No more shadowing

[jigglyboo]

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I'm a bit concerned rite now. Alot of the schools require that you shadow a DO. Well, I emailed AOA for a reference b/ they emailed that due to patient confidentiality, that's no longer allowed. I ended up with a 30 minute interview with a DO instead. How many of you are still able to shadow a DO? I feel like i won't get a strong LOR since it was only 30 minutes.

 

[LINYKid]

A few DO's I asked have said the same thing with all the HIPA and privacy practices its tough. I think I found 1 DO so far but will eventually try for some more

I'm a bit concerned rite now. Alot of the schools require that you shadow a DO. Well, I emailed AOA for a reference b/ they emailed that due to patient confidentiality, that's no longer allowed. I ended up with a 30 minute interview with a DO instead. How many of you are still able to shadow a DO? I feel like i won't get a strong LOR since it was only 30 minutes.

 

[JasonUD]

I looked through the book that came with my insurance and wrote letters to a few DO's. They understand that you need to shadow one, after all they once had to shadow too, and if you tell them your situation I'm sure one will allow you to. If that doesn't work, try going for a summer job with a DO. When I asked a DO if I could shadow him he said sure, but he'd also pay me to file and do other odds and ends around his office twice a week for a few hours (this included mostly filing, but also catching a bird that flew inside, going grocery shopping for him, and washing his cadillac three times a week!). I learned more working for him than I did just shadowing him and in return I got a great LOR.

 

[mj1878]

I'm a bit concerned rite now. Alot of the schools require that you shadow a DO. Well, I emailed AOA for a reference b/ they emailed that due to patient confidentiality, that's no longer allowed. I ended up with a 30 minute interview with a DO instead. How many of you are still able to shadow a DO? I feel like i won't get a strong LOR since it was only 30 minutes.

Although the DO you choose to shadow might have to clear it with whatever facility they are associated with (unless it's a clinic that they own) shadowing isn't by any means forbidden. You might have to sign a HIPAA nondisclosure agreement or something but you should still be able to shadow.

 

[LINYKid]

My family doc is a DO so I may ask him tomorrow althought the insurance book is a good idea I will look into that since I want to shadow a few different DO's

I looked through the book that came with my insurance and wrote letters to a few DO's. They understand that you need to shadow one, after all they once had to shadow too, and if you tell them your situation I'm sure one will allow you to. If that doesn't work, try going for a summer job with a DO. When I asked a DO if I could shadow him he said sure, but he'd also pay me to file and do other odds and ends around his office twice a week for a few hours (this included mostly filing, but also catching a bird that flew inside, going grocery shopping for him, and washing his cadillac three times a week!). I learned more working for him than I did just shadowing him and in return I got a great LOR.

 

[DragonWell]

I'm a bit concerned rite now. Alot of the schools require that you shadow a DO. Well, I emailed AOA for a reference b/ they emailed that due to patient confidentiality, that's no longer allowed. I ended up with a 30 minute interview with a DO instead. How many of you are still able to shadow a DO? I feel like i won't get a strong LOR since it was only 30 minutes.

The office manager for the DO I shadowed asked me to fill out a standard confidentiality form and made a copy of my driver's license. Of course the doc explained who I was and asked each patient if they minded if I came in and observed - almost no one did. HIPPA shouldn't stop you from shadowing - I am surprised the AOA said this.

 

[MossPoh]

I am experiencing similiar problems. Luckily the parent being a doctor helps me with the situation. I have a few different guys and I have to send in some stuff to our hopsital and sign papers and then I think it usually involves asking the patient if they mind. I'm yet to do it..but that is what I've been told so far.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I have a few different guys and I have to send in some stuff to our hopsital and sign papers and then I think it usually involves asking the patient if they mind.

Yeah, if the patient doesn't mind then there's no problem. They've consented to you hearing their medical information. If they do mind, you just step out of the room and catch the next patient. It's not that big of a deal.

