Shadowing a surgeon

[TurkSurg]

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thanks

 

[BlueElmo]

are we allowed to shadow surgeons... like get into the operation room and watch surgeries with them (also wearing sterile clothes etc) ???

yeah, I shadowed and watched live surgeries in the OR. Go and contact some surgeons. It's quite awesome, IMO.

 

[alibai3ah]

You are obviously allowed to, but it requires a lot of paperwork and you probably need a picture ID for the OR....It also depends on the hospital and you need a sponsor (a surgeon you may know)...

It is certainly not easy, but definitely doable

 

[TurkSurg]

i shadowed a general surgeon (~100 hrs) outside of the US last month

i was just wondering if we were allowed to shadow in USA...okay thanks 🙂

 

[tiedyeddog]

It depends on the rules of the hospital.

I have seen surgeries performed at a physician owned outpatient OR.... It was easy because the owner gave the clearance, I just filled out some privacy law stuff.

However, I have been told twice by big buisness hospitals that I couldn't not see surgeries based on hospital rules.

You need to ask the surgeon or his/her staff.

 

[MossPoh]

Wear sterile clothes? Probably not. (Scrubs aren't sterile) Go into the OR. Sure. I didn't have to fill out any more or less paperwork than any other doctors. I just had to say when I was there and wear my nametag. If you are lucky then there will be a nice scrub tech, PA, or whoever that will teach you some stuff and set you up to get the best viewing angle. If not then you'll sit there craning your neck the entire time looking at a small incision and hands moving.

 

[Kaustikos]

I had no problems since the doctor pretty much ran the OR. The supervisor below him tried to stop me but the Doctor put the b!tch in her place.👍

 

[TurkSurg]

how close did yall watch the operations ?

did u guys washed ur hands (just like surgeons) worn those clothes and watched it close ? or far away?

 

[BlueElmo]

how close did yall watch the operations ?

did u guys washed ur hands (just like surgeons) worn those clothes and watched it close ? or far away?

I just wore a white bunny jumpsuit and watched close when the doctor said it was okay.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

how close did yall watch the operations ?

did u guys washed ur hands (just like surgeons) worn those clothes and watched it close ? or far away?

There is no reason for an observer to scrub in. I was looking over the surgeon's shoulders...close enough that they would have been able to feel my breath on their necks had I not been wearing a mask.

 

[nick_carraway]

There is no reason for an observer to scrub in. I was looking over the surgeon's shoulders...close enough that they would have been able to feel my breath on their necks had I not been wearing a mask.

Right. The best place to stand is right behind the surgeon and look over his shoulder. It helps if the surgeon is sitting, obviously, but you can use a stool too.

If you run into red tape at a hospital, you can always try a private practice with its own outpatient surgery center.

 

[runrunrudolph1]

very doable but it really depends on the doctor and the hospital's policies. Depending on the doctor you will wear scrubs and you will get to scrub in... other will make you stand in a corner...

some hospitals actually don't allow students in the OR's bc it's a huge liability but if the doctor really wants you in there you will get in...

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

I actually volunteer in the OR, so it is very possible.

 

[erdavis]

It may be easier to shadow private surgeons. My university hospital dont let shadow surgeon or anesthesiologists in the OR because of HIPPA til you begin medschool and are covered with malpractice insurance even tho you are just looking.

I hope you are lucky enough to someone who will let you as a pre med.Its frustating not to shadow the type of physican that your interested in. Before now I thought no one could legally shadow surgeons while they are operating

 

[Winged Scapula]

It does depend on the hospital.

Only students who had completed a HIPAA course could come into the OR where I trained; you had to be enrolled in medical or nursing school. Absolutely no one under the age of 18 was allowed.

Frankly, it was a PITA to even get 2nd year medical students into my OR. One hospital wanted to charge them!🙄

I suspect, as others have noted above, smaller more community oriented hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers would be less restrictive.

 

[dr seuss]

.

 

[Bildo]

A surgeon when I was doing my ER rotations brought us into the OR.

"Hey guys...want to see something cool?"

We weren't even looking for that kind of thing, hah.