Is shadowing essential?

[bamamedic]

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I've been working as a paramedic for the last 5 years, and by the time I apply to med school, I'll have 8-9 years of experience as a medic. In addition to that, I've worked as a medical assistant for a primary care doc for about a year.

The physicians who work out of the ED that I transfer 90% of my patients to, have been very gracious about letting me follow them around when I'm not busy; i.e. as the perform lac repairs, intubate, run codes on the floor, etc. When I asked a couple of my favorite docs about formally "shadowing" them on my off days, they replied that they didn't feel it was necessary at all, since I already have a good idea of what medicine is about. They said that shadowing was more for premeds who don't have a lot of experience in medicine.

I'm also working as an intern research assistant for a company that contracts with pharmeceutical organizations to run their clinical drug trials. I should be able to put in a couple of years, working one day a week in their office...about half the time, I'll be working on chart review and paperwork, and about half the time, I'll be seeing the trial participants (running blood/urine tests, follow up check-ups, etc).

In addition to that, I plan on volunteering at Hospice for 6m to a year.

In my case, is shadowing truly essential?

 

[PharmaTope]

if you can get some experience in other areas of medicine to show that you have explored other areas. that way you have an understanding of what different practitioners go through bc there arent any guarantees in medicine.

this is just my 2 cents and im not sure if thats whta admissions would agree with

 

[Mbeas]

I've been working as a paramedic for the last 5 years, and by the time I apply to med school, I'll have 8-9 years of experience as a medic. In addition to that, I've worked as a medical assistant for a primary care doc for about a year.

The physicians who work out of the ED that I transfer 90% of my patients to, have been very gracious about letting me follow them around when I'm not busy; i.e. as the perform lac repairs, intubate, run codes on the floor, etc. When I asked a couple of my favorite docs about formally "shadowing" them on my off days, they replied that they didn't feel it was necessary at all, since I already have a good idea of what medicine is about. They said that shadowing was more for premeds who don't have a lot of experience in medicine.

I'm also working as an intern research assistant for a company that contracts with pharmeceutical organizations to run their clinical drug trials. I should be able to put in a couple of years, working one day a week in their office...about half the time, I'll be working on chart review and paperwork, and about half the time, I'll be seeing the trial participants (running blood/urine tests, follow up check-ups, etc).

In addition to that, I plan on volunteering at Hospice for 6m to a year.

In my case, is shadowing truly essential?

this is shadowing. plus,considering your other experiences, i wouldn't worry to much about it. seemingly, you have plenty of clinical experience and you know what medicine is about.

 

[Silverfalcon]

You are already shadowing. You just didn't ask the doctors for shadowing because you were already there, seeing everything. You are fine, and way to go for being a paramedic... That's one of few jobs that are underpaid in health care.

 

[akinetopsia]

To answer the question, it is not essential for you. As other posters have insinuated, it depends on the individual's background, mainly if you have a long period of clinical experience either volunteer or paid, shadowing is less important for you than for someone that has never been in any clinical job/patient contact job in a paid or volunteer capacity.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

The whole shadowing thing is kind of peculiar. I understand the premise of it, but it's unreasonable to shadow every medical specialty. I know that isn't required, but realistically if you shadow your PCP and perhaps someone else then that's still pretty limited exposure. How much shadowing can one do anyway? It seems like it'd be a burden to have people always with you watching over your shoulder. I've had citizens come ride around with me, and it's always kind of peculiar to have an outsider in the car wondering what cops do during the day. That said, I've had reserves and newbies ride around with me and the whole thing is different becuase you're there to teach them. It was the same way when I had student EMTs on an ambulance. That's not that big of a deal, but just having someone there to observe me that you don't know is weird. I suspect it'd be the same for doctors. I have a listed of physicians that I have worked around and thus have effectively shadowed as well as a list of others who I have spoken with about their careers. Watching another doctor a few times isn't going to have any effect on my opinion of entering medicine.

 

[Nasrudin]

The whole shadowing thing is kind of peculiar. I understand the premise of it, but it's unreasonable to shadow every medical specialty. I know that isn't required, but realistically if you shadow your PCP and perhaps someone else then that's still pretty limited exposure. How much shadowing can one do anyway? It seems like it'd be a burden to have people always with you watching over your shoulder. I've had citizens come ride around with me, and it's always kind of peculiar to have an outsider in the car wondering what cops do during the day. That said, I've had reserves and newbies ride around with me and the whole thing is different becuase you're there to teach them. It was the same way when I had student EMTs on an ambulance. That's not that big of a deal, but just having someone there to observe me that you don't know is weird. I suspect it'd be the same for doctors. I have a listed of physicians that I have worked around and thus have effectively shadowed as well as a list of others who I have spoken with about their careers. Watching another doctor a few times isn't going to have any effect on my opinion of entering medicine.

I agree. Shadowing is fakery. Piddling around making situations awkward for people actually responsible for them. Not to mention patients. For whom I believe a shadowy stranger is a violation of the highest order.

My opinion. Not that it has been asked for. Is that this BS process was invented for the majority of upper middle class applicants for whom getting their hands dirty is just a photo op for their resume. Then they're gone. Patient violated. Physician inconvenienced or made to feel grandiose by an attentive acolyte. Staff having to slow down to accommodate useless bystanders. All so that these little brats can get their box seats to the event.

F@ck shadowing. And other platitudes of this process.


But. Do it if you have to. 🙂

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I agree. Shadowing is fakery. Piddling around making situations awkward for people actually responsible for them. Not to mention patients. For whom I believe a shadowy stranger is a violation of the highest order.

My opinion. Not that it has been asked for. Is that this BS process was invented for the majority of upper middle class applicants for whom getting their hands dirty is just a photo op for their resume. Then they're gone. Patient violated. Physician inconvenienced or made to feel grandiose by an attentive acolyte. Staff having to slow down to accommodate useless bystanders. All so that these little brats can get their box seats to the event.

F@ck shadowing. And other platitudes of this process.


But. Do it if you have to. 🙂

👍