Shadowing vs. Scribing

[LeeSin]

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Do I really need to go out and shadow primary care/ another specialty if I have scribing experience?

I've shadowed an ophthalmologist for ~50 hours a few years ago, I've scribed in the ED(200 hours), and I'll have 600+ hours of scribing in Family medicine when I apply.

I'm sure this has been asked before from the perspective of someone with NO shadowing, but I have some already. Is there any benefit to my application in shadowing more?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Do I really need to go out and shadow primary care/ another specialty if I have scribing experience?

I've shadowed an ophthalmologist for ~50 hours a few years ago, I've scribed in the ED(200 hours), and I'll have 600+ hours of scribing in Family medicine when I apply.

I'm sure this has been asked before from the perspective of someone with NO shadowing, but I have some already. Is there any benefit to my application in shadowing more?

IMO you're good. It wouldn't hurt reading up with "ask me anything" profile articles or recorded interviews/"virtual shadowing" conversations.

 

[Planes2Doc]

That's plenty of experience right there. The ophthalmologist shadowing alone would be enough even if you never had the scribing experience. Good luck!

 

[jhmmd]

Do I really need to go out and shadow primary care/ another specialty if I have scribing experience?

I've shadowed an ophthalmologist for ~50 hours a few years ago, I've scribed in the ED(200 hours), and I'll have 600+ hours of scribing in Family medicine when I apply.

I'm sure this has been asked before from the perspective of someone with NO shadowing, but I have some already. Is there any benefit to my application in shadowing more?

Yeah shadowing is a requirement. I would make sure that you shadow an IM or family med doc to see if you enjoy primary care, because even someone with top grades in undergrad may not perform at the level that they expect to in medical school (in medical school, everyone is super smart). Personally, I find the breadth of dzs in primary care interesting (not my top choice, but I'd be happy with it if that's what it came down to).

Shadowing hours (many years ago) used to be the norm at ~50; these days the norm is 100+. To make your app as competitive as possible, I would get as much shadowing in as possible. This is super important so that
a) You know what you're getting into
b) You ensure that you like the profession
c) You have things to talk about in your secondaries and interviews
d) You get a physician LoR

Plus, it's fun.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Respectfully, I don't think OP needs to do "as much shadowing in as possible." OP already has 50 hrs shadowing albeit not in PC, but their scribing hours including FM and ED are more than enough to satisfy both shadowing and clinical experience. Also, I was also under the impression that getting a LOR from a physician you only shadowed would be of no use to the Adcoms as there would be nothing more to glean from it other than "OP stood quietly in the corner and watched me interact with a patient...." And the fun aspect of shadowing lasts maybe the first day since it's novel. Then it becomes a drag unless one really enjoys it and is doing it for pleasure...IMO...

 

[deleted1114112]

Yeah shadowing is a requirement. I would make sure that you shadow an IM or family med doc to see if you enjoy primary care, because even someone with top grades in undergrad may not perform at the level that they expect to in medical school (in medical school, everyone is super smart). Personally, I find the breadth of dzs in primary care interesting (not my top choice, but I'd be happy with it if that's what it came down to).

Shadowing hours (many years ago) used to be the norm at ~50; these days the norm is 100+. To make your app as competitive as possible, I would get as much shadowing in as possible. This is super important so that
a) You know what you're getting into
b) You ensure that you like the profession
c) You have things to talk about in your secondaries and interviews
d) You get a physician LoR

Plus, it's fun.

OP scribes in family med, why would they need 100+ more hours of shadowing primary care which would literally be the same thing but worse? Also aren't physican LoRs essentially worthless most of the time?

 

[jhmmd]

OP scribes in family med, why would they need 100+ more hours of shadowing primary care which would literally be the same thing but worse?

I'm not sure that I understand your question. My point was that if someone is not happy doing primary care, then that person shouldn't be a doctor. But whatever.

 

[deleted1114112]

I'm not sure that I understand your question. My point was that if someone is not happy doing primary care, then that person shouldn't be a doctor. But whatever.

Ah nothing against that point, I was just saying why are you telling OP to get 100+ more hours of shadowing in primary care when they literally have a job that is glorified shadowing..in primary care? I would think it's unnecessary considering they will have 600 hrs clinical experience in pm scribing by app time.

 

[jhmmd]

And I also didn't say that one needs 100+ hours shadowing primary care. I said that one should shadow a primary care doctor.

 

[deleted1114112]

And I also didn't say that one needs 100+ hours shadowing primary care. I said that one should shadow a primary care doctor.

Oh okay, maybe I misread. My bad, np. I took 100 'as the norm' implying a soft requirement.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Do I really need to go out and shadow primary care/ another specialty if I have scribing experience?

I've shadowed an ophthalmologist for ~50 hours a few years ago, I've scribed in the ED(200 hours), and I'll have 600+ hours of scribing in Family medicine when I apply.

I'm sure this has been asked before from the perspective of someone with NO shadowing, but I have some already. Is there any benefit to my application in shadowing more?

I think you're fine.

 

[Catalystik]

I've shadowed an ophthalmologist for ~50 hours a few years ago, I've scribed in the ED(200 hours), and I'll have 600+ hours of scribing in Family medicine when I apply.

I'm sure this has been asked before from the perspective of someone with NO shadowing, but I have some already. Is there any benefit to my application in shadowing more?

No.