Psych Hospital PT Clinic as Clinical Experience

[Hartroc]

Hey all! I'm brand new here and signed up specifically to ask this question regarding my clinical exposure (though I'm impressed by this community and will probably stick around).

I take the MCAT and begin applying to schools next year. In the meantime, I volunteer in the physical therapy clinic of a psychiatric hospital, and I want to make sure I'm right to count those hours as clinical experience. I've heard that physical therapy isn't considered "real" clinical experience, but I figured the fact that it's in a psych hospital makes it more relevant and credible. I interact directly with patients of all ages (12-80) and mental capacities, assisting them with their exercise routines and administering therapeutic treatments including ultrasound, cold laser, and electrostimulation. I love doing it and I love the patients, but I would like some assurance that I can count it as clinical exposure on a med school application, because otherwise I'm going to have to find a new place to volunteer really soon.

Thanks!

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[LizzyM]

You are in a hospital and working with patients. That's about as clinical as it gets when you are still in school and don't have a license to do something that requires a license.

Do get some shadowing experience in family medicine, general internal medicine or general pediatrics (e.g. primary care). Shadowing in other medical specialties would be the cherry on top but the foundation should be primary care.

 

[Hartroc]

You are in a hospital and working with patients. That's about as clinical as it gets when you are still in school and don't have a license to do something that requires a license.

Do get some shadowing experience in family medicine, general internal medicine or general pediatrics (e.g. primary care). Shadowing in other medical specialties would be the cherry on top but the foundation should be primary care.

Excellent. Thanks for the shadowing advice as well!

 

[Catalystik]

Hey all! I'm brand new here and signed up specifically to ask this question regarding my clinical exposure (though I'm impressed by this community and will probably stick around).

I take the MCAT and begin applying to schools next year. In the meantime, I volunteer in the physical therapy clinic of a psychiatric hospital, and I want to make sure I'm right to count those hours as clinical experience. I've heard that physical therapy isn't considered "real" clinical experience, but I figured the fact that it's in a psych hospital makes it more relevant and credible. I interact directly with patients of all ages (12-80) and mental capacities, assisting them with their exercise routines and administering therapeutic treatments including ultrasound, cold laser, and electrostimulation. I love doing it and I love the patients, but I would like some assurance that I can count it as clinical exposure on a med school application, because otherwise I'm going to have to find a new place to volunteer really soon.

Thanks!

Sounds like an excellent clinical experience to me, too, and it's great that you're enthusiastic about it. Be sure to keep your own record of your hours, even if you sign in when you come to volunteer. And keep Contact information for someone who can attest to your timeframe, with name, title, and either phone or email, as this is required on the AMCAS application.