Is home hospice volunteering considered clinical?

[deleted1106140]

I am thinking of volunteering at a hospice as a home hospice volunteer in which I sit with patients for a few hours a week so that they primary caregiver can do errands/take a break. Would this be considered clinical volunteering or should I seek another position at the actual hospice rather than with their home patients? Thank you.

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[Princeton Medical Student]

Yes.

 

[LizzyM]

Two things. First, if these are patients and you are in close proximity to them, it is a clinical experience. However, this should not be your only clinical experience given that it is a very small fraction of what a fraction of physicians ever do.... as a physician, you are more likely to be working in a clinical office or hospital setting with a team of individuals with different roles. It is imperative that you have some exposure to that environment as part of your "clinical experience" before deciding to pursue a career in medicine.

 

[deleted1106140]

Two things. First, if these are patients and you are in close proximity to them, it is a clinical experience. However, this should not be your only clinical experience given that it is a very small fraction of what a fraction of physicians ever do.... as a physician, you are more likely to be working in a clinical office or hospital setting with a team of individuals with different roles. It is imperative that you have some exposure to that environment as part of your "clinical experience" before deciding to pursue a career in medicine.

Thanks. I have volunteered at a hospital for a year as a patient transporter and am moving to a new city in which all the hospital volunteer programs are closed due to COVID-19, so this seems like the best option since I already have a full-time job and am unable to seek clinical employment.

 

[ank1054]

I am thinking of volunteering at a hospice as a home hospice volunteer in which I sit with patients for a few hours a week so that they primary caregiver can do errands/take a break. Would this be considered clinical volunteering or should I seek another position at the actual hospice rather than with their home patients? Thank you.

I would highly suggest listening to the All Access Medical Admissions Podcast for one because it is a great tool and actually talked about this! I think it was either the Duke Podcast or WashU but they were saying how this was one of the preferred clinical experiences because one you are the primary caregiver on the scene and two it really shows empathy and more of those soft skills. You go into a patients room and really have to understand what they need in that moment even if it just holding their hand because their family is not there to do so. Regardless of work if you are passionate about this I feel it will shine through more than having a job you are not passionate about!

 

[NeuroticPremedSadge]

Two things. First, if these are patients and you are in close proximity to them, it is a clinical experience. However, this should not be your only clinical experience given that it is a very small fraction of what a fraction of physicians ever do.... as a physician, you are more likely to be working in a clinical office or hospital setting with a team of individuals with different roles. It is imperative that you have some exposure to that environment as part of your "clinical experience" before deciding to pursue a career in medicine.

I am an upcoming freshman and was planning on heavily relying on hospice volunteering considering the fact that I have done similar things with a long-time family friend and was passionate about it. Therefore, would a good plan be to add generic, albeit less meaningful volunteering such as patient transporter during summers when I visit my hometown to demonstrate understanding of what working in a hospital is like?

 

[LizzyM]

I am an upcoming freshman and was planning on heavily relying on hospice volunteering considering the fact that I have done similar things with a long-time family friend and was passionate about it. Therefore, would a good plan be to add generic, albeit less meaningful volunteering such as patient transporter during summers when I visit my hometown to demonstrate understanding of what working in a hospital is like?

I do think that it would be helpful to have some experience in a health care setting such as a hospital or clinic/office. Most of your clinical training and, in all likelihood, most of your career, will be spent in such an environment.

 

[NeuroticPremedSadge]

I do think that it would be helpful to have some experience in a health care setting such as a hospital or clinic/office. Most of your clinical training and, in all likelihood, most of your career, will be spent in such an environment.

Thanks for the confirmation!