Shadow anesthesiologist/surgeon simultaneously?

[karayaa]

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I shadowed a surgeon last week, and sat near the anesthesiologist while watching the surgery on a screen.
I talked to him a bit, asked him questions about medications and medical decisions. I know his name and could look up his contact info.

Does this qualify as shadowing? Officially I was with the surgeon. But I certainly saw what the anesthesiologist did as well.
Can I put both specialties in AAMCAS? Is this common?

 

[claduva94]

When I had that experience I counted it. My my experience was much more involved. If you can really say what the anesthesiologist did then I'd say it is ok to count it.

 

[allantois]

Hmm it sounds like volunteering in the ER, talking to some doc there a bit and counting that as shadowing or going to your relative's doc appointment talking to that doctor and watch him do his thing and also counting that as shadowing. I think that to count something as shadowing you need to ask a doctor to shadow him and not count everyone else while on your shadowing experience.

Just imagine if somebody will call him (though unlikely) and he'll tell them that he doesn't know you. That's what my Bio professor once did to somebody who put her on the reference list for some position but never asked her if it was ok with her.

 

[Heday]

Spending an hour or two with someone doesn't give much insight into what they do day to day. And what I mean is that anesthesiologist do a lot more than just sit all day watching vitals. Also, LOL at sitting down while shadowing a surgeon. I now have respect for people that can stand for hours on end.

 

[mehc012]

Spending an hour or two with someone doesn't give much insight into what they do day to day. And what I mean is that anesthesiologist do a lot more than just sit all day watching vitals. Also, LOL at sitting down while shadowing him. I now have respect for people that can stand for hours on end.

This is why I refuse to sit when I'm shadowing in the OR (even if it's a lap case where I could see just fine either way.) These are all short cases - if I can't stand to be on my feet for these, I'll be pretty unhappy in the future.

 

[karayaa]

="allenlchs, post: 15368088, member: 525395"]Hmm it sounds like volunteering in the ER, talking to some doc there a bit and counting that as shadowing or going to your relative's doc appointment talking to that doctor and watch him do his thing and also counting that as shadowing.

I would call the 2nd one clinical observation rather than shadowing, but it seems legit. Eg say you have a v sick relative and always accompanied them to appointments.
It's not similar to the first example because I actually did observe him during patient care.

I think that to count something as shadowing you need to ask a doctor to shadow him and not count everyone else while on your shadowing experience. Just imagine if somebody will call him (though unlikely) and he'll tell them that he doesn't know you. That's what my Bio professor once did to somebody who put her on the reference list for some position but never asked her if it was ok with her.

Good point

Spending an hour or two with someone doesn't give much insight into what they do day to day. And what I mean is that anesthesiologist do a lot more than just sit all day watching vitals. Also, LOL at sitting down while shadowing a surgeon. I now have respect for people that can stand for hours on end.

It'll add up to be about 15hrs by the time I'm done.
Agree that I'm not seeing full scope practice.
Hey, he gave me a stool and told me to sit in a corner in front of a vid screen. He invited me over a couple time to look at interesting stuff, but there was no way I was going to try to push myself in between him and the tech. He and the tech were sitting down the whole time too.

 

[karayaa]

When I had that experience I counted it. My my experience was much more involved. If you can really say what the anesthesiologist did then I'd say it is ok to count it.

How involved was your experience? Were you officially shadowing the surgeon or the MDA?

 

[Heday]

This is why I refuse to sit when I'm shadowing in the OR (even if it's a lap case where I could see just fine either way.) These are all short cases - if I can't stand to be on my feet for these, I'll be pretty unhappy in the future.

Yeah, I mean I can handle it, but it doesn't hit you until you actually do it. It reminded me of something I heard "Don't stand when you can sit, don't sit when you can lie down" and something about don't mess with the pancreas. I haven't ran into the pancreas one yet. Surgery seems cool though.

Hey, he gave me a stool and told me to sit in a corner in front of a vid screen. He invited me over a couple time to look at interesting stuff, but there was no way I was going to try to push myself in between him and the tech. He and the tech were sitting down the whole time too.

That's fine then, I just don't recommend being "that guy." It's tough because you don't want to "be in the way" and you should definitely do as your told.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

How involved was your experience? Were you officially shadowing the surgeon or the MDA?

 

[karayaa]

I know, I know, I was just too lazy to write out An...

 

[claduva94]

How involved was your experience? Were you officially shadowing the surgeon or the MDA?

I officially shadowed the anesthesiologist for all her cases but I also spent a day with the surgeon during his appointment and surgeries. So it was fairly involved. He volunteered to let me shadow him and worked so I could watch one of his more involved cases.

 

[stester77s]

I too would argue that if you really got an idea of the daily activities of an anesthesiologist, and are prepared to talk about it, then you could consider yourself having shadowed both of them.