My plan to get clinical experience failed..what to do?

[Fun1nth3sun1]

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Hey everyone

I am sorry if this topic has already been discussed before but my plan this year to gain more clinical experience by scribing did not work out. I was scheduled for an interview at scribeAmerica but could not attend due to an emergency (was feeling extremely ill). If it was not so bad, I would not hsve skipped it I tried to call the hiring associate and she answers but I heard people talking in the background and it was almost like I was calling somebody's house, it was very strange. Since there is no guarantee that they are going to reschedule the interview for me , what are other ways to get clinical experience ? Right now I work as a lab tech and I periodically interact with doctors , practitioners or nurses and would like to get an LOR this way but I'm worried how this would work..
What other kind of clinical experience can I do?

 

[Dr.Housexoxo]

You could try applying to other scribe companies. Also consider volunteering at a hospital. Depending on what kind of volunteer job you can interact with many patients and gain good clinical experience. During my undergrad I was able to volunteer at my local hospital's NICU. It was by far one of the best experiences I ever had

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

Yes I have already applied to other scribe companies. In one I was actually fully trained and passed all the necessary exams and received my badge but could not start working due to a scheduling conflict/misunderstanding. I was told they would contact me but later on this company joined with other scribe company and told me there would be more openings in the future. I also applied a few months ago to another company. I was told there would be openings in a few months and when I contacted her again the recruiter says she is no longer recruiting. I guess I have had bad luck with scribe companies 🙁 . Yes, I will try the volunteering I really need to start interacting with more doctors to start thinking of where I will get an LOR

You could try applying to other scribe companies. Also consider volunteering at a hospital. Depending on what kind of volunteer job you can interact with many patients and gain good clinical experience. During my undergrad I was able to volunteer at my local hospital's NICU. It was by far one of the best experiences I ever had

 

[Dr.Housexoxo]

Yeah definitely try looking into volunteering. If you are also looking for an LOR shadowing is a great way to obtain one. If you are looking for a DO lor specifically try searching for a DO here : Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. Try calling around and be straight up and say your looking to gain experience and to possibly get a LOR

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

Yeah definitely try looking into volunteering. If you are also looking for an LOR shadowing is a great way to obtain one. If you are looking for a DO lor specifically try searching for a DO here : Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. Try calling around and be straight up and say your looking to gain experience and to possibly get a LOR

This is an awesome resource. Thanks!! I was actually looking for mainly D.O letters and it can be hard to find a D.O to shadow these days!

 

[Goro]

Hey everyone

I am sorry if this topic has already been discussed before but my plan this year to gain more clinical experience by scribing did not work out. I was scheduled for an interview at scribeAmerica but could not attend due to an emergency (was feeling extremely ill). If it was not so bad, I would not hsve skipped it I tried to call the hiring associate and she answers but I heard people talking in the background and it was almost like I was calling somebody's house, it was very strange. Since there is no guarantee that they are going to reschedule the interview for me , what are other ways to get clinical experience ? Right now I work as a lab tech and I periodically interact with doctors , practitioners or nurses and would like to get an LOR this way but I'm worried how this would work..
What other kind of clinical experience can I do?

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.

Yes, I agree I would prefer to volunteer with people in those situations. I have close family members who have Alzheimers, Parkinsons, or are mentally disabled. Everytime I visit them it saddens to me to see them struggling financially and their situation and I wish I could help them more than just financially. I tried to start a gofundme and I am thinking to set up a fundraiser to help those who are mentally disabled with any incurred medical expenses especially overseas. I want to do something to help those with similar issues particularly who live overseas where the government does not offer much assistance to those who are mentally disabled. Would this count as volunteering? How would I even document this?

 

[Goro]

Yes, I agree I would prefer to volunteer with people in those situations. I have close family members who have Alzheimers, Parkinsons, or are mentally disabled who live in Morocco. Everytime I visit them it saddens to me to see them struggling financially and their situation and I wish I could help them more than just financially. I tried to start a gofundme and I am thinking to set up a fundraiser to help those who are mentally disabled with any incurred medical expenses especially overseas. I want to do something to help those with similar issues particularly who live overseas where the government does not offer much assistance to those who are mentally disabled. Would this count as volunteering? How would I even document this?

You need to do something with and for patients, and here in the US. Setting up a charity is more of a non-clinical activity than clinical, even if those benefiting have clinical needs.

What we Adcoms need to see is that you know what you're getting into and that you're ready to be around sick and injured people for the next 30-40 years.

 

[DaddyBex28]

This is fantastic advice. I wholeheartedly agree.

Personally, I volunteered at a hospice for ~2 yrs prior to medical school and it was incredibly rewarding, taught me so much about doctor-patient relationships (DPR) and heightened my empathy/sympathy for patients.

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

You need to do something with and for patients, and here in the US. Setting up a charity is more of a non-clinical activity than clinical, even if those benefiting have clinical needs.

What we Adcoms need to see is that you know what you're getting into and that you're ready to be around sick and injured people for the next 30-40 years.

Oh okay Thank you for reply..I will look into caring for children who have been neglected..or Hospice care. How many hours would be sufficient?

 

[Goro]

Oh okay Thank you for reply..I will look into caring for children who have been neglected..or Hospice care. How many hours would be sufficient?

> 150 hrs, > 250 even better.

 

[Magus5454]

Yeah definitely try looking into volunteering. If you are also looking for an LOR shadowing is a great way to obtain one. If you are looking for a DO lor specifically try searching for a DO here : Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. Try calling around and be straight up and say your looking to gain experience and to possibly get a LOR

Shadowing =/= clinical experience

 

[Dr.Housexoxo]

Shadowing =/= clinical experience

I know .... OP also stated that they are looking for an LOR from a physician. Shadowing is an easy way to receive a LOR from a DO.

 

[Magus5454]

I was just making sure the OP knew this.

 

[SCN1a]

> 150 hrs, > 250 even better.

Thank you for helping me find the weak spot in my app. I have only 112 clinical volunteering hours and if/when I have to reapply I will be remeding this thanks!

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

Thank you everyone for the advice ! I was also wondering would being a personal caretaker for someone for someone who is disabled count as something similar to hospice experience even if it was technically paid?

 

[foreverlearner02]

I haven't read through all the responses you got so my apologies if this has already been stated.
I worked as an "office assistant" at a doctors office and learned SO much. Especially if the practice is small, the doc may give you additional responsibilities and you may be able to get to do things you wouldn't at other places. The title 'office assistant' is deceiving for the work I was doing: blood draws, EKGS, height weight, rooming patients, taking BP/HR, typing up lab reports, answering calls. Answering calls doesn't fall under clinical but it was something that helped me learn a lot bc I'd hear the patient's medical concerns and have to relay the doc's recommendations to the patient.

Also, I was a paramed examiner - great way to learn patient skills imo

 

[Magus5454]

I haven't read through all the responses you got so my apologies if this has already been stated.
I worked as an "office assistant" at a doctors office and learned SO much. Especially if the practice is small, the doc may give you additional responsibilities and you may be able to get to do things you wouldn't at other places. The title 'office assistant' is deceiving for the work I was doing: blood draws, EKGS, height weight, rooming patients, taking BP/HR, typing up lab reports, answering calls. Answering calls doesn't fall under clinical but it was something that helped me learn a lot bc I'd hear the patient's medical concerns and have to relay the doc's recommendations to the patient.

Also, I was a paramed examiner - great way to learn patient skills imo

That sounds much more like a medical assistant

 

[foreverlearner02]

That sounds much more like a medical assistant

I thought so too. But I have seen multiple practices call the position “office assistant” which is why I’d suggest searching that as well when looking for positions.