Patient Experience

[RuKid23]

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I am looking to get some experience involving patient contact. It has been difficult for me unless you get a position as a scribe or a phlebotomist or something/ Any recommendations on where to start? Most hospitals I have called within my area all state they don’t have positions of volunteering that involve patient contact.

 

[liquidsodium]

If not hospitals, try clinics, nursing homes, or group homes. Nursing homes are probably your best bet -- they're always looking for volunteers to help with hosting/helping with events, keeping residents company, etc

Edit: someone on here once mentioned finding an opportunity to be trained and perform cardiac health screenings as an undergrad. Would've loved to do that one.

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[Dr.Sticks]

Free clinic, volunteer EMT(and be active on an ambulance squad), hospice, see if a children's hospital needs help with child life, nursing home, an addiction clinic, special needs group home, etc

If you PM me your location I might be able to find you something. All of my positions have come through social media analysis where I crawl pages for open spots.

 

[LizzyM]

The thing that is throwing off the people taking your calls is your request for "patient contact". You don't need to touch the patients to have a clinical experience but "patient contact" is sometimes interpreted to mean touching. You don't want to get stuck working in the gift shop or stocking shelves somewhere but you can have a good experience in the emergency department, in the pediatric department of a large hospital or in a children's hospital, also try rehabilitation hospitals and VA medical centers. Pushing patients in wheelchairs, playing games with patients, sitting with a patient who is confused to keep them from becoming agitated, would all count as clinical experience. I even interviewed someone whose major experience was in the surgical waiting room. She had to keep things tidy, make coffee and comfort distressed family members who were often getting bad news or sick with worry waiting for news.

 

[RuKid23]

Thanks for the helpful info guys
Dr. Sticks im in Washington D.C.

 

[bears1992]

If you are wanting physical patient contact you would probably need some actual medical training (CNA, or EMT). Adcoms have explained "patient contact experience" to be interacting with patients where you are close enough to smell them. There are many volunteer positions that allow this.

I currently volunteer once a week in an ER. I am not allowed to physically touch patients but I do spend time in patient's rooms getting them water, food, blankets, adjusting their stretcher, helping them with the tv remote. Sometimes I'll just sit with a patient if they are alone (we get plenty of elderly patients from the assisted living facilities that LOVE talking to younger people). It's basically easy things that anybody can do BUT it is patient contact experience. All I did was apply for a volunteer position online, went to an interview and requested an ER position if available. They actually have a hard time filling ER spots.

 

[Goro]

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.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. 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.

I am looking to get some experience involving patient contact. It has been difficult for me unless you get a position as a scribe or a phlebotomist or something/ Any recommendations on where to start? Most hospitals I have called within my area all state they don’t have positions of volunteering that involve patient contact.

 

[LizzyM]

Would playing with siblings and volunteering in a surgical waiting room count as patient contact even if it's contact with their families ?


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It worked for one person I interviewed this year who did some shadowing but whose major clinical exposure was the waiting room. I think that it is best if it is an emotionally charged waiting room, as in the ICU or OR, rather than pediatric ER waiting room where you are handing crayons to kids waiting to be called to the back. Not the same deal as when people are waiting to hear life or death news.

 

[Goro]

Yes, by my book.

Would playing with siblings and volunteering in a surgical waiting room count as patient contact even if it's contact with their families ?


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[RuKid23]

The thing that is throwing off the people taking your calls is your request for "patient contact". You don't need to touch the patients to have a clinical experience but "patient contact" is sometimes interpreted to mean touching. You don't want to get stuck working in the gift shop or stocking shelves somewhere but you can have a good experience in the emergency department, in the pediatric department of a large hospital or in a children's hospital, also try rehabilitation hospitals and VA medical centers. Pushing patients in wheelchairs, playing games with patients, sitting with a patient who is confused to keep them from becoming agitated, would all count as clinical experience. I even interviewed someone whose major experience was in the surgical waiting room. She had to keep things tidy, make coffee and comfort distressed family members who were often getting bad news or sick with worry waiting for news.

 

[RuKid23]

LizzyM, Goro thank you for the valuable responses. I am probably going to see if I can get a opportunity in the ER/ICU