Shadowing experience wanted

[LadyxJC]

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I was just wondering, how do you go about getting a shadowing experience and wut is it like? So far, all I've done is volunteer work at a hospital and a dental clinic within a hospital, but honestly, it's mostly clerical work... and dealing with patients of course but no shadowing a dentist. When I asked the people in the dental department about observing some of the work that they do with patients, they said it's against HIPPA so I can't. So where can I get shadowing experience?

 

[pbure]

best way is to utilize connections. is anyone you know related to or friends with a dentist? if so all you need to do is have that person place a quick phonecall on your behalf and then let them expect a call from you to set up the shadowing. most dentists will be welcoming participants.

 

[UBTom]

to Ladyxjc:

I am REALLY surprised that as a hospital volunteer the dental department would not let you observe.

Hospital volunteers usually have already signed all the HIPAA-compliant confidentiality paperwork. You might want to take it up with your hospital's volunteer department and ask them what's up with the dental department's policy.

HTH.

 

[justletmein]

heya ladyxjc, if you're short on connections, just go door to door to some private practices, it worked for my friends! You can also ask your current dentist too! 🙂

 

[DrTacoElf]

Open up phone book call all dentists near you. Yeah it takes some guts but i finally got over myself and did it 😀. It works quite well actually 🙂

 

[Sprgrover]

I agree, contact your dentist or just contact some dentists out of the phone book. Trust me - almost all dentists are flattered to have a serious student contact them to say that they are interested in what they do for a career and value their opinions and feedback. When you do go out and shadow make sure that you dress professionally - and wear some comfortable shoes. Best of luck!

 

[msf41]

... they said it's against HIPPA so I can't. So where can I get shadowing experience?

I'm not suprised to hear people at your hospital are paranoid about HIPPA regulations. At the hospital where I work we have a HIPPA reminder/update meeting every week it seems like. I don't think you will have any problems seeing all you want if you go to smaller private practices. And I agree with what the other people have said...dentists are flattered when you say you would like to see what they do.

One suggestion, choose which dentist you shadow by asking your friends and neighbors where they go. Then go to that dentist and say, "I have heard from my friend so-and-so that you were a fantastic dentist. Would you mind if I observed your practice?"

Doctors love to hear that someone out there appreciates their work.

 

[jdcinza13]

LadyxJC,
I didn't have a difficult time finding a private practice dentist to shadow, in fact, I haven't ever met a dentist or specialist that wasn't totally open to me shadowing. I think they are good about it because they had the same concerns as well.
The best advice I could give you is to find a homeless shelter, or inner city clinic that you can volunteer/shadow at. Many times they have a volunteer group of dentists that are from private practice. I'm doing that here in Phoenix, along with shadowing my dentist and to be honest, I have seen the best cases, the most interesting things all through the homeless shelter dental clinic. It is far more interesting to see complex cases than just drill and fill in the private practice. I imagine it would be similar in other inner city neighborhoods if you can find one. Good Luck.

 

[queenskillers]

its hard to find someone to shadow......i liv in queens, ny.......i called up about 7 dentists and all of them either did not know what shadowing meant or they werent interested......but keep checkin the hospitals thats a good idea

 

[tooth paste]

I'm not suprised to hear people at your hospital are paranoid about HIPPA regulations. At the hospital where I work we have a HIPPA reminder/update meeting every week it seems like. I don't think you will have any problems seeing all you want if you go to smaller private practices. And I agree with what the other people have said...dentists are flattered when you say you would like to see what they do.
E]


I'd have to agree here, hospitals seem to be more concerned with HIPPA regulations...keep trying at those small private practices!!

 

[DrTacoElf]

Try using the word observe instead of shadow when you call, you would be surprised how effective this is 🙂

 

[xxdakinexx]

I volunteer at a dental clinic in Costa Mesa, CA. We had to watch a HIPPA video and go through a couple days training, but they let us assist them while they perform procedures. I usually come in and set trays first, then I assist the dentists with suctioning and passing them the intruments. At the end I help rinse and sterilize the instruments. It is a great experience. You should look around for clinics that allow you to assist and do more hands on work.

 

[trypanosoma]

Thanks guys for the replies. I started volunteering at a local dental clinic but, like Ladyxjc, I'm doing clerical work. The dentist allowed me to shadow once, but that was it. People that work near the dental clinic said that volunteers in the clinic only get to do clerical work, and I found out that a colleague is going to ask the dentist for a letter of rec soon (he's also pre-dent). Since I started volunteering, I was wondering, what's the best way to get a letter of rec from a dentist if you're only doing clerical work and/or shadow once in a while? I don't want to give the dentist an impression that I'm only there for the letter of rec. It's so hard to get experience if they don't allow you to observe what they're doing. I'm going to start volunteering at another dental clinic in two weeks to see if I can get involved more. Thanks in advance! 😀