I literally face-palmed about what's happening to me

[IPremed2010]

I'd like to share my story.

I talked to the volunteer director in my hospital to transport patients and take vitals in the ER. The volunteer director talked to the supervisor of the ER. They both said it's cool to transport patients and take vitals.

I completed the application and all of the other stuff. (Edit: After volunteering like 3/4 times), I was going to get a name budge in my hospital, the human resouces department saw I am a "pre-medical student" on my application. They reported to the education department. Education department asked me what I did in the ER. I told them I what I did in the ER.

They told me since I am not in my 3rd or 4th year of medical school. I should not be in the hospital.The education department told me I was being in the hospital without authorization.Now what? They say security guards will be called immediately whenever I go to hospital for anything because I am dangerous.

I explained so many times but the head of the education department said "No, if you insist, we will call security guards and remove you now from the hospital"

So I am banned from the hospital.

I am in the process of resolving this matter.

Edit 2:I asked the volunteer coordinator why it's like this. She told me she is sorry but she can't do anything about this. So yeah, that's my premed life for now.

Edit 3lease change the thread title to "What's the most BS have you ever as a premed" or similar. Instead of just talking about myself, I want to hear from other people too.

Edit 4: This is what I did in the ER...

Taking patients to a room+these...

1)Putting a round thing on an arm to measure blood pressure
2)Putting a small click thing on a finger to measure oxygen saturation
3)Putting a temperature thermometer under a patient's tongue.

They are extremely. simple. And I did my EMT course, which is a requirement to be an ER tech in this hospital.

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[YaBoyAR]

at least you got in those 3 or 4 times! (optimistic)

If it's that big of a deal to the hospital, that they would call security/call u dangerous.... what does that say about the hospitals screening process?

 

[DiamondBar]

This is absolutely ridiculous. If I were you I'd not only facepalm, but double facepalm. Sorry to hear what happened Do you think you will be "un-banned" and resolve this? This is unfair and I hope this doesnt happen to me. Is it a hospital in California? Sorry for so many questions, but I've never heard of these kind of stuff happening.

I'd like to share my story.

I talked to the volunteer director in my hospital to transport patients and take vitals in the ER. The volunteer director talked to the supervisor of the ER. They both said it's cool to transport patients and take vitals.

I completed the application and all of the other stuff. (Edit: After volunteering like 3/4 times), I was going to get a name budge in my hospital, the human resouces department saw I am a "pre-medical student" on my application. They reported to the education department. Education department asked me what I did in the ER. I told them I what I did in the ER.

They told me since I am not in my 3rd or 4th year of medical school. I should not be in the hospital.The education department told me I was being in the hospital without authorization.Now what? They say security guards will be called immediately whenever I go to hospital for anything because I am dangerous.

I explained so many times but the head of the education department said "No, if you insist, we will call security guards and remove you now from the hospital"

So I am banned from the hospital.

I am in the process of resolving this matter.

Edit 2:I asked the volunteer coordinator why it's like this. She told me she is sorry but she can't do anything about this. So yeah, that's my premed life for now.

Edit 3lease change the thread title to "What's the most BS have you ever as a premed" or similar. Instead of just talking about myself, I want to hear from other people too.

 

[mvenus929]

I had a similar instance happen to me when I went and tried to shadow a hospitalist. I got on a few rounds, and then he decided he should probably follow protocol and sent me down to be registered somewhere. As it turned out, you had to be a student in order to be in the hospital in that situation (I had just graduated), and you had to have your school back you on malpractice insurance, even if you were just going to stand there and watch. So, I had to walk out and give up the rest of the hours shadowing that I had planned.

 

[IPremed2010]

I shall hire LawNonTrad for my lawyer. So he can argue for me.

 

[DiamondBar]

I had a similar instance happen to me when I went and tried to shadow a hospitalist. I got on a few rounds, and then he decided he should probably follow protocol and sent me down to be registered somewhere. As it turned out, you had to be a student in order to be in the hospital in that situation (I had just graduated), and you had to have your school back you on malpractice insurance, even if you were just going to stand there and watch. So, I had to walk out and give up the rest of the hours shadowing that I had planned.

Sorry, but what do you mean by "you [have] to be a student in order to be in the hospital in that situation" ? In what situation? To transport a patient? I thought shadowing did not involve any work like that in the hospital (?). And does this mean pre-medicals cannot shadow any doctors? Please let me know, sorry I don't know much, that's why!

 

[cpants]

Should probably just go somewhere else. It doesn't really make sense, and you should be able to volunteer. I don't know that it's appropriate for you to be taking vitals, and that may be where the issue arose.

 

[IPremed2010]

Should probably just go somewhere else. It doesn't really make sense, and you should be able to volunteer. I don't know that it's appropriate for you to be taking vitals, and that may be where the issue arose.

I thought that's the issue too. But, I don't know they would ban me from the hospital.

I did...

