EMT Need Hospital Volunteering?

[bae2017]

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Just got hired at a private ambulance company - from what I've heard, the calls are mostly psych evals and dialysis transports. Do I need volunteering in a hospital setting, or is significant EMT work going to satisfy the "clinical experience" aspect of the application, given that EMTs only do pre-hospital care? I also volunteer at a soup kitchen.

I've heard different opinions on this issue.

 

[butternutsquash]

I think it definitely satisfies the clinical experience requirement, but it might be hard to articulate why you want to be a doctor when you only deal with pre-hospital care that doesn't involve a physician. If you spend some additional time shadowing a doc, you're set.

 

[jlh19]

It's all about what you learn from your experiences and how you articulate them. True you don't interact much with physicians in the pre-hospital arena. However, you do get a foundation for clinical critical thinking, experience with a wide variety of patient demographics (aka you get to learn how to talk to geriatrics, pediatrics, different cultures, etc...), and you get to learn how you want to interact with your own patients because you have your own patients. That not only gives you genuine patient interaction experience, but also you get to learn how to build a rapport with people and take care of them. I'm a little biased mainly because I've been an EMT for close to three years now and during my gap year right now I'm getting my p-card.

 

[chemist16]

Based on your description, it sounds like your private ambulance service doesn't actually serve an unbiased population. From my experience, private ambulance companies usually only do inter-hospital transport and don't have a lot of equipment on board - at least compared to a city/public company. In my area, calls go through county dispatch and get routed to us, the city company, before going to mutual aid from neighboring towns and only then to private companies. So in the end, you end up serving only as a transport vehicle and your patient population becomes biased. You also don't get to treat the variety of patients that EMTs working for public companies do. So you should probably supplement that with hospital experience/shadowing just so that you actually see the wider range of patient care.

 

[NeuResurgens]

It's clinical experience which is great, but volunteering shows altruism. Instead of hospital you might try a more community oriented volunteering gig.

 

[LizzyM]

Shadowing will fit the bill. Alternately, you could eventually get a job as a patient care technician in a clinical setting after working awhile as an EMT.

 

[chemist16]

EMT in a ambulance is NOT sufficient for hospital clinical and/or hospital volunteering. They want to see that you have had exposure to the environment of doctors, nurses, etc.

Shadowing will fit the bill. Alternately, you could eventually get a job as a patient care technician in a clinical setting after working awhile as an EMT.

Looks like med schools differ on what is or is not sufficient. Unless @gonnif counts shadowing as clinical volunteering.

 

[LizzyM]

One needs to show clinical exposure and an interest in volunteerism. The OP has soup kitchen volunteerism and some clinical exposure but no exposure to physicians any of their many workplaces. Shadowing or hospital employment could cover that. I don't see where gonnif and I are saying anything different about what is sufficient.

 

[chemist16]

One needs to show clinical exposure and an interest in volunteerism. The OP has soup kitchen volunteerism and some clinical exposure but no exposure to physicians any of their many workplaces. Shadowing or hospital employment could cover that. I don't see where gonnif and I are saying anything different about what is sufficient.

gonnif is saying that EMT is not sufficient for clinical and/or hospital volunteering, implying that OP needs hospital volunteering if EMT is his/her only clinical experience. You're saying that OP needs shadowing which can "fit the bill" for clinical exposure. I personally don't consider shadowing to be hospital volunteering.

 

[LizzyM]

gonnif is saying that EMT is not sufficient for clinical and/or hospital volunteering, implying that OP needs hospital volunteering if EMT is his/her only clinical experience. You're saying that OP needs shadowing which can "fit the bill" for clinical exposure. I personally don't consider shadowing to be hospital volunteering.

Hospital volunteering is clinical exposure. Shadowing is clinical exposure.

Hospital volunteering is volunteering. Shadowing is not volunteering.

The OP has volunteering covered through soup kitchen service but needs more clinical exposure. Which of the above would fit the bill?

