstrate one's drive to enter the medical professoin.

By shadowing “work,” is UVA referring to scribing?

 

[anonymousaxolotl]

Did you speak to an admissions dean or, alternatively, admissions committee member? I'm also curious about how this conversation took place. Did you call up asking about clinical experience or perhaps whether there were any weaknesses in your application?

I'm not sure exactly who I talked to, but I went on the school's website and found a number for their Office of Admissions. I called them asking if they thought EMT was a good clinical experience, and she said that they instead recommend having an experience where you can see a doctor-patient interaction.

 

[deleted1017120]

EMS experience will teach you more procedural skills and autonomy that any other reasonably accessible pre-med clinical job (I'm obviously not counting nursing since that requires a multi-year degree). You'll learn how to administer quite a few medications, do several procedures, and perform autonomous assessments. It also pays significantly better than typical pre-med clinical jobs, meaning you might actually be able to support yourself to an extent.

My EMS experience (along with my military experience) is universally lauded as the strongest part of my application.

I am skeptical of a medical school that doesn't value the work and experience of being in EMS. The vast majority of schools hold it in very high regard and it will strengthen your application significantly, probably much moreso than working as a scribe. Ultimately, as long as you gain direct experience with a physician's job somehow, your actual clinical work should be about working in the field of healthcare and working hands-on with patients. You can gain facetime with physicians while you work as an EMT in many capacities (this is what I did) or by shadowing aside from your EMS work.

 

[LizzyM]

By shadowing “work,” is UVA referring to scribing?

My bad - they do use shadowing as an example of "work" when clearly no one is employed as a shadow. (I think I saw the s... and thought scribe.)

I do agree that anyone who would ding an applicant for having worked at an EMT is being unnecessarily narrow in the interpretation of "clinical"(although some are just driving the ambulance or wheelchair van and ferrying patients a mile or two from one place to another for dialysis or radiation is not what we're looking for in terms of clinical).

 

[06wolf]

Yoshismusicworld, you should be an EMT if you're interested in it and want to do it. It's amazing clinical experience. It requires you to have basic medical knowledge and to apply it in real world circumstances, often without direct oversight. And you definitely interact with medical professionals at the ED when you sign out. You can also stay for traumas and see how the medical team takes care of the patients you bring in. Most ED doctors will also answer your questions about patient care. There are lots of ways to get clinical experience, so you should be guided by your interests and passions, rather than box-checking requirements of admissions committees (imho). If a school doesn't value the incredible clinical experience you have, then it's not the right school for you, and you've received important information about your application process. Best of luck to you! I hope you land at a school that nourishes your interests and nurtures your growth.

 

[guytakingboards]

Is being an EMT considered good clinical experience? I know one school said that they're looking for doctor-patient interactions and you don't see much of that as an EMT. I am shadowing a doctor though, so I thought EMT would be good for direct patient interactions. Any advice is appreciated!

Sounds ridiculous that being an EMT wouldn't be a good clinical experience. As mentioned above, its probably one of the most useful clinical experiences you can have pre-medical.

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

Only one school and specifically interviewer was a douc and discounted everything about my EMS service and career.

If you do it not to check boxes and to learn and learn communication, wisdom, etc.

Literally one of the best things you could do rn. Or volunteer, just do it more than once a yr to again, not check and box.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

this is a constant topic of discussion here - there are some who dismiss EMS, but my experience so far has been much more that it's considered valuable and appreciated. It's even come up in my residency interviews. you'll see and do very different things than you would by scribing, or shadowing, or hospice/hospital volunteering. But EMS by far gave me the most autonomy and hands on clinical exposure of any of my premed activities. I also think it's really worthwhile for people in medicine to understand who the pre-hospital stuff works. Not all EMS gigs are the same though, so take a close look at what is available near you.

 

[allseasons]

Is being an EMT considered good clinical experience? I know one school said that they're looking for doctor-patient interactions and you don't see much of that as an EMT. I am shadowing a doctor though, so I thought EMT would be good for direct patient interactions. Any advice is appreciated!

some of the adcoms here have expressed a less than desirable view of EMT. Honestly, from what I can tell, it's a good EC, but not worth the long training and hours. There are better things you can do with your time, generally. Of course, if you're deeply interested in it for its own sake, do it.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

some of the adcoms here have expressed a less than desirable view of EMT. Honestly, from what I can tell, it's a good EC, but not worth the long training and hours. There are better things you can do with your time, generally. Of course, if you're deeply interested in it for its own sake, do it.

Eh the training isn’t that long.

Ultimately it’s the only easily attainable premed clinical activity where you get to be the sole person responsible for a patient of any acuity. What other premed activity lets you and your equally dumb 20 year old roommate be in charge of some of very critical patients during a very critical portion of their care.

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

And this is how you phrase it in your interview one day (don't lie of course though):

"Yeah I did this because I am not the type of person who checks boxes. I'd rather like to do something that matters to me, grow from it, and take it to heart. I was here to get better at communication, patient care, and to make sure any type of medicine was for me before I kept on the path towards physician".

They'll love ya instantly