Well, there are lots of options that can accomplish both objectives.
The fastest return for investment, might be to go to local hospitals and free clinics and inquire about being a volunteer. You will basically be doing nurse assistant duties (transport, sitting, running samples) if you get in the right spot, it can be a high % of direct patient contact. (hours that don't involve dealing with sick people, are pretty worthless, although some prgrams accept them) One at these locals, it will be easy to network and find out about a PA who is willing to have you shadow them.
Second route for clinical hourse, is to become an EMT, the basic EMT can usually be accomplished in 6 weeks over summer school, get certified, and then get an number of scut work clinical jobs (ER tech, Transport) they tend to pay decently too for having only 6 weeks EMT training, plus as an ER tech you get to see lots of cool trauma (bloody messes) if thats your thing.
When PA Banuchi gets his site back up and running (physicianassistant.com) you can post a request with your city location, and you might be suprised about the PA's from all over that pop up willing to offer a shadow opportunity.
There are other ways to get clinical experience, but they usually will take time just to get the training to get the positions. Volunteering at hospitals at the inpatient level is probably the best way to see and expericne what working with truly sick people involves, maybe even at inpatient PT or OT departments, as a PT-Aide
You probably won't find a PA in the phone book, but maybe if you have a physician as a family friend, you can ask them if they know any PA's or have any colleages that work with PA's.
Good Luck!
