Standardized Patient - lab experience?

[KatrinaE]

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This might sound like a silly question, but I'm grasping at straws here for getting some lab experience (and lab experience that I can get into quickly, so I have a year or so before I apply).

I thinking the answer is probably not, but here goes:
Would any of you say that working in the local medical schools Standardized Performance Assessment Lab (SPAL) as a Standardized Patient would be of any merit on a medical school application?

I guess I can see how it would be good for:
- Experience sort of in the same realm as shadowing a doc (which I've already done, but it couldn't hurt to add more to this).
-Just general good exposure to medical procedures, etc (similar to above)

But not sure if it would help with:
- "Lab experience" (...and really hoping it does!... but doubt it. Maybe one of you will surprise me with a "yes it does!" in which case I will be uber-happy).

So what do you think? Any of you have experience with this? Thanks, and sorry in advance if this question is as stupid as it sounds when I say it out loud. ;o)

 

[URHere]

Lab experience? Probably not.

Interesting experience? Sure. If you have experience working as an actor (or you at least have some ounce of acting ability), then it might be an interesting thing to try out...but I wouldn't say it would be as informative to you as shadowing a practicing physician would be. Honestly, you would just spend hours acting out the same situation over and over again while students awkwardly ask you questions, take your vitals, and perform a simple exam. There would probably be a physician in the room evaluating the students, so you probably wouldn't know what you should be looking for in terms of a good student exam. You might even pick up some bad habits that may be hard to get rid of later down the road.

Also, if you end up at the same medical school where you are working, don't be surprised if you hear, "hey! I did a lung exam on you!" eight million times a day once you matriculate.

I think it would be a fun experience (well, there are worse jobs out there), but if you are looking for something that will really shine on a resume, this probably isn't it. Also, there are jobs that pay far better than a job as a standardized patient.

 

[LizzyM]

It is not laboratory/research experience. That generally requires laboratory techniques and double points if you are testing hypotheses (actually engaging in scientific investigation).

It is employment, non-military.

 

[Mattabet]

I'd still do it. Lab experience or not, I think it'd be really neat to try. Plus, it'll give you some insights when the examination tables are turned.

 

[KatrinaE]

It is not laboratory/research experience. That generally requires laboratory techniques and double points if you are testing hypotheses (actually engaging in scientific investigation).

It is employment, non-military.

Thank you. I figured as much but thought I'd throw it out there just in case!

By the way, if you have time to answer this as well, what is your opinion on how neccessary lab experience is (when it is NOT stated as a "recommended" or "required" prereq)? I was searching online for this and came across a Berkely Q&A page for pre-meds, and they say it is "not a must" and proceed to say that it IS important that you "have been around the work environment in which physicians work and have tested that you want to work with direct service in a helping profession". (...)

Then there is another Q&A question where the answer sounds like it is reiterating the "lab experience not necessary or even all that important" philosophy if the student isn't applying to a program w/ a lot of research emphasis.

Do you agree? Or do you find that it is very helpful to have lab experience regardless of the type of program?

I am a non-traditional applicant and if I had the time and resources to do everything exactly perfect, believe me I would! I'm trying to do as much as possible to increase my odds of acceptance and will try harder to find a lab job if it helps a lot, but that would take away from my time with patients as a PCT, and also take away from shadowing time and studying for the MCAT.

 

[KatrinaE]

I'd still do it. Lab experience or not, I think it'd be really neat to try. Plus, it'll give you some insights when the examination tables are turned.

That seems to make sense to me! I will have to consider it and let you know, if I try that out, how it goes.

 

[KatrinaE]

Lab experience? Probably not.

Interesting experience? Sure. If you have experience working as an actor (or you at least have some ounce of acting ability), then it might be an interesting thing to try out...but I wouldn't say it would be as informative to you as shadowing a practicing physician would be. Honestly, you would just spend hours acting out the same situation over and over again while students awkwardly ask you questions, take your vitals, and perform a simple exam. There would probably be a physician in the room evaluating the students, so you probably wouldn't know what you should be looking for in terms of a good student exam. You might even pick up some bad habits that may be hard to get rid of later down the road.

Also, if you end up at the same medical school where you are working, don't be surprised if you hear, "hey! I did a lung exam on you!" eight million times a day once you matriculate.

I think it would be a fun experience (well, there are worse jobs out there), but if you are looking for something that will really shine on a resume, this probably isn't it. Also, there are jobs that pay far better than a job as a standardized patient.

Thanks for the insight! 🙂