Telling your Dr. that you're a med student

[Kinis]

Hi all,
I've recently been needing to see a variety of Drs concerning my own health and have sometimes mentioned that I'm a student (either "pre-med" or "med student" even though officially I'm a med student in 1 week 😀) so that for example the Dr. can give me specifics, show me the test results/images.
So far I've always had positive responses: they are generally curious as to where I'm up to and show me whatever I was asking for and even will teach a little bit (as happened recently with a radiologist who was giving me a detailed explanation of what we were seeing on the ultrasound screen).
Just wondering if everyone does this? And has it always worked out well lol?

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[Salient]

The NP that signed off on my med school immunizations gave me a 10 minute lecture on the importance of being nice to my nurses when she found out.

 

[goldenwest]

And has it always worked out well lol?

It has not worked out well for me every lol. 🙁

 

[alwaysaangel]

Its not that big of a deal. Many docs will ask their patients what they do, so mine always knew. Actually, while in med school our PMDs were our preceptors so most of my docs actually knew me and taught me at some time or another so they knew without me telling them. It actually got annoying then - because they pimped me about my own condition.

As you go further they will know you're in medicine because you'll give them a well organized HPI complete with ROS when you walk in the room. Now when I need something I often go into my doc and say...I've got x...started with a, b and c 4 weeks ago. Can I get a prescription for y. They usually give me what I want. CANNOT wait until I have a DEA # and can call my own scripts into a pharmacy.

Another issue you may run into is knowing more than NP or PAs if you have those as your health care provider. Especially for women - a lot of Well Women Exams are done by NPs these days. I had a big issue with one who completely misdiagnosed me and I tried to very nicely tell her she was wrong but she wouldn't listen. I was even nice when the test results came back negative and I told her I didn't take the medicine. However, I will no longer go to an NP or PA for my own personal health care needs. I see their purpose in medicine and I have great respect for them - but I don't want to run into another issue like that where she was diagnosing purely on clinical experience and I was trying to explain why she was wrong based on the pathology.

 

[Kinis]

Nobody does this except the tools. Especially the first week of school.

You should get a t-shirt made, so everyone knows you're a med student. And bumper stickers, so that when you're driving and people can't see your t-shirt, they still can bask in your majesty...

I do it solely because I'm genuinely curious about whatever tests etc.I'm undertaking from a purely scientific pov as well as from a "i want to know exactly what's wrong with me" pov. In fact I would find it weird that someone studying in the field wouldn't be trying to get as much info or even experience as possible.
Outside a doctor's office however I tend to avoid telling people I'm in med school.

 

[surftheiop]

my docs always ask me how school/work/etc is (isn't that part of the interview??), so I'm not really sure how a doc wouldn't know you were a medstudent.

The ones who know I'm a medstudent are always sure to let me know why their specialty is the best and why I should do it. (And if there ever comes a time where I have a doc telling me not to do their specialty, I will promptly find a new doc)

 

[410322]

my docs always ask me how school/work/etc is (isn't that part of the interview??)

IME not all docs take a social history beyond, "Are you sad? Stressed? Sleeping?"

 

[kfi4463]

Hi all,
I've recently been needing to see a variety of Drs concerning my own health and have sometimes mentioned that I'm a student (either "pre-med" or "med student" even though officially I'm a med student in 1 week 😀) so that for example the Dr. can give me specifics, show me the test results/images.
So far I've always had positive responses: they are generally curious as to where I'm up to and show me whatever I was asking for and even will teach a little bit (as happened recently with a radiologist who was giving me a detailed explanation of what we were seeing on the ultrasound screen).
Just wondering if everyone does this? And has it always worked out well lol?

So I take it you are one of those who plays the "med student" card every chance you get. Probably what you do when you shamelessly try to get dates, impress people, etc.. for your own ego.

 

[CatFactorial]

So I take it you are one of those who plays the "med student" card every chance you get. Probably what you do when you shamelessly try to get dates, impress people, etc.. for your own ego.

Take it easy, sport.

 

[Kinis]

Take it easy, sport.