A. Only hospital volunteering
B. Shadowing
C. both Hospital Volunteering and shadowing
D. Hospital volunteering or shadowing

Consider this a critical thinking problem.

 

[leonardoson]

Based on your description, it sounds like your private ambulance service doesn't actually serve an unbiased population. From my experience, private ambulance companies usually only do inter-hospital transport and don't have a lot of equipment on board - at least compared to a city/public company.

Not true. AMR is a private ambulance company and they carry the needed paramedic equipment to run calls depending on the protocols of the specific county. Private Ambulance companies actually outnumber state. I work for one as an EMT and they run the county and have everything that fire has for medical calls. Depends where you are. There are private ambulance companies that aren't really ambulances in my experience, they are just transport agencies. Those might be what you are referring to.

 

[chemist16]

Hospital volunteering is clinical exposure. Shadowing is clinical exposure.

Hospital volunteering is volunteering. Shadowing is not volunteering.

The OP has volunteering covered through soup kitchen service but needs more clinical exposure. Which of the above would fit the bill?

A. Only hospital volunteering
B. Shadowing
C. both Hospital Volunteering and shadowing
D. Hospital volunteering or shadowing

Consider this a critical thinking problem.

Thanks for being condescending. I'm sure your acquaintances appreciate it.

EMT in a ambulance is NOT sufficient for hospital clinical and/or hospital volunteering.

I interpret this statement as meaning EMT cannot replace hospital volunteering, i.e. that hospital volunteering is a necessary part of the application.

 

[chemist16]

Not true. AMR is a private ambulance company and they carry the needed paramedic equipment to run calls depending on the protocols of the specific county. Private Ambulance companies actually outnumber state. I work for one as an EMT and they run the county and have everything that fire has for medical calls. Depends where you are. There are private ambulance companies that aren't really ambulances in my experience, they are just transport agencies. Those might be what you are referring to.

I've seen more of the latter than the former. These are full-functioning ambulance companies - at least in the eyes of the state - because when we go to mutual aid and the surrounding public companies don't answer, it goes to those companies. They wouldn't send transport agencies to the scene of a psych patient. Most of these private companies have "ambulances" that are nothing more than beefed up vans. So if, say, there's a cardiac call, county doesn't ever send it to them because they don't have the equipment to handle it. But for fall victims or other minor stuff, they get the calls if other companies are busy. Since mutual aid is usually really good here, the private ambulance companies usually get stuck with inter-hospital transport and back-up calls that their limited equipment allows them to deal with.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks for being condescending. I'm sure your acquaintances appreciate it.



I interpret this statement as meaning EMT cannot replace hospital volunteering, i.e. that hospital volunteering is a necessary part of the application.

You're new here. You'll catch on eventually. Meanwhile, volunteering is needed. Clinical experience is needed. Some people do clinical volunteering as a two-fer but if an applicant has some non-clinical volunteering then a paid clinical gig, or even shadowing, can satisfy the need for clinical experience.
Clinical volunteering is not essential for every applicant.

 

[chemist16]

You're new here. You'll catch on eventually. Meanwhile, volunteering is needed. Clinical experience is needed. Some people do clinical volunteering as a two-fer but if an applicant has some non-clinical volunteering then a paid clinical gig, or even shadowing, can satisfy the need for clinical experience.
Clinical volunteering is not essential for every applicant.

Nah, I've been on here for a couple years - I left for a decent stretch of time and then came back but created a new account because I no longer have access to the original email account. I've actually had discussions on SDN with you personally but I haven't yet observed such condescension. Great interpersonal skills, buddy.

I understood what you said the first time. As I originally said, I interpret gonnif's original comment to mean hospital volunteering is a necessary part of an application. He/she could clarify the comment, but the wording suggests that "hospital volunteering" is necessary because EMT experience is not "sufficient" to cover that. Hence my comment saying that it seems med schools have differing conceptions of what is necessary.

