shadowing

[juc909]

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how many hours of shadowing is necessary????

Since not many health care professionals like to have students around just for shadowing, I don't think they would let a pre-optometry student to do shadowing more than a day...
I have done few shadowings with other health care professionals but really they don't care about the student and only allowing for one day shadowing. Most of the time when I contacted the clinic, the receptionists rejected students for shadowing.

 

[Greeni]

I called multiple practices, until one finally said yes.

 

[love4eyes]

In the subject of requirements, It depends on the school you're applying to. Like for example: PUCO require applicants to have a minimum of 30 hours. I think it's great! While other institution don't have a set of hours you have to do. So do some research online and/or call the admission of the specific school that you're looking at. The main thing about shadowing is that you can utilize this time to actually reflect if this is what you want to do and use it as an aid for your future interviews. (Refer to "interview Feedback" here at SDN for some example questions that they may ask...some ask about your experiences from shadowing).

In my opinion, get as much hours as you can from different mode of practice. (Personally, I would do the minimum of 30 hours). Who knows what advice those optometrist may give you. Of course, the experiences you may share in your actual interview is a plus.

juc909, just keep calling up various OD office like what happen to Greeni. Maybe for other OD clinic near you, try to visit them and present yourself. Who knows the receptionist might present you to the OD. Best wishes to you.

 

[optoapp2012]

how many hours of shadowing is necessary????

Since not many health care professionals like to have students around just for shadowing, I don't think they would let a pre-optometry student to do shadowing more than a day...
I have done few shadowings with other health care professionals but really they don't care about the student and only allowing for one day shadowing. Most of the time when I contacted the clinic, the receptionists rejected students for shadowing.

Also see if there's a local optometric association (or state one if you aren't near a major city). They can often get you linked up with optometrists who are happy to have students shadow. I've never had an optometrist tell me no, but I've also always shadowed through connections - my own optometrist, my mom's "specialist" (he only does ocular disease), an optometrist that came and spoke at our pre-opt club meeting and offered to have people shadow, and a Navy optometrist that someone else got me in touch with.

I agree with the poster above - a variety of settings has really helped me understand where I see myself practicing. One of the optometrists I shadowed had previous experience in a chain place, so it was good to get his input on that as well (and just re-affirm why I want to do private practice). I thought I just wanted to do ocular disease, like one doc I shadowed, but he was pushing for me to do general practice because he says the more you narrow your scope of practice, the more you just see the same thing over and over again and it gets boring. So just examples of things I learned 🙂 Of course all the stuff about patient interactions, optometric instruments and tests, and dealings with insurance were really beneficial. I did have one doc that I shadowed who never let me in with the patients and just stuck me with the optical staff all day. I learned a lot that way too, but you don't want that to happen every time!

I think one day with any given doc will be enough anyway. You want to shadow a variety because everyone does things differently, interacts differently, and models their practice differently. Ask questions - lots of them! You might also offer to do a HIPAA certification if any are worried - that was required at 2 places where I shadowed. I got the course paid for by the pre-opt club...but I think it's only $20 or 25 and it's a 2-3 hour course online.

 

[stina11]

I'm also wondering about a solid number of hours - I emailed a few questions to UHCO, so if I hear back anything important on the number of hours they expect or average I'll post that here. I'm also going for the 30 hour baseline, but more so I'm trying to see lots of practices. I'm thinking that as long as I can discuss a little bit about everything I experienced in each office (I'm shooting for private, commercial, low vision rehab, general VA, and a lasik clinic) that I'll have both enough hours and basic knowledge to feel comfortable answering interview questions about my shadowing experience.

I agree that two visits seems to about top the amount of time that people are comfortable with having you shadow for. However, my boyfriend got really lucky to have a great husband/wife family practice near his home town that let him come in weekly pretty much indefinitely! It just depends on the doctors you ask - I always let the amount of time and dates be up to them in order to be as little of an inconvenience as possible.

One final thing that you may not have considered: After having trouble getting reception to let the doctors know that I had stopped by (with a resume, might I add), I have started emailing the doctors directly. I know it is unorthodox, but it allows them to look over your request/information and get back to you in their free time instead of interrupting them in the middle of the work day. Of all the offices I've tried to shadow at, physically going to the office or calling has gotten me one office to shadow in (and that was only because I was able to speak to the doctor between patients!); I've gotten 3 lined up by emailing!
It's not for everyone, but it is something to consider 🙂

 

[mjl]

how many hours of shadowing is necessary????

Since not many health care professionals like to have students around just for shadowing, I don't think they would let a pre-optometry student to do shadowing more than a day...
I have done few shadowings with other health care professionals but really they don't care about the student and only allowing for one day shadowing. Most of the time when I contacted the clinic, the receptionists rejected students for shadowing.

it seems like you have had some negative experiences with shadowing. the optometrists that I shadowed were more than happy to have me and invited me to come back as many times as I felt necessary. Im not saying all are like this, you just have to find the ones that are. As far as how many hours you need, it really differs from school to school, as many have said already.

 

[juc909]

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful advice =)
I will keeping looking for the shadowing opportunities with various optometrists.
It is very good idea to contact the local optometry association!!!
Thank you everyone again and good luck to you all if you are planning to apply this year.