Ethics Behind Shadowing

[nvega13]

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I am finding it hard to find an OD to shadow, cause they are all telling me that it wouldn't be ethical for me to sit in on a patient exam, and that it would impede upon doctor-patient confidentiality. How did most of you guys manage to find an OD willing to overlook this? Also, for how long did you shadow the OD who wrote your LOR.

Thanks.

 

[stompy]

I think that's complete non-sense. My guess is that the ODs you are trying to shadow just doesn't like you. Usually the OD would introduce you to their patient each time and ask if you could stay, etc.. Usually the patients have no problems regarding this.

What might help is if you dress you as if you were someone working there or as if you were the OD himself...the OD might be more willing to have you shadow him.

 

[RLK]

I am finding it hard to find an OD to shadow, cause they are all telling me that it wouldn't be ethical for me to sit in on a patient exam, and that it would impede upon doctor-patient confidentiality. How did most of you guys manage to find an OD willing to overlook this? Also, for how long did you shadow the OD who wrote your LOR.

Thanks.

Is there an optometrist that you go to for eye exams? I think it would be harder for him/her to say no if you're a patient of theirs. The first OD I shadowed was someone that my dad knew from a long time ago, so it was easy to ask him. The second though I never met before - I just walked into the vision center and asked her the other day. She was real nice about it and said that I could.

 

[Ben Chudner]

I am finding it hard to find an OD to shadow, cause they are all telling me that it wouldn't be ethical for me to sit in on a patient exam, and that it would impede upon doctor-patient confidentiality. How did most of you guys manage to find an OD willing to overlook this? Also, for how long did you shadow the OD who wrote your LOR.

Thanks.

There is no ethics issue with shadowing a doc. I would look for another doctor.

 

[katiemixtape]

I also had a hard time finding an OD to shadow. After months of unreturned phone calls and dead-ends, I called my state optometric association and asked if they could help. They said they would do what they could if I sent an email that explained my needs. The president of the chapter got ahold of the email and set me up with one of his associates. It was a student/mentor match made in heaven! One of the schools I was applying to required 30 hours of unpaid observation, so I got to know my OD really well by the end. I learned a ton, formed a great relationship with a practicing OD, and received an amazing letter of recommendation.

 

[tamathat]

I ran into the same problem... even my family optometrist of 12 years told me no!

I eventually got tired of wasting my time explaining my desire to shadow to office manager after office manager. I ended up typing up a letter and including my contact information and then dropped it off at 12 local optometrist offices. Only one doc responded but he was awesome. He ended up teaching me how to use alot of the equipment and let me work up patients before it was all said and done.

I recommend doing the same. The doctor that takes the time to read your letter and actually call you back will do so because he/she wants to share what they are doing with interested students. It will be a much better much and you will get much more out of the shadowing experience!

 

[RLK]

I'm suprised these OD's gave you people so much trouble. I thought they would be a little more understanding.

 

[stompy]

Also, I would guess that some ODs are open to people shadowing them is that they might get some free labor as well...

 

[RLK]

I ran into the same problem... even my family optometrist of 12 years told me no!

I eventually got tired of wasting my time explaining my desire to shadow to office manager after office manager. I ended up typing up a letter and including my contact information and then dropped it off at 12 local optometrist offices. Only one doc responded but he was awesome. He ended up teaching me how to use alot of the equipment and let me work up patients before it was all said and done.

I recommend doing the same. The doctor that takes the time to read your letter and actually call you back will do so because he/she wants to share what they are doing with interested students. It will be a much better much and you will get much more out of the shadowing experience!

I'm curious - Are you still going to go to the optometrist that you've been going to for 12 years who said you couldn't shadow? I don't think I would give that optometrist any more business. Maybe he/she is afraid that you'll take their business when you get out of school. When I first told the optometrist that I used to go to that I was thinking of optometry, he got nervous and started telling me that I should move to a different state if I become an OD. haha

 

[pre_opt_sku]

I am finding it hard to find an OD to shadow, cause they are all telling me that it wouldn't be ethical for me to sit in on a patient exam, and that it would impede upon doctor-patient confidentiality. How did most of you guys manage to find an OD willing to overlook this? Also, for how long did you shadow the OD who wrote your LOR.

Thanks.

If you are asking people by resume, make sure that you deliver them yourself!!! It's a lot more likely that it will end up in the right hands if you are there to hand it to them. Othewise, I wouldn't be surprised if some of your resumes just ended up in the garbage can... In terms of "ethical reasons" I think that is a load of BS. For the optometrist's office where I volunteer, if I want to sit in on an exam, the OD always asks the patients if it is OK. I have yet to have anyone say no. Most of the time though, I am not in the exam room, I am helping do some of the pre tests. So, if any of the the OD's talk about ethical reasons, ask if you could even just help with some of the pre tests...I don't see how knowing the results of an auto refraction could cross the ethical border... and also good luck with your applications!!

 

[stompy]

Most of the time though, I am not in the exam room, I am helping do some of the pre tests. So, if any of the the OD's talk about ethical reasons, ask if you could even just help with some of the pre tests

Yes, as I said earlier, the smart ODs would LOVE to use you as free labor...

 

[stompy]

I'm curious - Are you still going to go to the optometrist that you've been going to for 12 years who said you couldn't shadow? I don't think I would give that optometrist any more business. Maybe he/she is afraid that you'll take their business when you get out of school. When I first told the optometrist that I used to go to that I was thinking of optometry, he got nervous and started telling me that I should move to a different state if I become an OD. haha

You should come back and set up shop right by his office.

