Questions about classifying my volunteering experience

[crrbs]

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Okay, so I'm an incoming sophomore and I recently started volunteering at my local behavioral clinic. So far I have around 20 hours, and I'm planning on getting somewhere around 80 before my summer wraps up. Anyway, the work I do there is primarily "shadowing" case managers and seeing how they interact with the families that come in. Right now I've only seen them do appointments that deal with asking the clients CANS questions to see what level of care the clients are and making corresponding recovery plans. I talked to my supervisor because I wanted a more hands on role (but I'll probably keep doing the shadowing on the side) and she said I can probably do activities at the IDD center there.

My question is, what type of volunteering can I classify this as? Is it just community service? Is it clinical volunteering? Is "shadowing"?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Catalystik]

Okay, so I'm an incoming sophomore and I recently started volunteering at my local behavioral clinic. So far I have around 20 hours, and I'm planning on getting somewhere around 80 before my summer wraps up. Anyway, the work I do there is primarily "shadowing" case managers and seeing how they interact with the families that come in. Right now I've only seen them do appointments that deal with asking the clients CANS questions to see what level of care the clients are and making corresponding recovery plans. I talked to my supervisor because I wanted a more hands on role (but I'll probably keep doing the shadowing on the side) and she said I can probably do activities at the IDD center there.

My question is, what type of volunteering can I classify this as? Is it just community service? Is it clinical volunteering? Is "shadowing"?

Any help is appreciated.

What you've done so far is shadowing, which is passive observation, not volunteering or community service.

 

[LizzyM]

Are there physicians in this facility? Is clinical care delivered by physicians or other clinical care providers (physician assistants, nurse practioners)? Are the persons being cared for referred to as patients?

If no to all these questions, anything you do there is not likely to be "clinical". It could be community service where you help people who are unable to help themselves (due to poverty, disability, fraility, etc).

However, for now, all you are doing is shadowing and if you aren't shadowing a physician, you might want to find another way to spend your time as 80 hours of shadowing a non-physician will not advance your application as much as you'd like.

 

[crrbs]

It's a clinic, but the people I shadow are only case managers. They aren't physicians. The people who come into the clinic are patients though...

Are there physicians in this facility? Is clinical care delivered by physicians or other clinical care providers (physician assistants, nurse practioners)? Are the persons being cared for referred to as patients?

If no to all these questions, anything you do there is not likely to be "clinical". It could be community service where you help people who are unable to help themselves (due to poverty, disability, fraility, etc).

However, for now, all you are doing is shadowing and if you aren't shadowing a physician, you might want to find another way to spend your time as 80 hours of shadowing a non-physician will not advance your application as much as you'd like.

 

[crrbs]

It's a clinic, but the people I shadow are only case managers. They aren't physicians. The people who come into the clinic are patients though...

What would classify as clinical volunteering?

 

[LizzyM]

Clinics are places where patients receiving clinical (medical) services. Typically the patient meets with a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. A history and physical exam are performed (a psychiatrist may perform a psychiatric exam rather than a physical laying on of hands). Tests may be ordered. If test results are available, they may be discussed with the patient. A treatment plan is discussed. Counseling on life style changes and/or prescription medications and/or referrals (e.g. other medical specialties, physical therapy, speech therapy, ) are made. These clinical services may take place in an ambulatory care (outpatient) clinic, a "doctor's office", an urgent visit clinic, or in the emergency department or an inpatient setting (hospital).

If you volunteer to help out in a setting where what is described above is taking place, and you are in close proximity to the patients, it is clinical volunteering.

 

[crrbs]

How bad is shadowing a non-physician?

Clinics are places where patients receiving clinical (medical) services. Typically the patient meets with a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. A history and physical exam are performed (a psychiatrist may perform a psychiatric exam rather than a physical laying on of hands). Tests may be ordered. If test results are available, they may be discussed with the patient. A treatment plan is discussed. Counseling on life style changes and/or prescription medications and/or referrals (e.g. other medical specialties, physical therapy, speech therapy, ) are made. These clinical services may take place in an ambulatory care (outpatient) clinic, a "doctor's office", an urgent visit clinic, or in the emergency department or an inpatient setting (hospital).

If you volunteer to help out in a setting where what is described above is taking place, and you are in close proximity to the patients, it is clinical volunteering.

 

[LizzyM]

It's not bad to shadow a non-physician and it can help you to compare and contrast physician and non-physician practioners and career opportunities but if you are going to apply to attend medical school you absolutely need ~50 hours of physician shadowing.

 

[crrbs]

Would it help with med school admission? I know it's not a physician, but I'm actually looking into psychiatry and shadowing at the behavioral clinic has been really fun

It's not bad to shadow a non-physician and it can help you to compare and contrast physician and non-physician practioners and career opportunities but if you are going to apply to attend medical school you absolutely need ~50 hours of physician shadowing.

 

[LizzyM]

Would it help with med school admission? I know it's not a physician, but I'm actually looking into psychiatry and shadowing at the behavioral clinic has been really fun

It won't help. It won't hurt, but it won't help. Be prepared to answer, "why not clinical psychology or behavioral management?" It is not a substitute for shadowing a physician.