is Scribe necessary for me?

[Ryomagoku]

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Hey guys,

so im retaking classes at the moment and studying for MCAT again.

I have heard good reviews and experiences regarding scribe position and have an interview at one of the hospitals that I applied soon.

But, I realized that the position requires a lot of time.

I have interviewed twice before but have not been so successful.

As of now, I have over 600 hours of hospital volunteering, over 200 hours in the leadership in that volunteer program which I graduated already.

Right now, I'm just shadowing my mentor physician (DO) as often as I can.

So my question is, do you guys think I should be fine without scribe experience prior to medical school?

I just want to do some non clinical related volunteer work or gain some work experience.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

 

[deleted407021]

You don't need to scribe. Use that time to get some community service hours in something like tutoring, perhaps.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

It depends. If you can balance the two then I would absolutely be a scribe. The training can be arduous and it takes some time to be proficient but it's an experience that IMHO is one of the best experiences a premed can have. PM me if you have any questions. Schools will 100% look for medical experience then community service ect and at all my interviews, I've talked probably 70% about scribing because I was able to draw on my experience as it related to the current status of healthcare, the critical thinking process that is required and just the cool cases. My interviewers ate it up. But take it what it's worth.

 

[Ryomagoku]

It depends. If you can balance the two then I would absolutely be a scribe. The training can be arduous and it takes some time to be proficient but it's an experience that IMHO is one of the best experiences a premed can have. PM me if you have any questions. Schools will 100% look for medical experience then community service ect and at all my interviews, I've talked probably 70% about scribing because I was able to draw on my experience as it related to the current status of healthcare, the critical thinking process that is required and just the cool cases. My interviewers ate it up. But take it what it's worth.

That's exactly what I heard from other people who had scribe experience. But, my question is that I have so many clinical hours and leadership hours within the hospital program, is it necessary for me to do scribe for another extra clinical hours?

And, I am pretty jealous... I haven't been successful with scribe positions.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

Pros:
+Learn medicine through an emergency standpoint, from medications to procedures.
+See many clinical presentations (Heart attacks, stroke, lacerations, overdoses, fractured bones, etc)
+Possible LOR if you do a GREAT job
+Understands the physicians' thought process
+Ask the doctor anything--some will be happy to teach you and treat you like a medical student
+Improve your multitasking and memory skills (keeping track of +12 patients at any given time!)
+Not everyone can do it, be proud! Makes you look different in the applicant pool! Makes you competitive
+Some doctors are willing to help you
+I pre-diagnose the patients and have the physician over look them. Beware, some physicians prohibit this. Some will test your knowledge.
+Useful experience for medical school because you SEEN it in person and knows bit of pieces of the process
+Learn patient-physician interactions
+Shows your commitment to medicine

Cons:
-Physicians can be mean and jerks
-Time consuming
-Mentally fatigue by the end of my shifts
-Most days, you dont get a lunch break. I depended on gluconeogenesis. I'm fat, I can starve longer than my skinny counterparts.

 

[arc5005]

I did the scribe training. I didn't finish the program due to a medical emergency, the disgusting low pay, and no desire to return to the company.

I really think it would have been a good experience, but I'm working part-time, making the same amount I would have as full-time as a scribe, but now have more time to study and volunteer. Scribing definitely would beef up my application, but I think studying for the MCAT is more important!

I think you're in a better position, than me. I'd say re-take grades & MCAT are more important than scribing at this point.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I am starting to see that medical work or medical volunteering has more weight than volunteering in general. However, grades and MCAT take top priority. So if you feel the need to improve both, then just do a volunteering gig that you like that isn't draining.

 

[arc5005]

I am starting to see that medical work or medical volunteering has more weight than volunteering in general. However, grades and MCAT take top priority. So if you feel the need to improve both, then just do a volunteering gig that you like that isn't draining.

what is considered medical volunteering? greeting at a hospital? volunteering on a unit? working alongside doctors (rare)?

 

[Ryomagoku]

what is considered medical volunteering? greeting at a hospital? volunteering on a unit? working alongside doctors (rare)?

That I also want to know haha. My hospital volunteer was a hands-on experience. So, I did a lot of physical work (blankets, delivering blood samples, re-stocking, helping in trauma, observing surgeries, etc). Would that count as medical volunteering that you're talking about? In that case, is scribe necessary?

 

[IslandStyle808]

what is considered medical volunteering? greeting at a hospital? volunteering on a unit? working alongside doctors (rare)?

That I also want to know haha. My hospital volunteer was a hands-on experience. So, I did a lot of physical work (blankets, delivering blood samples, re-stocking, helping in trauma, observing surgeries, etc). Would that count as medical volunteering that you're talking about? In that case, is scribe necessary?

My understanding of it is what LizzyM has stated in the past ", if you can smell patients, then it is a clinical experience." More precisely it something where you are involved with the patient care process in someway or form. For instance, lets say you are volunteering in the ED. Just by delivering samples to lab or patient charts to the ED, taking patients to different departments in the hospital, or helping the doctor get supplies can be considered part of the patient care process, thus medical volunteering. You don't have to be directly involved with what the doctor is doing, but be apart of the process in treatment of the patient (yep even delivering samples).

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

That I also want to know haha. My hospital volunteer was a hands-on experience. So, I did a lot of physical work (blankets, delivering blood samples, re-stocking, helping in trauma, observing surgeries, etc). Would that count as medical volunteering that you're talking about? In that case, is scribe necessary?

No, because you get paid. BUT I am a scribe........ I always VOLUNTEERED to give the patient extra blankets, water, blessings, and comfort when the nurses or doctors are busy.

 

[Twifi]

I'm part of the lift team at a 500+ bed hospital in California that has one of the busiest ERs in the state. From what I've seen, being a scribe is like paid physician shadowing. They have tons of downtime and very limited patient interaction. I think it comes down to what do you need more: a physician reference or hands on clinical experience. I was lucky to have several great shadowing experiences so I opted for the clinical experience and I couldn't be happier.