I agree that you don't need an EMT course but you do need service in a clinical setting where patients are receiving services from physicians in your presence. Scribe work is very common these days and certainly would fit if you could get some work hours evenings and weekends. This would mostly likely be in an emergency department setting.
You could also look into the possibility of volunteering in an emergency department or a NICU on weekends. The point should be that the location is in a hospital or clinic given that your previous experience appears to be outside of that setting which could be part of the reason it was considered "less than".
Thanks for the info. I'm not sure how feasible scribing is with full-time work given the training timelines and only being able to work limited hours.
I don't think volunteering where you're with a physician providing care really exists. I found hospital volunteering where I can work with patient's directly, but I don't think a physician is present most of the time. Do you know of any specific types of volunteer roles directly with doctors? Or is being in a hospital and working with patients enough? I thought the typical pre-med experience of directly watching physicians came from shadowing.
Here are a few different volunteer programs I'm looking at. Do any of these descriptions sound like they'd be appropriate options? If not, I'll look more closely into scribing.
1) Every Hospital patient is more than his or her illness. By exercising compassion, responsiveness and excellence, Patient Care Volunteers can make a major contribution to overall treatment and recovery.
In this role, you will gain hands-on experience on a hospital nursing unit as you provide comfort and communicate with patients of all ages. On any given shift, you may be responsible for pharmacy and lab rounds, responding to call bells, feeding patients or fulfilling patient and family requests. Working as part of the nursing team, you will have an opportunity to enhance the quality of life of hospitalized patients. This program is ideal for volunteers considering a health profession.
2) Discover whether a career in healthcare is for you by taking the time to volunteer in the clinical environment.
You will be rounding on patients, answering call bells, engaging in conversation, escalating concerns, and supporting their nutritional needs at mealtime. You will also support staff by running errands, assisting with projects, and stocking supplies. You will work closely with nurses, nursing assistants, and unit clerks, among others.
3) Emergency department visits often generate high levels of anxiety for patients and family members. As a Project Contact volunteer, you will facilitate various aspects of the visit to improve the overall experience and contribute to quality healthcare.
You will work directly with patients, families, and medical professionals while observing and learning in a modern fast-paced emergency room. You will help feed patients, attend to non-medical needs, stock supplies, transport patients and retrieve medications as you make the most of compassionate care and good communication skills.
4) Delirium Program volunteers provide non-medical interventions to promote cognitive stimulation, reorient to the environment, and increase mobility.
Volunteers serve as part of a team to treat active cases of delirium and prevent delirium in high risk cases and gain one on one patient experience in medical and surgical unit settings. Orientation, ongoing supervision and education will be provided.
5) Emergency Department (ED) volunteers assist Emergency Room personnel in creating a comfortable environment that respects and nurtures the dignity of our patients.
Volunteers provide companionship to lonely and anxious patients, serve as a liaison among patients, families, and staff, greet patients and visitors in the waiting area, deliver messages, and explain visiting policies.