 

[J ROD]

I found me GP (Family doc) by shadowing him and I thought he was really good....so for me it is someone to vent to and he doesnt charge me.....

So, free is always good........👍

 

[Crow King]

No. Doesn't the doc just want to figure out what the hell is wrong with you, fix it, and go home? Give him that...

 

[Rollo]

I do it solely because I'm genuinely curious about whatever tests etc.I'm undertaking from a purely scientific pov as well as from a "i want to know exactly what's wrong with me" pov. In fact I would find it weird that someone studying in the field wouldn't be trying to get as much info or even experience as possible.
Outside a doctor's office however I tend to avoid telling people I'm in med school.

I think Tired's point was that you haven't even started first day of medical school yet. What could you possibly learn from your doctor now that you can't from picking up a first year book? Anything else he tries to teach you will go over your head because you don't have the basics of pathology, physiology, pharmacology, micro, etc. under your belt to understand the clinical picture. Your doctor would probably tell you the same thing that he tells a school teacher because frankly at this point, your medical knowledge is comparable to another college graduate who took college biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology.

 

[KnuxNole]

Every doc I see seems to ALWAYS ask occupation/extensive social histories with a new patient. So I wouldn't be shocked.

 

[mjl1717]

Nobody does this except the tools. Especially the first week of school.

You should get a t-shirt made, so everyone knows you're a med student. And bumper stickers, so that when you're driving and people can't see your t-shirt, they still can bask in your majesty...

This is very funny (lol)

 

[45408]

Its not that big of a deal. Many docs will ask their patients what they do, so mine always knew. Actually, while in med school our PMDs were our preceptors so most of my docs actually knew me and taught me at some time or another so they knew without me telling them. It actually got annoying then - because they pimped me about my own condition.

As you go further they will know you're in medicine because you'll give them a well organized HPI complete with ROS when you walk in the room. Now when I need something I often go into my doc and say...I've got x...started with a, b and c 4 weeks ago. Can I get a prescription for y. They usually give me what I want. CANNOT wait until I have a DEA # and can call my own scripts into a pharmacy.

You only need a DEA number for narcotics. You just need the NPI number for everything else.

 

[mjl1717]

You only need a DEA number for narcotics. You just need the NPI number for everything else.

Yea, I noticed that...😴

 

[sia_simba]

You should not write prescriptions for yourself.

I never advertise what I do and even when I'm at another hospital seeking care, I don't blatantly advertise. There is no need to. People should not be treated differently just because of what they do.

Plus... if the physician caring for you don't know what you do, you can always tell if they are BullSh*ting you or not. There are many terrible physicians in disguise.

 

[RySerr21]

Its not that big of a deal. Many docs will ask their patients what they do, so mine always knew. Actually, while in med school our PMDs were our preceptors so most of my docs actually knew me and taught me at some time or another so they knew without me telling them. It actually got annoying then - because they pimped me about my own condition.

As you go further they will know you're in medicine because you'll give them a well organized HPI complete with ROS when you walk in the room. Now when I need something I often go into my doc and say...I've got x...started with a, b and c 4 weeks ago. Can I get a prescription for y. They usually give me what I want. CANNOT wait until I have a DEA # and can call my own scripts into a pharmacy.

Another issue you may run into is knowing more than NP or PAs if you have those as your health care provider. Especially for women - a lot of Well Women Exams are done by NPs these days. I had a big issue with one who completely misdiagnosed me and I tried to very nicely tell her she was wrong but she wouldn't listen. I was even nice when the test results came back negative and I told her I didn't take the medicine. However, I will no longer go to an NP or PA for my own personal health care needs. I see their purpose in medicine and I have great respect for them - but I don't want to run into another issue like that where she was diagnosing purely on clinical experience and I was trying to explain why she was wrong based on the pathology.

sounds like a problem with that particualr NP, not NPs/PAs in general. Writing them all off is a little silly.