1)Putting a round thing on an arm to measure blood pressure
2)Putting a small click thing on a finger to measure oxygen saturation
3)Putting a temperature thermometer under a patient's tongue.

They are extremely. simple. And I did my EMT course, which is a requirement to be an ER tech in this hospital.

 

[morning]

I shall hire LawNonTrad for my lawyer. So he can argue for me.

Sheeeeit, don't forget Law2Doc.

 

[Kevin Baker]

I've shadowed at two different hospitals and asked what I needed to do before showing up. You know, getting my access authenticated, etc. Both told me to not bother and just had me put on a white coat and escorted me in as the hospitals didn't allow non medical students to volunteer without a ton of paperwork, if at all. I think this might be the norm with malpractice and everything. I'm all for bypassing inane bureaucratic policies but I started getting uncomfortable when both docs told me to pretend I was a med student if asked. C'est la vie.

 

[cpants]

I thought that's the issue too. But, I don't know they would ban me from the hospital.

I did...

1)Putting a round thing on an arm to measure blood pressure
2)Putting a small click thing on a finger to measure oxygen saturation
3)Putting a temperature thermometer under a patient's tongue.

They are extremely. simple. And I did my EMT course, which is a requirement to be an ER tech in this hospital.

I'm sure you are capable of taking vitals. I don't claim it's difficult. However, from a medicolegal standpoint, the hospital probably doesn't want some premed volunteer off the streets taking vitals. Treatment decisions are based on that data, and they need to be taken by licensed staff with malpractice coverage. If you are an EMT, why not seek out some experience as a volunteer or paid EMT. Great clinical experience. Much better than hospital volunteering.

 

[Kolabear]

Unfortunately, due to the fact that lawsuits are increasingly commonplace in medicine, hospitals have to be more cautious regarding patient interaction and treatment. Hospitals are businesses, and lawsuits for malpractice or volunteers going beyond their scope carry huge risks. Even if it's the individual volunteer performing the vitals assessment, the pt would most likely sue the hospital, since they'd get more money from the settlement through that route (cruel world we live in isn't it?)

With that said, even individuals who have been corpsmen for 5 years serving in Iraq or Afghanistan can't take vitals if at that moment they are in the hospital as a volunteer. Regardless of what experience they have, if you are documented as a standard volunteer, you're capabilities are limited by that. If you go beyond it, the hospital will be able to take action against you as procedure to protect themselves and uphold their zero-tolerance policies.

That's why you want to be careful when talking about medical missions experiences to adcom or health care professionals. I've heard some stories of pre-meds sharing experiences of performing life-threatening/determining operations overseas for job and medical school interviews, and in some cases getting frowns of serious disapproval.

Play it legal and safe, don't risk your future over something small.

As for me, as a first year undergrad, I almost got torn down by a huge HIPPA fiasco in the ER where I diagnose stroke patients and enroll them into clinical trials. An idiot in the same organization accidentally disclosed a little bit more information than necessary to an unrelated persons, a nurse overheard, and just because I was caring for the pt as well, I was suspected and they threatened to either fine, imprison, and/or suspend me from pursuing an MD in the future. It was a stressful few months, but thankfully the storm blew over. Lesson learned: be smart with what you do and say.

 

[bigbad]

OP, shouldn't you talk to the volunteer director or the ER supervisor since they're the one's that allowed it?

Also, why are you so worried about this hospital? Why not find another one or a small clinic and start there? (assuming you didn't already rack up a bunch of hours here)

 

[IPremed2010]

OP, shouldn't you talk to the volunteer director or the ER supervisor since they're the one's that allowed it?

Yes. I talked to them and they said they have no power over education department. And education department said it was entirely my fault for not talking to the right person.

 

[IPremed2010]

As for me, as a first year undergrad, I almost got torn down by a huge HIPPA fiasco in the ER where I diagnose stroke patients and enroll them into clinical trials. An idiot in the same organization accidentally disclosed a little bit more information than necessary to an unrelated persons, a nurse overheard, and just because I was caring for the pt as well, I was suspected and they threatened to either fine, imprison, and/or suspend me from pursuing an MD in the future. It was a stressful few months, but thankfully the storm blew over. Lesson learned: be smart with what you do and say.

I hear you. Sometimes, I wonder the same thing. A good intention is not always legal.

I heard some paramedics in California helped a woman to give birth. The child was saved. But, they did something out of scope of practice. I remember they did a minor surgical procedure. The two paramedics are in jail now.

 

[zfreeland]

I volunteered the past two summers at a small surgery center, taking vital signs mostly. I had to go through orientation, a drug test, and a bunch of paperwork, but after that I was just like an employee (that didn't get paid, of course). Things did get a little tricky from time to time, like when a surgeon freaked out that there was a premed in his OR. I had to calmly explain that I was authorized to be there. "See I've got a name badge, there's a patient consent on file, it's OK!"

I wouldn't take the bulls*** personally though. Nobody in particular has it out for you, it's just the world we live in...