Shadowing at an Urgent Care Center

[WhizoMD]

Would shadowing a doctor at an urgent care center be frowned upon?(since most cases are minor)
There's a center right around the corner from my house, so it'd be pretty convenient if I could set something up there during the summer.

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[LizzyM]

The people are sick, or think that they are. What you are there to see is what a doctor's day is like, how the doctor interacts with patients, their families, and the staff members. The point is to experience the joys and frustrations of medical practice. Most of the people you will see in family medicine or pediatrics or even internal medicine won't be really sick. Most will be there for check ups or routine follow-up of chronic illnesses. It is not any less "medicine" than what you'd see in the emergency department or a surgical service.

 

[pietachok]

It's just different medicine, not a lower caliber of medicine.

What I would like to ask, however, is why you would shadow instead of volunteer, so that you aren't just gawking at these patients, but rather are observing them while contributing to their experience?

 

[WhizoMD]

It's just different medicine, not a lower caliber of medicine.

What I would like to ask, however, is why you would shadow instead of volunteer, so that you aren't just gawking at these patients, but rather are observing them while contributing to their experience?

I'd be happy to volunteer if I could be useful to them in some way. I just thought shadowing would be be more appropriate since it's a small center, and I don't really have any relevant experience. I'll ask if they have any need when I call tomorrow 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

It's just different medicine, not a lower caliber of medicine.

What I would like to ask, however, is why you would shadow instead of volunteer, so that you aren't just gawking at these patients, but rather are observing them while contributing to their experience?

It seems that many schools expect applicants to have at least a little bit of shadowing experience (maybe 3 or 4 days worth) to see what the physician's day is like. You can't really get this with a volunteer job. What time does the doc start? When does the day end? How is the day split between different settings (if at all)? How much time is devoted to paperwork, phone calls and dictation in contrast to direct patient care? What procedures are performed by the physician and which are done by others on the team?

There is a place for both shadowing and volunteering among one's experineces.

 

[Stratego]

Would shadowing a doctor at an urgent care center be frowned upon?(since most cases are minor)
There's a center right around the corner from my house, so it'd be pretty convenient if I could set something up there during the summer.

I've never heard of anyone being allowed to shadow in an urgent care. It's a great idea if it works out. Let us know what they say.

 

[eschaton88]

I actually shadowed a family friend who runs an urgent care for about two weeks over winter break. Yeah a lot of the cases aren't super exciting, but I did get to see/help with a few lacerations and broken bones. Actually I think I got the most out of the times when it was a little slow and I would just quiz him on med school and undergrad and why he chose urgent care, that sort of thing.

Basically I just called the urgent care and left a message asking if I could shadow him...and I ended up following 3 of the doctors there once they saw I wasn't going to freak out or get in the way. 😀 I also made some really great contacts through the PAs in the office. Go for it - at least call the center and see.