Shadowing Surgical Cases?

[DrMarx]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I shadowed a Pod yesterday, he was actually pretty nice and I learned a lot. With that in mind, I only got to see the office aspect of Podiatric Medicine. I want to shadow some surgeries, as I feel like that will help solidify my choice with Podiatry. How would I go about doing that? Also, I feel like I should add that the Podiatrist I shadowed was not comfortable with me shadowing during his surgical cases. Nothing personal of course, just how he feels on the matter.

 

[CapCrunch]

No idea on how to shadow surgical cases, but what kind of in-office pathologies did you experience? Looking forward to graduating next month so I can get home and shadow.

 

[DrMarx]

No idea on how to shadow surgical cases, but what kind of in-office pathologies did you experience? Looking forward to graduating next month so I can get home and shadow.

Unfortunately, it was a pretty short day. An ingrown toenail, a few palliative procedures, and a cortisone shot. The most interesting part was the cortisone shot, a patient came in with big toe joint arthritis. Got to see the x-ray and everything. Of course, I'll need to shadow more but I only have like 3 Podiatry offices around me.

 

[buBBa15]

I don't think U can shadow a POD in surgery only bcuz he would need clearance from the hospital in whose OR the surgery is taking place. That means a hassle of paperwork plus u would have to go through a physical as well as have ur titers taken. And if ur antibody levels r low then u have to get the corresponding vaccination as well. I just don't see a POD or hospital allowing all this just for a shadowing opportunity.

 

[josebiwasabi]

shadowing in the OR is pretty interesting and easy to do once you're a pod student. it might be tough to get hospital clearance as a prepod to shadow in the OR but it's possible, depending on the hospital you're at.

i know the experience is nowhere near the same, but there are plenty of youtube videos out there that show all sorts of foot and ankle surgery if you want to see what procedures look like intraoperatively.

i will also say that until you take lower anatomy (and perhaps surgery 1), you will not be able to appreciate what is going on during the operation.

 

[heybrother]

I don't think U can shadow a POD in surgery only bcuz he would need clearance from the hospital in whose OR the surgery is taking place. That means a hassle of paperwork plus u would have to go through a physical as well as have ur titers taken. And if ur antibody levels r low then u have to get the corresponding vaccination as well. I just don't see a POD or hospital allowing all this just for a shadowing opportunity.

Late April fools? Otherwise, please forget everything you think you know concerning this topic.

 

[buBBa15]

Late April fools? Otherwise, please forget everything you think you know concerning this topic.

I've never been one to partake in April fools. However, my comment was based on personal experience here in the Tri-state area and from having asked multiple Pods the same question as OP and getting similar answers. But I am über glad that u were appointed by SDN as the all powerful authority able to direct me to forget all I knw abt this topic. Thank GOD u were here.

 

[fut]

I shadowed in the OR but had to have titers checked and pass a TB test. So what bubba said is a valid point.

 

[arez10]

I was able to shadow at a surgical center as a pre-pod and I don't remember having too much trouble. This was in New Jersey.

 

[josebiwasabi]

Late April fools? Otherwise, please forget everything you think you know concerning this topic.

i don't see anything wrong with what he said. you have to submit proof of vaccination and TB test within the past 12 months when you do an observership at a hospital. you also have to fill out a bunch of paperwork, including a background check and stuff and get it signed by hospital administration and have the resident or attending agree to be responsible for you during your time at the hospital.

the reason why it's tough for prepods to do this is because some hospitals require forms to be signed by your pod school's staff/dean, and also it's a hassle for the attending/resident to lead around a clueless prepod around the hospital/OR lol. i was lost enough as a 2nd year, i can't imagine how confusing it'd be without any podiatry-specific knowledge.

but like i said before, some hospitals are way more chill about this kind of stuff and let you shadow if you're just an observer and not a participant.