 

[luvthemhogs]

When I first told the optometrist that I used to go to that I was thinking of optometry, he got nervous and started telling me that I should move to a different state if I become an OD. haha

What a compliment. 😉

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

I would have no problem with future OD's shadowing under me, as long as the patient was fine with it.

 

[aimeeee]

i guess not all ODs are that open to having somebody watch them around their office. i dont remember when but sometime in the past year, i was at my doctor's office and he was asking me what i was going to do in the future and i told him that i was interested in optometry and he said that anytime i want to shadow, i should call him. good luck finding a doctor to shadow~! 😀

 

[nvega13]

Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions. I have decided to just write letters to all the optometrist offices in my area and hopefully something will work out. I do have a question about the letter I am writing: Who should I address it too? If there is only ne OD, I will obviously address it to them. But if there are many ODs in the office, who should I address it too? Should I just make it a somewhat generic intro (ie. Dear Sir/Madame - although they might not like that seeing as they are Drs.)? What do you suggest?

Thanks.

 

[Buck Strong]

you know, i had the same problems. I'm currently applying for the OMD match, and during my month off last year, I asked to shadow a couple of OD's that I went to for my refraction and contact lenses for almost 10 years. I knew how to do a normal eye exam and could refract, but wanted more practice. I also wanted to understand what the OD's that I'd be working with in the future did. I thought that i'd be good free labor, but sadly I was mistaken. Nobody wanted anything to do with me, and one doctor cited some hipaa confidentiality crap that I knew wasn't true. Anyway, I guess some OD's are a little more territorial, not only to pre-OD students but also med students.

 

[aimeeee]

What's an OMD match? thanks~!

 

[John_Q]

What's an OMD match? thanks~!

I'm glad that my local Optometrist is such a nice person, and let me shadow them a few times this summer. I think everyone should have an opportunity to shadow and gain experience if they like the field or not.

 

[Buck Strong]

What's an OMD match? thanks~!

OMD=ophthalmology

 

[JapAnime]

Be persistent! Eventually someone will say yes. I went through lots and lots of ODs, finally the 30th one said "yes". 😀

 

[UABopt]

WOW this is all very surprising to me… a few years ago, when I as looking for ODs to shadow, I walked into 3 different O.D. (each with a different mode of practice) offices off of the street completely cold. Having neither connections nor previous contact, I simply asked if I could shadow and got 3 yes responses. Every O.D. that I ever visited was warm and welcoming. Perhaps I was very lucky.

 

[mupreopt]

Sorry to bring this old post up.
Seeing that some had trouble finding an optometrist, I have a question.
There are only three optometry offices in my area. What if all three said no. What are my options from there?

 

[KHE]

Sorry to bring this old post up.
Seeing that some had trouble finding an optometrist, I have a question.
There are only three optometry offices in my area. What if all three said no. What are my options from there?

If you can't get one of these three ODs in your area to let you shadow, then you are doomed. You will have no hope of getting a recommendation letter, and therefore no hope of admission to any school.

 

[IndianaOD]

Sorry to bring this old post up.
Seeing that some had trouble finding an optometrist, I have a question.
There are only three optometry offices in my area. What if all three said no. What are my options from there?

Get in your car and drive 20 minutes to another 3 ODs. I am surprised at all the trouble students have had. I'd have no problem letting a student shadow.

I'd honestly tell them to consider dentistry but they would be more than welcome.

 

[eyestrain]

Sorry to bring this old post up.
Seeing that some had trouble finding an optometrist, I have a question.
There are only three optometry offices in my area. What if all three said no. What are my options from there?

You really need to start doing some legwork yourself. Why are worried about this if you haven't even asked the ODs yet? So what if they say no, find one somewhere else to shadow.

 

[Habitual Rx]

mupreopt,

you will soon find out that 90% + of practicing optometrists are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

at least that has been my impression and personal experience.

 

[362.04]

Dear mupreopt,

Have you considered part time internship (no pay) with one of these doctors. Our hospital has a requirement that there be some affiliation between the student and the institution. This means that codes of conduct, HIPAA confidentiality and health status must be enforced. Our student volunteers are part of the volunteer organization and each has to go through an orientation for the above.

 

[mupreopt]

Thanks.

362.04, I've never heard of internships with optometrist before. I am interested. All I ever heard of was shadowing, working for an optometrist, or volunteering. How are you defining internship? Are you meaning the same thing as volunteering or are you actually meaning internship?

 

[362.04]

Thanks.

362.04, I've never heard of internships with optometrist before. I am interested. All I ever heard of was shadowing, working for an optometrist, or volunteering. How are you defining internship? Are you meaning the same thing as volunteering or are you actually meaning internship?

In the world of volunteering, they are called internships. They are not internships in the meaning of medicine or health care. It is a commmittment.

 

[zyg0te]

Be persistent! Eventually someone will say yes. I went through lots and lots of ODs, finally the 30th one said "yes". 😀

The same thing happened to me. I went on the VSP website and looked up the OD's within 10 miles of me. I called about 8 different OD's, and recieved a lot of "we will contact you later." And a couple said I would be a liability, since I wasn't on the clock.

Finally I found one practice that has been nothing short of amazing to me. I talked to the OD, and she asked me to fax a resume. I did and she returned a call a couple days later to "interview" me. She gave me a quick run-down of the field, her background, and the history of the company, and gave me a HIPPA packet. I started that day just getting an overview of the office, and we worked out a schedule where I would return every week for 4 hours shadowing and learning various aspects of the office. Billing, lab work, frame selects, pre-tests, etc.

In retrospect I am really glad the first 8 said no because I am so happy at this office. It was probably the best fit for me. I know a lot of offices use their volunteers as gofers, but this internship was primarily for me.

Like Calvin Coolidge said "Persistence and determination are omnipotent."