Good Experience?

[HopefulTexan]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have an interview this week at a hospital for a non-clinical position - from the posting it sounds like a medical secretary role (they call it something different) in the ED (register patients, process payments, explain forms, verify insurance, etc). I know experience is an important part of an application, and I wondered if this type of exposure would "count" to an admissions committee.

For those of you who know a thing or two about this, can you post a quick "Yes!" or "No," and let me know if the job would be worth taking (from the experience stand point) or if I should look toward volunteering or other options.

😕

 

[DrMidlife]

One definition used around here for clinical experience is that you smelled patients.

The job you describe, as performed in my city's busiest ER, would definitely count. The rep sits in full view of all incoming patients and has to keep track of where they go. They handle specimens sent to the lab. A fair number of nursing and pre-nursing students do this job.

It's not going to be impressive on a med school app, but it's a solid clinical experience where you'll see a LOT of what goes on in a hospital. You can get yourself some killer shadowing opportunities from where you'll sit.

Best of luck to you.

 

[princekc]

I have an interview this week at a hospital for a non-clinical position - from the posting it sounds like a medical secretary role (they call it something different) in the ED (register patients, process payments, explain forms, verify insurance, etc). I know experience is an important part of an application, and I wondered if this type of exposure would "count" to an admissions committee.

For those of you who know a thing or two about this, can you post a quick "Yes!" or "No," and let me know if the job would be worth taking (from the experience stand point) or if I should look toward volunteering or other options.

😕

full patient contact is what you need. advised: volunteer at a clinic; weighing, taking temps/bp/ht and rooming pt.

 

[kronickm]

I somewhat disagree with the above poster.

You may not be doing physicals but you are certainly involved with clinical medicine. Registering patients, billing and records among other things while not directly clinical are certainly an important piece in the puzzle of medicine. You could always watch what is going on in the ED. Not only should you be able to spin such things as being valuable to your outlook as a possible medical student, you could make some important contacts that could lead to more clinically relevant opportunities.

I don't really know what you mean by "count" to the med school since there isn't really a "requirement" for clinical experience, but it certainly would not hurt you.

 

[ScubaEMT]

ER registration is definitely better clinical experience than nothing at all... However, if you are only dealing with patients by taking their insurance information, you really are not gaining clinical experience. At best, this job gives you clinical exposure.

See if you can find a unit secretary job or something like that... With this, you will at least get some experience. The best thing, in my opinion would either be a scribe or EMT job (in that order).

 

[Empi]

My gut reaction is it looks good to me, but that and $4 will buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

 

[Pretty POHA]

Hi! Everyone's different, but from my personal experience, there is nothing wrong with a non-clinic position while you're working on your bachelors!!

I work as a secretary at a teaching hospital while I'm working on my my degree and pre-requisites. I couldn't have found a better opportunity for me-- the doctors love when I ask questions, and I'm learning both on the job and in class about things that I'm passionate about. Also, I'm in a perfect situation because these doctors are also professors at the medical school I want to attend. So... these guys see how hard I work, both in school and at work... I am very excited to see the sorts of letters of recommendation I get! Yay!