 

[Telamir]

I live and study in Puerto Rico, and over here there seems to be a sort of "code" where doctors don't charge other doctors or medical students. I don't know how prevalent it is over where you guys live. To be honest, I don't bring it up, but they usually notice, and they actually like having med students around. Most of them seem to be eager to teach and sometimes take an even greater interest in you as a patient. Plus the whole not getting charged thing I have to admit is a plus. Apart from that I rarely mention me being a med student to anyone; unless they know me or directly ask.

 

[Crow King]

CANNOT wait until I have a DEA # and can call my own scripts into a pharmacy.

That organization really needs to go the way of the dinosaurs.

 

[septoplasty]

I do it solely because I'm genuinely curious about whatever tests etc.I'm undertaking from a purely scientific pov as well as from a "i want to know exactly what's wrong with me" pov. In fact I would find it weird that someone studying in the field wouldn't be trying to get as much info or even experience as possible.
Outside a doctor's office however I tend to avoid telling people I'm in med school.

You honestly expect to know and be able to analyze or understand any sort of reports +/- results?

I think "OMG Im in Med school" high has overtaken.

 

[Kinis]

.

 

[Rollo]

Yesterday went for a CT scan, what they do for the majority of patients, including me, is have two nurses do all the pre-scan checks, get you installed and then check you out. The Doc meanwhile is sat in the imaging room, compiles a report and doesn't see the patient at any point.

In this case it was a Doc I had seen in his practice a few days back and who knew I was a student. So when I ask the nurses at the end of the scan "Do I get to see the Dr?" they just said "oh.. err yeah I guess, why?", then other nurses were trying to check me out and I had to say again "sure but I would just like a little chat with the Doc before I leave", again they didnt really understand why. Then the Doc overhears it all and says "Oh its Mr.X, let him through, he's a med student" and then showed me my scans on the computer pointing everything out, we had a chat about what the results could indicate and answered any concerns I had.

Now had I been a regular patient, I would probably have not even looked at my scans and waited until I saw my specialist who would then open the file and give a diagnosis. Being attentive and curious to my own case, I would open it straight away and try to see what it shows, however without the training I would have struggled to understand everything and be slightly worried until the specialist filled me in. In this case telling the Doc I was as student and had some questions meant that I was explained everything in detail and had all my questions and concerns answered.

PS. I thought one of the main roles of any Dr is to teach, both patients colleagues and the younger generation of students. Every Dr. I have asked for more info has been more than happy and enthusiastic to explain. Tbh I would be concerned about the professionalism of a Dr. if they "just wanted to run some tests then get me out of the room"

You just don't get it.

How much of that CT scan did you understand? Whatever you understood came directly from the doctor. Like I said earlier, whatever you understood a college graduate who took anatomy & physiology would understand too at this point.

And what do you mean by "without the training"? Please tell us how much training you received reading CT scans.

And to be honest, you assuming that you being a student was the only reason why doctor took the time to explain everything in detail is insulting to that doctor because I'm sure that doctor would take time to explain everything to each of his patients that asks for more information. He probably just has to adjust the level of his explanation to better suit his patient's educational background. Which brings us back to the original point: your educational background at this point is equivalent to a college graduate who might have taken anatomy & physiology course.

 

[Kinis]

You just don't get it.

How much of that CT scan did you understand? Whatever you understood came directly from the doctor. Like I said earlier, whatever you understood a college graduate who took anatomy & physiology would understand too at this point.

And what do you mean by "without the training"? Please tell us how much training you received reading CT scans.

And to be honest, you assuming that you being a student was the only reason why doctor took the time to explain everything in detail is insulting to that doctor because I'm sure that doctor would take time to explain everything to each of his patients that asks for more information. He probably just has to adjust the level of his explanation to better suit his patient's educational background. Which brings us back to the original point: your educational background at this point is equivalent to a college graduate who might have taken anatomy & physiology course.

