If I already work with patients right now, do I still need to volunteer in the hospital?

[IAmTetris]

It's been a couple of years since I graduated college. I have a job in the hospital that allows me to interact and work directly with patients right now. In terms of my application, do I still need to volunteer in the hospital/do things for free? I've heard that, when gap years are taken, it's important to continue volunteering in the hospital for clinical experience. But does this mean that during time off, it's important to simply interact with patients (work in the hospital) or is it volunteering in the hospital that's important?

I've already volunteered for several years, but I had to stop a while back (couple of years ago) when I took on more hours for research. It's been a couple of years since I've volunteered in the hospital with patients, but I still pursue other types of volunteer work outside of the hospital. I really do enjoy volunteering in the hospital & being around patients. I'm just really, really busy & probably will be until I apply to medical school next year. For the sake of my application then, do I still need to volunteer clinically/with patients?

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[wysdoc]

It's been a couple of years since I graduated college. I have a job in the hospital that allows me to interact and work directly with patients right now. In terms of my application, do I still need to volunteer in the hospital/do things for free? I've heard that, when gap years are taken, it's important to continue volunteering in the hospital for clinical experience. But does this mean that during time off, it's important to simply interact with patients (work in the hospital) or is it volunteering in the hospital that's important?

I've already volunteered for several years, but I had to stop a while back (couple of years ago) when I took on more hours for research. It's been a couple of years since I've volunteered in the hospital with patients, but I still pursue other types of volunteer work outside of the hospital. I really do enjoy volunteering in the hospital & being around patients. I'm just really, really busy & probably will be until I apply to medical school next year. For the sake of my application then, do I still need to volunteer clinically/with patients?

The point is to show that you know what caring for patients will entail, so I think you have it covered!

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Clinical volunteering is not what's important, it's clinical exposure. You've got that down. Just make sure you show your altruistic side with non clinical volunteering (especially to the less fortunate)

 

[Catalystik]

Clinical volunteering is not what's important, it's clinical exposure. You've got that down. Just make sure you show your altruistic side with non clinical volunteering (especially to the less fortunate)

And be sure to have some dedicated physician shadowing time, too, ideally including some office-based primary care.

 

[IAmTetris]

And be sure to have some dedicated physician shadowing time, too, ideally including some office-based primary care.

Are internal medicine subspecialties(e.g. cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology) considered as office-based primary care? I've never been quite sure about this. In general, would med schools consider shadowing subspecialists within primary care as having observed primary care? For example, would pediatric cardiology fall under primary care?

Why is there a preference for observing primary care over specialists for pre-meds? Med schools seem to expect this when applying but from what I've read on SDN, it also seems like it's recommended because it's important as a starting point for pre-meds to start understanding health care.

Also, I'm trying to piece together what happens with patients in the hospital. From the moment a patient sees their primary care physician and discovers they have some sort of chronic illness, what happens after this? What is this whole process called? Sorry if the questions are poorly phrased-- I don't have a good grasp of the question lol

 

[Catalystik]

1) Are internal medicine subspecialties(e.g. cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology) considered as office-based primary care? I've never been quite sure about this.

2) In general, would med schools consider shadowing subspecialists within primary care as having observed primary care?
3) For example, would pediatric cardiology fall under primary care?

4) Why is there a preference for observing primary care over specialists for pre-meds? Med schools seem to expect this when applying but from what I've read on SDN, it also seems like it's recommended because it's important as a starting point for pre-meds to start understanding health care.

5) Also, I'm trying to piece together what happens with patients in the hospital.

6) From the moment a patient sees their primary care physician and discovers they have some sort of chronic illness, what happens after this? What is this whole process called?

1) Not unless the specialist takes responsibility for the overall healthcare of their patient. This may happen as a specialist is building a practice or with certain conditions (eg, an ID doc and a patient with AIDS).

2) Rarely.

3) No.

4) They want you to have a view of longitudinal care, rather than episodic care. Whether you end up in primary care or as a specialist, you need experience of medicine as it's practiced "in the trenches."

5) Hospitalized patients may be managed by their primary care doc, or by a Hospitalist, or by a specialist, or by more than one of these. Initial orders may be written by an ED doc.

6) A patient with a chronic condition can be managed by either their primary care doc or by a specialist to whom they are referred ( or choose to consult on their own).

 

[wizzed101]

^
Does hospice care constitute primary care?

 

[Catalystik]

^
Does hospice care constitute primary care?

Hospice doctors are usually palliative care specialists and not considered primary care.

Due to my specialty, I wouldn't know what is "usual," but the doc directing services can be the primary care physician that cared for the patient before they entered hospice care.

 

[wizzed101]

Thanks for the answer. The doctors that I was referring to must've had another practice. Like they only came in the hospice, located in a very expensive neighborhood, 2 times/hours a month in gym clothes driving Mercedes. Whatever specialty that is I want in lol.

 

[Goro]

Nope, your patient contact experience shows us that you know what you're getting into. Thus, stick with volunteering in a non-clinical context. Best will be being of service to those less fortunate than yourself.

It's been a couple of years since I graduated college. I have a job in the hospital that allows me to interact and work directly with patients right now. In terms of my application, do I still need to volunteer in the hospital/do things for free? I've heard that, when gap years are taken, it's important to continue volunteering in the hospital for clinical experience. But does this mean that during time off, it's important to simply interact with patients (work in the hospital) or is it volunteering in the hospital that's important?

I've already volunteered for several years, but I had to stop a while back (couple of years ago) when I took on more hours for research. It's been a couple of years since I've volunteered in the hospital with patients, but I still pursue other types of volunteer work outside of the hospital. I really do enjoy volunteering in the hospital & being around patients. I'm just really, really busy & probably will be until I apply to medical school next year. For the sake of my application then, do I still need to volunteer clinically/with patients?