How much shadowing is necessary for a medical scribe?

[sworzeh]

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Title says it all. I've worked over 1000 hours as a medical scribe (which is essentially just me getting paid to shadow + type) and I want to know how many hours I should shoot for otherwise. I know this sounds lazy, but I'd prefer to get the bare minimum since I'm applying this June and I won't be shadowing until after I take the MCAT on 3/23.

So far, I have shadowed around 8 hours with a PCP in a free clinic.

 

[Lollygag]

I mean, I don't know if this would be considered dishonest but I was under the impression that a scribe's job pretty much IS to shadow. So couldn't you ask doctors that you've worked with if they'd be willing to sign off/vouch for you shadowing them?

It just seems like you've done more than enough "shadowing" but I could be wrong and I've never been a scribe either, merely going off of what I've heard

 

[SilentSoldier]

When I applied for c/o 2016 I put it down as informal shadowing and discussed that I viewed how the other doctors would bring in consults for the different patients depending on what they came in for. You are essentially shadowing as part of the job and in reality, you really shouldn't have to do any extra shadowing outside of the job. That time is better spent doing something else. Just my .02

 

[sworzeh]

When I applied for c/o 2016 I put it down as informal shadowing and discussed that I viewed how the other doctors would bring in consults for the different patients depending on what they came in for. You are essentially shadowing as part of the job and in reality, you really shouldn't have to do any extra shadowing outside of the job. That time is better spent doing something else. Just my .02

Did that work out just fine for you or were your lack of hours questioned?

Because, in that case, the only thing I'm missing out on is seeing primary care. I really do get to see all types of specialists.

 

[SilentSoldier]

Did that work out just fine for you or were your lack of hours questioned?

Because, in that case, the only thing I'm missing out on is seeing primary care. I really do get to see all types of specialists.

It worked out just fine (well I'm a reapp for 2018 but that wasn't the reason 😛 ) , I did work a lot of hours in the job and did get to see a lot of primary care consults (IM, OB, Psych, etc). Plus, since it was in an inner city hospital, I got to witness what goes on in underserved areas. I guess it really depends on the hospital and the type of patients it gets.

The main thing is that you're getting to witness medicine as it happens, and unless you're planning on applying to schools that prioritize primary care you shouldn't have to worry too much.

 

[Konfidence]

I've been a scribe for about 2 years, leaving now due to being accepted to medical school. I had worked over 2500 hours at the time of my application so on AMCAS I put shadowing in the title and description using that total number of hours, although I put scribing under paid employment - non military. Never had a problem during the application cycle.

Also, I explained that I witnessed different specialties in the ER as they consulted and even watched procedures that the specialists were willing to do in the ER. Concerning primary care, 60% of ER visits are primary care type complaints nowadays so that wasn't hard to convey 😉

 

[Geebeejay]

Hmm maybe get some private practice or PCP shadowing, but you're probably good.

I shadowed a medical team once and watched a catheterization once, but I didn't even include them in my application since they were such small experiences. What did I have instead? 4000hrs as ED Cna. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[aiwe]

I agree with what has been said. I don't think you need to do additional shadowing. I worked in the ED 6 hours a week, and never did shadowing outside of this. It did not seem to hurt me at all. Just make sure that you describe the experience so that they know you were basically "shadowing on the job". 👍