Ski Patrol = Patient Interaction?

[Nevadanteater]

Hey all,

I've got the opportunity to join a ski patrol crew (probably) this winter. Does anyone know or think if this would count as a hospital/patient interaction type of experience? I reckon it'd be viewed similarly to EMT type stuff, but I've no clue.

Whether it is or not, i'll probably be joining up (assuming i'm accepted). A whole winter on skis = happy N/A

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Depakote]

Hey all,

I've got the opportunity to join a ski patrol crew (probably) this winter. Does anyone know or think if this would count as a hospital/patient interaction type of experience? I reckon it'd be viewed similarly to EMT type stuff, but I've no clue.

Whether it is or not, i'll probably be joining up (assuming i'm accepted). A whole winter on skis = happy N/A

I'd call it a great experience... more leadership than anything else. But I wouldn't call it "patient interaction".

 

[laurenem]

I was looking at PA programs a while back, which require a strict number of patient contact hours to apply. Many PA schools list what they consider to be patient contact and many explicitely said that ski patrol was not included as patient contact. With that being said, I work with a medic who started out in ski patrol and he said he actually saw a lot of interesting cases (and that was only on a small mountain....), so I'm not sure why they didn't consider it patient care. Med schools might look at it differently than PA schools, you never know. either way, it's a fun job 🙂

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Though the ski patrol does meet the standard definition of patient interaction, it might be best to portray it as a great experience. Plus, it sounds like you're really into it.
-Dr. P.

 

[45408]

At a decent-sized hill, I would say so. People break long bones, gush blood, go unconscious, or even die. I would definitely recommend shadowing/volunteering in a typical clinical setting for at least a little bit for two reasons - so that you know if you actually like it, and so that the adcoms know that you know what you'll actually be doing in the future.

The Outdoor Emergency Care course is almost identical to the EMT-B course (my dad took OEC and I took EMT-B). I'd say go for it.

 

[Knickerbocker]

You'll probably be forced to ski in a race to save the youth center, but fortunately a montage or two will help you train quickly.

 

[varunner]

By all means that would count as a patient care experience, just as long as you provide basic care for injured skiiers. This is fairly equivalent to an EMT-B position, just on the slopes....and by all means EMTs provide patient care. I would say go for it!

 

[RDood]

You'll probably be forced to ski in a race to save the youth center, but fortunately a montage or two will help you train quickly.

South Park Rocks.

I love how people always have a post of "Should I do XYZ activity? Will it get me into Med school over everyone else?"

Of course you should do it. Live your life.