 

[heybrother]

I have zero interest in getting in a pissing match with you. I was allowed to shadow surgeries without jumping through any of these hoops. If you have some specific NY experience - great, share the specifics clearly and concisely. Your closing remark in your first post remains unrepresentative of the people I know - pre-pods are getting the opportunity to shadow surgery. Some will apparently have to work harder to get these experiences.

 

[heybrother]

i don't see anything wrong with what he said. you have to submit proof of vaccination and TB test within the past 12 months when you do an observership at a hospital. you also have to fill out a bunch of paperwork, including a background check and stuff and get it signed by hospital administration and have the resident or attending agree to be responsible for you during your time at the hospital.

the reason why it's tough for prepods to do this is because some hospitals require forms to be signed by your pod school's staff/dean, and also it's a hassle for the attending/resident to lead around a clueless prepod around the hospital/OR lol. i was lost enough as a 2nd year, i can't imagine how confusing it'd be without any podiatry-specific knowledge.

but like i said before, some hospitals are way more chill about this kind of stuff and let you shadow if you're just an observer and not a participant.

Cool. I didn't have to do any of those things. More red tape where ya'll come from I guess.

 

[josebiwasabi]

I have zero interest in getting in a pissing match with you. I was allowed to shadow surgeries without jumping through any of these hoops. If you have some specific NY experience - great, share the specifics clearly and concisely. Your closing remark in your first post remains unrepresentative of the people I know - pre-pods are getting the opportunity to shadow surgery. Some will apparently have to work harder to get these experiences.

these are from my experiences shadowing in seattle, milwaukee, and nyc. i clearly stated in both posts that some hospitals aren't as stringent.

*edit* my bad if you were responding to the other guy lol

 

[Deleonrg]

I shadowed a general surgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon and an oral surgeon an didn't need any special forms or anything. It depends on the hospital and of course who know in the end.

 

[feet2017]

I shadowed in the OR for about 6 hours and all I had to do was get a few forms signed and a tb test. If you are doing any sort of clinical work at a hospital you can use the tb test results from that. That's what I did so it was an easy and fast process to get to shadow in the OR, but it seems like some others had significant difficulty. good luck. The pod i shadowed actually offered for me to come in and watch him in the OR.

 

[Username96705]

First off I live in PA and all doctors I job shadowed were in PA,

I have job shadowed in 5 different OR's in 4 different hospitals and I never once had to fill out anything more than a HIPAA form.

I job shadowed an Ortho Surgeon and an Oral Surgeon who both let me observe in the OR without ever meeting them before hand.

Two out of three of the podiatrists I job shadowed allowed me to observe surgery. The third one offered it to me as well but mentioned some of the red tape others have mentioned above. So I passed since I got to observe many hours with other podiatric surgeons.

If the podiatrist you are job shadowing does not let you observe their surgeries find someone who will. Just keep looking and network well and you'll get into the OR without too much trouble.

Here's a start: http://www.aacpm.org/contactpod/

 

[cpinkows]

Ive shadowed multiple surgeries with a pod. No titers, just a release form from the pt. saying its cool. Saw an amputation, tumor removal on the 1st distal toe, and a bunionectomy. Depends on the hospital i guess.

 

[darazon]

I don't think hospital administrations are lax, as most hospitals admins should not allow shadowing without the proper documentation discussed above.

I think it is rather the apathy of the surgeon in question to hospital protocol. If you walk in with the surgeon and/or residents to the OR, chances are nobody will stop and question your right to be there -even if the hospital admin did not approve you.

I think the reason most pre-pods get in the OR without any paperwork is that the surgeon is bypassing hospital protocol. Some docs are cool with it, some are not.

Find one that is cool with it and have fun. Ask here on SDN if anyone knows a doc in your geographic area.

 

[dyk343]

Most hospitals will not let students in.

Most surgical centers will.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

Most hospitals will not let students in.

Most surgical centers will.

Took the words outta my mouth. 👍

Sent from my Nexus 4 using SDN Mobile