 

[Sourgrapesss]

Nah, I've been on here for a couple years - I left for a decent stretch of time and then came back but created a new account because I no longer have access to the original email account. I've actually had discussions on SDN with you personally but I haven't yet observed such condescension. Great interpersonal skills, buddy.

I understood what you said the first time. As I originally said, I interpret gonnif's original comment to mean hospital volunteering is a necessary part of an application. He/she could clarify the comment, but the wording suggests that "hospital volunteering" is necessary because EMT experience is not "sufficient" to cover that. Hence my comment saying that it seems med schools have differing conceptions of what is necessary.

someone ban this kid

 

[Sourgrapesss]

Don't ban them; that's easy. Change them, its a lot harder but much more effective for the future as there is no one more powerful than a reformed sinner

ain't no one got time

 

[LizzyM]

1) Apologize to LizzyM who is the grand dame of Adcoms here on SDN and whose advice should be heeded at most every turn

2) My comment was "EMT in a ambulance is NOT sufficient for hospital clinical and/or hospital volunteering, " in direct response to the OP who had stated working at a private ambulance company doing primarily non-emergent transport, which is neither primarily clinical nor is it volunteering.

3) If the OP was working as an EMT on a rig, it still would primarily ambulance based, not hospital nor other clinic, and would still be below par for clinical setting experience.

4) If the OP was working on ambulance as a volunteer, that would add to the volunteer aspect.

5) While shadowing is clinical, it is done for one's self while volunteering is done for others

The OP has volunteer experience in a soup kitchen. I agree that he needs clinical experience beyond the EMT gig but I don't believe that he needs hospital volunteering. Basically, I think we're on the same page. I just put the "chemist" who called me buddy on ignore and called it a night.

 

[chemist16]

1) Apologize to LizzyM who is the grand dame of Adcoms here on SDN and whose advice should be heeded at most every turn

2) My comment was "EMT in a ambulance is NOT sufficient for hospital clinical and/or hospital volunteering, " in direct response to the OP who had stated working at a private ambulance company doing primarily non-emergent transport, which is neither primarily clinical nor is it volunteering.

3) If the OP was working as an EMT on a rig, it still would primarily ambulance based, not hospital nor other clinic, and would still be below par for clinical setting experience.

4) If the OP was working on ambulance as a volunteer, that would add to the volunteer aspect.

5) While shadowing is clinical, it is done for one's self while volunteering is done for others

Thank you for clarifying without being condescending.

Frankly, I don't care about being "banned." If somebody doesn't like being called condescending, then don't be condescending. It's that simple. I'll call whoever out whenever.

 

[Sourgrapesss]

Thank you for clarifying without being condescending.

Frankly, I don't care about being "banned." If somebody doesn't like being called condescending, then don't be condescending. It's that simple. I'll call whoever out whenever.

I feel bad for whoever has to work with you in the future

 

[chemist16]

I feel bad for whoever has to work with you in the future

I feel sorry for you. BAN ME.

 

[Sourgrapesss]

followed Lizzy and put you on ignore..so annoying lmao.

 

[chemist16]

As you're LYAO, might wanna try dislodging that stick up there.

(How am I stilled not banned?)

 

[Goro]

Pay very careful attention to the wise words of LizzyM and Gonnif.

My suggestions:

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, Ronald McDonald House or clinics.

Note to OP. Some of my clinical colleagues would suggest that your EMT service is a glorified taxi.

Just got hired at a private ambulance company - from what I've heard, the calls are mostly psych evals and dialysis transports. Do I need volunteering in a hospital setting, or is significant EMT work going to satisfy the "clinical experience" aspect of the application, given that EMTs only do pre-hospital care? I also volunteer at a soup kitchen.

I've heard different opinions on this issue.

 

[leonardoson]

Pay very careful attention to the wise words of LizzyM and Gonnif.

My suggestions:

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, Ronald McDonald House or clinics.