The clinic usually makes you sign a HIPPA agreement so that you know what you hear in clinic stays in clinic -- you are restricted from going out on the town telling everyone about the STD Mrs. Jones has. It's pretty standard stuff.

The worst ones make you go through compliance training first. Ugh.

 

[GAdoc]

Yeah, if the patient doesn't mind then there's no problem. They've consented to you hearing their medical information. If they do mind, you just step out of the room and catch the next patient. It's not that big of a deal.

The clinic usually makes you sign a HIPPA agreement so that you know what you hear in clinic stays in clinic -- you are restricted from going out on the town telling everyone about the STD Mrs. Jones has. It's pretty standard stuff.

The worst ones make you go through compliance training first. Ugh.

I'll give you a couple pieces of advice from personal experience. First, it almost always helps to know someone. Its one of those catch-22 type situations where you need to know someone to get your foot in the door, but you need to get your foot in the door to know someone. But, there are ways around it. For example, maybe you know a nurse or doctor from church. Maybe your parents know someone. You just need someone to vouch for you.

Second, you will always get a better response asking to volunteer as opposed to a paid position or simply shadowing. This makes sense. Sure DOs know you need to shadow, but they also have a practice and they can't afford to just let one pre-med after another run through their office so they can write them a LOR. When you ask to volunteer they know you expect to work as well. Emergency Rooms are great about this.

I think you'll find that on an individual basis, the DO schools you want to apply to might be lenient when it comes to shadowing. For example, if you had a quality LOR from an MD who was a family doctor in some rural setting, I think it would help more than a letter from a DO who had known you for 30 minutes. The schools know that the amount of DO's in the country are limited. You can explain that it was simply a matter of you not being able to find a DO to shadow.

Finally, not all DO schools require a letter from a DO.

Here is my personal experience. I volunteered for one month in an ER. I did and saw EVERYTHING. It was amazing. They worked me hard, and in return let me see basically anything that came in. But I didn't even ask any of those nurses or doctors for LORs. Then, I volunteered/shadowed in a local volunteer clinic set up for working, uninsured residents of my county. I did this once a week for a year. I got STERLING LOR from the nurses and doctors, but they WERE ALL MD's.

I applied to GA-PCOM and was accepted right off. I never shadowed the first DO.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

In NY it's the same way. In my experience it depends on the hospital. I know many hospitals that do not allow shadowing because of HIPPA. Although they probably could, they are too anal about it allow it even with clearance.

I think your best bet is finding a DO in private practice-preferably not in a physician's office building but in their own independent pracitce. They are more willing to take full responsibility for you while shadowing.

Good luck!

 

[theunc31]

Just look for someone who is in private practice. All you will have to do is sign a HIPAA release form and this will allow you to avoid all the hassle of a hospital. Look through your insurance carrier or the yellow pages and either make a phone call or send a letter. Most DOs are awesome and very eager to help! Good luck.

 

[mastamark]

You can shadow by signing a hippa form. I just got back from setting up shadow time with a FP D.O. It's no big deal.

 

[rgerwin]

The person I shadowed asked each patient if they felt comfortable. Some said no, and I read a magazine, and some didn't care.

 

[Zerosixjt]

I signed a confidentiality statement and each patient is asked if they mind before I even see them, that way there is no pressure on them.

 

[KeyLime]

I've shadowed MD's and PA's, and I am currently working on shadowing a DO. Last week, I called the local osteopathic association to get some suggestions of student-friendly DOs. I'm still in the process of calling them.

One of my parent's friends graduated from DMU a few years ago, and she wanted me to shadow her. However, the practice that she belongs to just decided recently that they were no longer allowing non medical students to shadow anymore. The create too much risk or something. It really is a catch 22!

I've never observed manipulation, so when I called the osteopathic association, I related to them that that was something I was very interested in seeing.

Keep trying! I'm sure there are people out that willing to help you out!