Finding a doctor to shadow & hospital volunteering

[spanky]

I attend school in a smaller sized town with only three hospitals. All three hospitals accept volunteers, but do not allow patient contact due to legal reasons. Do adcoms care whether you dealt directly with patients or sat in an office filing paperwork and answering phones?
Doctors offices have been telling me the same story. Most are now involved in managed healthcare programs and do not allow students to shadow them due to confidentiality concerns.

Anyone having the same problems? Any solutions???

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[Jessica]

Here's a story about two people who applied to Loma Linda SOM, both of these applicants had volunteered at Loma Linda U. Med Center as escorts. When asked about their volunteer experiences:

- one applicant replied (something like) "It was great! I got to talk to patients all day, which really helped me to be more comfortable talking to people. Even though I didn't get to do any procedures or hands on stuff I observed a lot of the clinical environment and was able to see what life as a doctor might be like while I helped out at the hospital." (later accepted)

- the other applicant said "well, it was pretty useless, I never really got to do anything hands on. All they let me do was push paper and wheel people around the hospital" (later rejected)

Regardless of what you do, it is more about what you make of the experience than what you are actually DOING. Without a licence, and even as a volunteer with certification, I have found that it is REALLY difficult to get the "hands on" experience that is so exciting due to legal limitations (most places don't cover volunteers under malpractice insurance.) My advice, whether you can get in at a clinic or as a hospital volunteer, DO IT! So what if you don't get to start IVs or do chest compressions?? Adcoms want to see that you have a genuine interest in helping others (evidenced by volunteering) and that you know a little bit about what it might be like to practice as a physician (which you can do by spending some time in the clinical environment as a volunteer). Hope this helps!!

 

[spanky]

Thanks for the response. But unfortunately, as explained to me by the hospitals, there is ***NO*** patient contact. You are not even allowed to speak to the patients, much less push them around in wheel chairs. According to the hospitals and doctor's offices, there is too much liability in letting volunteers be around patients.
How do you turn filing paperwork in a back office for no pay into a positive experience? Sorry for the sarcasm, but I would happy just to observe in a clinical setting.

 

[MUN2005]

You might want to have a look at this

<a href="http://www.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?" target="_blank">http://www.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?</a>

 

[EpiII]

When you are a physician, knowledge of how an office works and the amount of paperwork involved can also serve you well. You might also learn alot about our current payment 'system' (system implies design which ours certainly does not have). What is the difference between HMO, PPO, IPA, etc. There are many things you can learn at any job you do. It really is about attitude.

If you are interested, you could most likely volunteer at your local Public Health department for a look at a different type of health care as well. Again, just keep your eyes and ears open and your inquisitive mind asking questions.

 

[Jessica]

Epi has a good idea. I am sorry to hear that my advice was not helpful ..... you can't even OBSERVE?? I guess we are spoiled out here by teaching hospitals then.... Our facility has volunteer positions specifically for people that want to go into the health field. We were all given training in confidentiality etc. so we can read charts, be in rooms during procedures, etc. If you are trained in maintaining patient confidentiality, I don't see why it should be such a huge liability to have you observe, especially if it is OK with the patients. I don't know what other advice to offer besides look for a doc that is more receptive??? Ever thought about trying to work as a unit secretary or a clinic assistant?? At least that way you could read some charts/med histories, become familiar with lab tests and how a typical hospital unit runs... etc??

 

[calaxer19]

I volunteered a lot at a medical center, but I was fortunatly allowed to wheel patients around and was afforded other ways to interact with patients. That gets old real fast, however.

Look into getting an EMT or CNA certification, depending on your preference. However limited your scope of practice with those certs, you'll at least be able to get meaningful patient contact. I can only speak of the EMT cert., but it's a breeze to get and I had an awesome time. High recommended!

 

[spanky]

How long does it take to get a CNA certification?

 

[Jessica]

Originally posted by spanky:
•How long does it take to get a CNA certification?•••

I think it takes 9 mo. but I know that requirements to be certified vary from state to state. This page ( <a href="http://www.nursingassistant.org/registries.html" target="_blank">http://www.nursingassistant.org/registries.html</a> ) has contact info for different states.

 

[tBw]

If health care environments are non-receptive perhaps there are other volunteer opportunities open to you. I myself have worked with handicapped children, with suicide helplines, home help, retirement homes, homeless outreach. None of these are strictly "health care" but all are afforded the kind of human-contact looked favorably on by adcoms. Try the Catholic Charities or Salvation Army in your area, who will undoubtedly have contact info if they themselves do not run programs themselves.

good luck!

onwis

 

[megkudos]

I had a similar problem with the hospital I volunteered in so I chose other avenues to get some more hands on experience....I was able to become a phlebotomist (person who draw blood) and I worked as a pharmacy tech and lifeguard and learned a lot this way...some hospitals have paid positions as clinical care techs maybe you could look into that...also I was never an EMT but looking back I kinda wish I had done it...

Actually a student at my school was upset that there was no shadowing due to the insurance stuff so he worked with the volunteer coordinator at one of the local hospitals and organized a shadowing program (OB/GYN shadowing)...it took him a while but it worked...so maybe if you are very very ambitious you could try something like that....

You'll find something just go out and talk to people! Good luck!

 

[G3]

Like Spanky, I too am limited by living in a small town. I'm contemplating the CNA or EMT route if I don't get accepted this year. How long for EMT cert. Would it be worth it interum to reapplying?

 

[amonkeybutt]

hey spanky, the CNA thing varies from state to state. i got mine in oregon in 3 months from start of the course to actually having the certification. check with your state's board of nursing. but i know that having my CNA helped me a lot during my interviews because it really gave me something to talk about. also, i think it shows to some people that you aren't afraid to do the dirty work in medicine and you know it's not all glamorous. in fact, often it is far from it (it often makes my face this color &gt;

 

[Mwz1024]

Spanky, I am a senior in high school and I just took a CNA class and it took about 4-5 months (100 work hours and 50 class hours). This would be in the state of TN. Also I just upgraded to a PCP. Here is my advice. As soon as you turn to a CNA take a PCP class. Being a CNA is ok but you get grossed out. PCP is a very good experience. PCPs draw blood and can do EKGs. WHile CNA's wipe butts, change beds, give baths and did i mention wipe butts? But anyway you can usually find these classes at your local hospital. and pay is reasonable.

 

[Jamier2]

Mwz, what does PCP stand for? When I saw it the first thing to pop into my head was "Primary Care Provider/Physician" which I know you aren't talking about.

Thanks.

 

[Mwz1024]

Jamier2...PCP stands for PATIENT CARE PARTNER....Here is a description of the position that I found at my local hospital website...

Education Experience: 1. High school diploma or GED equivalent required. 2. Two years college education preferred. 3. Successful completion of the appropriate hospital training program. 4. Must be willing to cross-train in a variety of clinical areas and shifts as needed. 5. CPR trained. 6. Successful completion of the state exam for certification as a CNA by the end of the introductory period.

Physical Requirements: Ability to handle heavy materials or patients. Physical demands greater than moderate may require knowledge of use of appropriate equipment. Frequent bending, lifting, and pulling require proper use of good body mechanics. Often necessary to stand long periods of time and may spend most of shift on feet. Requires close mental, visual, and auditory attention in all phases of patient care activities. Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, staff, physicians, and visitors displaying a smile and maintaining a pleasant attitude.


I should also include drawing blood and doing EKG's. Also at my local hospital they pay about
8.50 per hour. So not bad.

 

[Cerberus]

Mwz1024, just out of curiosity, are you in or around Knoxville?

 

[Mwz1024]

I am an hour away from Knoxville