Note to OP. Some of my clinical colleagues would suggest that your EMT service is a glorified taxi.

I currently work as an EMT and do not disagree with the glorified taxi statement. I have run more calls where it's a simple transport than actual medical care being administered. Even then, it's the medic doing all the work and I'm driving the ambulance. With that said, should I abandon my Job as an EMT and try and get into an ER? Or will the EMT job help my app in the long run?

 

[Goro]

Since you just got hired, I'd say stick with the job for awhile. Don't do things that will impress us, do things you enjoy and learn from.

If you do eventually get to some hospital based volunteering, try to include stuff other than just ER, lest you be tagged as an "adrenalin junkie".

I currently work as an EMT and do not disagree with the glorified taxi statement. I have run more calls where it's a simple transport than actual medical care being administered. Even then, it's the medic doing all the work and I'm driving the ambulance. With that said, should I abandon my Job as an EMT and try and get into an ER? Or will the EMT job help my app in the long run?

 

[jlh19]

Wow I guess the medics I work with are lazy haha. If it's a BLS run, I'm in the back with the patient. Even with our ALS runs I am in the back assisting the medic with things they need to do (IV set ups, placing on the monitor, vitals, med pushes, etc...) and then I hop up front to drive to the ED. I will say this though, I am lucky because even though I'm in an area where the fire departments run 911, I work for a private EMS company that does 911 for nursing homes and I work the night shift so I see on average at least 3 medical runs a shift where I'm very involved with patient care. So for me this is a rewarding experience that I was able to write about in my application and can talk about extensively later on in the application process. It's hard to give concrete answers when you say you're an EMT without knowing how your EMS system runs.

 

[leonardoson]

Since you just got hired, I'd say stick with the job for awhile. Don't do things that will impress us, do things you enjoy and learn from.

If you do eventually get to some hospital based volunteering, try to include stuff other than just ER, lest you be tagged as an "adrenalin junkie".

I'm not the OP, I've been an EMT for a couple years with medical transport+911 experience. I'm planning on sticking with it and focusing on the 911 side due to light hours and able to focus on school. I do enjoy the patient contact and think it will be beneficial for my future as a doc to keep improving it.

 

[leonardoson]

Whether accurate or not, the perception held by many clinical members of an adcom that EMT is barely clinical and not particularly impressive. This is partly due to the "fashion" starting about 5 years ago or so of premeds running out to get EMT certification without much, if any, worthwhile experience to back it up. Hence my earlier posts in this thread that EMT and ambulance work is typically not sufficient for clinical exposure on a medical school application. You may be better served as an EMT or tech in an ER than as an ambulance driver.

BTW, I spent 4 years in a college VAC in a large state school that had 20,000-30,000 people a day on campus as well as 2 years as a paramedic/ER tech on a Mobile ICU Transport and in the ER

I originally wanted to be a Firefighter, which is part of my story in my journey to love medicine, they will not be just seeing "EMT Certified" on my app.

 

[Goro]

Where IS the Ignore function? I could use that for a few SDNers myself!

she has you "ignored" for being an ungrateful and obnoxious little prick who doesnt seem to understand that she likely has the most admissions committee experience of anyone on SDN. By ignoring you, she will never see anything you post, so if you have a question and want to hear what a long experienced adcom member thinks, she will never know you even asked much less get any wise counsel. So instead of being rash and obnoxious to someone you are speaking to for the first time, much like how you will have to be on a professional level as a physician, perhaps a brief apology is in order which I will see that she gets. Else likely the other adcoms on here will do the same as Madam LizzyM has done

 

[Gandyy]

Where IS the Ignore function? I could use that for a few SDNers myself!

I believe you have to click the username of the person and an option to "ignore" them shows up.

 

[medic86]

Where IS the Ignore function? I could use that for a few SDNers myself!

Click on their name, and the popup should have an "Ignore" button. 😛

 

[Goro]

It worked! Many thanks!