Question about asking a DO to shadow

[aquabat]

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Hi everyone,

I was wondering--when you ask a DO if you can shadow him/her, at what point do you tell them that you would like them to write you a letter of rec? I've got a list of about ten DOs I'm calling tomorrow to ask about shadowing and wanted to know if when I talk to the DO, do I ask out front that I'll be needing a LOR?

Thanks.

 

[Qafas]

Ask them up front, so that they are clear on what it is you are looking for. Just tell them that you are interested in applying to osteopathic schools, and many of them require an LOR from a DO. I'm sure most of the docs are aware of that already.
The DO I asked was more than glad to write a letter for me, without even asking me to shadow.
Good Luck!

 

[aquabat]

Thanks for the tips, Qafas! Hopefully at least one of the DOs I talk to will be as nice as the DO who wrote you a letter.

 

[Forensic Chick]

You gotta remember that DO's, especially the younger ones, know that you need a LOR to get into med school. Don't play the "I just want to shadow you for a couple of weeks" - they can see right through it. I was very upfront with the DO I shadowed (who I happened to work with since I work in an ED) and I didn't have a problem. Because of the new patient confidentiality laws and the such, you may find it difficult to find a private doc to shadow. I'd recommend hitting up a local hospital and going from there if the private docs can't let you shadow.

Best of luck!!

 

[aquabat]

Forensic Chick--that was also something that I was wondering about, because I had read a thread here where someone was talking about how some DOs are hesitant to allow students to shadow them because of patient-doctor confidentiality. But I hope at least one of the DOs (they're all private practice physicians!) on my list lets me shadow. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Robz]

Ahhhhhh the HIPPA law. To most people I know this causes more headaches than helps. Such as calling a department before you fax something over to them to make sure that it is recieved by said person answering the phone. Slows down communication fairly well.
In shadowing this summer I shadowed about 5-7 physicians and the ONLY one that asked my to sign anything or for refrences was a peds doctor. I had to sign a form saying I was part of their staff and I would keep things only on a need to know basis. I never found a doc that turned me down for shadowing cause of HIPPA. I did get turned down cause the hospitals they worked at have stringent rules on who could shadow or go to the OR.

 

[WillowRose]

HIPPA didn't cause a problem for me either. The nurse would make patients aware as she checked them in and give them the opportunity to not have me in the room. I was reminded of strict confidentiality rules (though I was aware of most already). Never had a patient ask that I stay outside, so it wasn't a hindrance at all.

Good luck to you!