Long driving distance to DO rotation sites?

[jayhiller21]

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So I know this would be a dumb reason not to consider a school, but I was looking at rotation sites for Western U in Ca and some of the clinical sites were a bit of a drive (almost an hour, not accounting for LA traffic). Can anyone weigh in on this? It seems like you are busy enough as a med student and adding up to 2 hours of commuting every day as a MS3/4 would be a lot. I am comparing this to large state med schools that are affiliated with a large medical center and all their students rotate on-site.

 

[Seth Joo]

So I know this would be a dumb reason not to consider a school, but I was looking at rotation sites for Western U in Ca and some of the clinical sites were a bit of a drive (almost an hour, not accounting for LA traffic). Can anyone weigh in on this? It seems like you are busy enough as a med student and adding up to 2 hours of commuting every day as a MS3/4 would be a lot. I am comparing this to large state med schools that are affiliated with a large medical center and all their students rotate on-site.

This is the problem with DO schools compared to MD schools, most MD schools tend to have their own teaching hospitals, so MDs do not have to worry about commuting to a new locale when they start their clinical education. I was under the impression that Western is fairly organized with its clinical education department, but its in LA, and LA has some of the worst traffic in America. The best solution here is to relocate closer to your clinical site when the time comes.

 

[ortnakas]

So I know this would be a dumb reason not to consider a school, but I was looking at rotation sites for Western U in Ca and some of the clinical sites were a bit of a drive (almost an hour, not accounting for LA traffic). Can anyone weigh in on this? It seems like you are busy enough as a med student and adding up to 2 hours of commuting every day as a MS3/4 would be a lot. I am comparing this to large state med schools that are affiliated with a large medical center and all their students rotate on-site.

This is really variable by school, and even within schools. For example, at mine, you move to your clinical site 3rd year and 4th year. After that, you may be at one hospital almost 100% or the time, or you might still be moving around a bit. I don't think you should decide where to apply based on this kind of info, but it's definitely worth asking about at an interview ("Where do students live in the clinical years", "how do they typically commute to the clinical sites", "is housing provided for any rotations", etc).

 

[Seth Joo]

This is really variable by school, and even within schools. For example, at mine, you move to your clinical site 3rd year and 4th year. After that, you may be at one hospital almost 100% or the time, or you might still be moving around a bit. I don't think you should decide where to apply based on this kind of info, but it's definitely worth asking about at an interview ("Where do students live in the clinical years", "how do they typically commute to the clinical sites", "is housing provided for any rotations", etc).

He is going to a school in Los Angeles which is notorious for its traffic, its not unheard for people there to spend a couple of hours going to and from work each day there. The only solution to his problem is for him to move closer to his clinical site. Its not a big deal.

 

[ortnakas]

He is going to a school in Los Angeles which is notorious for its traffic, its not unheard for people there to spend a couple of hours going to and from work each day there. The only solution to his problem is for him to move closer to his clinical site. Its not a big deal.

Umm, that was my point?

However, Western's website says most sites are within driving distance of their campus, but doesn't really describe if you rotate between the sites or are mostly at one, which is why OP would want to find out if he/she should try to live somewhat centrally or end up moving to be closer to one of them.

 

[Seth Joo]

Umm, that was my point?

However, Western's website says most sites are within driving distance of their campus, but doesn't really describe if you rotate between the sites or are mostly at one, which is why OP would want to find out if he/she should try to live somewhat centrally or end up moving to be closer to one of them.

Driving distance is a vague term, and for someone from LA a couple of hours is a normal commute, I have a lot of friends in my school who are from LA, and its normal for them to drive two hours to get somewhere. My cousin's clinical rotations were across the street from her basic science lectures at her school. That being said Western is one of the better schools when it comes to its clinical education, many other schools have their students living out of a suitcase.

Still better than some schools that force their students to move to the other side of the state or move to other side of the country just to complete their core rotations.

 

[lossycompression]

This has been a topic discussion among many of my classmates (even though we're still 2 years away from rotations). It sounds like a lot of people will rent a room or find a short-term lease in a location closer to the rotation site and try to schedule their rotations so that they are at a hospital for more than one block at a time. Your only other option is to sit in traffic for hours a day (potentially).

 

[Seth Joo]

This has been a topic discussion among many of my classmates (even though we're still 2 years away from rotations). It sounds like a lot of people will rent a room or find a short-term lease in a location closer to the rotation site and try to schedule their rotations so that they are at a hospital for more than one block at a time. Your only other option is to sit in traffic for hours a day (potentially).

This makes me glad I chose AZCOM over Western. Short term rentals in LA are very expensive.

 

[tennerd]

what i don't understand is why the DO schools in cali have to struggle for local rotation sites; there are few medical students per population compared to other large states.

 

[lossycompression]

This makes me glad I chose AZCOM over Western. Short term rentals in LA are very expensive.

Third option: find a classmate, alumni, or other nice person who will allow you to crash on their couch for a few months for a small fee. I've heard that this is a popular option, as well. Oh well, we'll worry about it when the time comes.

The rotation site where everyone wants to rotate in but is "very" far away is Arrowhead Regional (busy ER, county hospital, trauma center). The majority of the other major hospitals, like Downey Regional (I think they changed their name to PIH Downey?), Riverside Community, and Chino Valley are all within easy driving distance.

 

[jayhiller21]

This has been a topic discussion among many of my classmates (even though we're still 2 years away from rotations). It sounds like a lot of people will rent a room or find a short-term lease in a location closer to the rotation site and try to schedule their rotations so that they are at a hospital for more than one block at a time. Your only other option is to sit in traffic for hours a day (potentially).

But would you end up having to move around for every rotation, or is it possible to schedule all your rotations close to one location?
I don't mind moving once a year, but anything more than would just be too stressful for me.

 

[arc5005]

isn't there a website, https://rotatingroom.com/ that is commonly used?

I thought this wasn't really an issue. My friends who do away rotations have used this website.

 

[lossycompression]

But would you end up having to move around for every rotation, or is it possible to schedule all your rotations close to one location?
I don't mind moving once a year, but anything more than would just be too stressful for me.

Odds are, if you do need to rent a room/crash on someone's couch, it will only be a for a few rotations. The majority of the hospitals are closer to campus (Downey, Chino Valley, Riverside). It's just a few of them that might be 1-1.5 hours each way in traffic.

 

[Seth Joo]

Third option: find a classmate, alumni, or other nice person who will allow you to crash on their couch for a few months for a small fee. I've heard that this is a popular option, as well. Oh well, we'll worry about it when the time comes.

The rotation site where everyone wants to rotate in but is "very" far away is Arrowhead Regional (busy ER, county hospital, trauma center). The majority of the other major hospitals, like Downey Regional (I think they changed their name to PIH Downey?), Riverside Community, and Chino Valley are all within easy driving distance.

I do not go to Western, I go to AZCOM, I could not deal with LA traffic, and I have classmates from Los Angeles, for them driving 2 hours to get to work one way is normal for many of them, to me spending four hours of your day in traffic is beyond ridiculous. Phoenix is a big area and we have clinical rotations all over the region as well but unlike LA, its easy to find affordable housing in relatively safe locales.