Question about shadowing as a health care worker...

[docksan]

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Currently I work in patient care as a medical technologist and I have a few questions:

I have direct patient interaction (hundreds of hours) as a result of rotations, blood drawing, and volunteer events.

How much will shadowing help on my application given that I have worked with physicians in the past (and student physicians) and have a strong desire to become a doctor?

I already have 3 years in the health care field under my belt as far as experience goes and I love working with patients but I'm not sure what else shadowing will do other than "look good".

Some advice, please!

 

[galaxyx]

Shadowing gives you exposure to the full range of what doctors do, not just the med tech/physician interaction or physician/patient interaction: i.e. paperwork, consults, etc.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Currently I work in patient care as a medical technologist and I have a few questions:

I have direct patient interaction (hundreds of hours) as a result of rotations, blood drawing, and volunteer events.

How much will shadowing help on my application given that I have worked with physicians in the past (and student physicians) and have a strong desire to become a doctor?

I already have 3 years in the health care field under my belt as far as experience goes and I love working with patients but I'm not sure what else shadowing will do other than "look good".

Some advice, please!

You obviously have already made up your mind about applying, so shadowing won't help you decide whether you want to be a physician. But it might not hurt to do it to avoid criticism that you don't fully understand the doctor-patient interaction or full range of a doctor's job, even though you probably already have an adequate understanding of these things.

I think any shadowing at this point would either be to check a box (which is a waste of time) or to help yourself decide on a specialty (which is better done during medical school). But maybe you should do it anyway.

 

[docksan]

So would it be better for me to find offices that give me an idea of what the paperwork is like? I already enjoy interacting with patients.

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