I didn't make myself clear: I was saying that I don't have the training to understand it all and therefore would have been anxious to have it explained in detail, rather than wait until the specialist who referred me explained it to me.
It so happens by chance that the area of examination is one which is covered by a speciality I have shown a lot of interest in up to this point, and in fact I shadowed one of the specialists and the department as a whole for a few months. So when the radiologist knew that I happened to have done an internship in such a such department with Dr.X, he really explained the ins and outs of my case and answer some detailed questions that I did have.
Its weird because so far every Dr. has seemed more than happy to explain a little more etc. and in fact knowing that I had an interest in a particular field, one even invited me to visit their department and shadow around a bit. So either I've had luck falling on great Drs or they're incredibly good at pretending to be enthusiastic.

 

[VCU07]

This sounds like a soon to be eager med student who knows nothing about medicine or how it works. Soon enough, my friend, you will look back at this post and say WTF lol

Yesterday went for a CT scan, what they do for the majority of patients, including me, is have two nurses do all the pre-scan checks, get you installed and then check you out. The Doc meanwhile is sat in the imaging room, compiles a report and doesn't see the patient at any point.

In this case it was a Doc I had seen in his practice a few days back and who knew I was a student. So when I ask the nurses at the end of the scan "Do I get to see the Dr?" they just said "oh.. err yeah I guess, why?", then other nurses were trying to check me out and I had to say again "sure but I would just like a little chat with the Doc before I leave", again they didnt really understand why. Then the Doc overhears it all and says "Oh its Mr.X, let him through, he's a med student" and then showed me my scans on the computer pointing everything out, we had a chat about what the results could indicate and answered any concerns I had.

Now had I been a regular patient, I would probably have not even looked at my scans and waited until I saw my specialist who would then open the file and give a diagnosis. Being attentive and curious to my own case, I would open it straight away and try to see what it shows, however without the training I would have struggled to understand everything and be slightly worried until the specialist filled me in. In this case telling the Doc I was as student and had some questions meant that I was explained everything in detail and had all my questions and concerns answered.

PS. I thought one of the main roles of any Dr is to teach, both patients colleagues and the younger generation of students. Every Dr. I have asked for more info has been more than happy and enthusiastic to explain. Tbh I would be concerned about the professionalism of a Dr. if they "just wanted to run some tests then get me out of the room"

 

[swamprat]

You just don't get it.

How much of that CT scan did you understand? Whatever you understood came directly from the doctor. Like I said earlier, whatever you understood a college graduate who took anatomy & physiology would understand too at this point.

And what do you mean by "without the training"? Please tell us how much training you received reading CT scans.

And to be honest, you assuming that you being a student was the only reason why doctor took the time to explain everything in detail is insulting to that doctor because I'm sure that doctor would take time to explain everything to each of his patients that asks for more information. He probably just has to adjust the level of his explanation to better suit his patient's educational background. Which brings us back to the original point: your educational background at this point is equivalent to a college graduate who might have taken anatomy & physiology course.

Besides the fact that I think OP is coming off as a tool... I agree that he has a college education but there are some college degrees that are surprisingly advanced for the medical knowledge you can attain after 4 years... nursing, pharmacology, pathology come to mind. Not offered at every school but still - but your right they wouldn't be able to read a CT scan...although neither can I and I didn't expect to know how to at this point either.

 

[Rollo]

Besides the fact that I think OP is coming off as a tool... I agree that he has a college education but there are some college degrees that are surprisingly advanced for the medical knowledge you can attain after 4 years... nursing, pharmacology, pathology come to mind. Not offered at every school but still - but your right they wouldn't be able to read a CT scan...although neither can I and I didn't expect to know how to at this point either.

Oh absolutely, there are lot of college majors and courses that are a bit more advanced than anatomy & physiology. But even then, how much do those classes really help you understand a disease, treatment options, management issues, etc.

And neither can I read a CT scan at this point as a 3rd year and I'm going to go out on a limb and say most 3rd years can't either unless they're interested in radiology or are towards the end of their 3rd year.

The difference between us and somebody who hasn't even started medical school is that if the CT scan is explained to us, we are able to make some sort of correlation with the pathology, presentation of the disease, management, treatment of it, prognosis, etc.

Where as the newly minted medical student is thinking nothing more than "Ooohh pretty colors!" and "Oh my god, oh my god, they know I'm gonna be a doctor! Whee!!!"

It's ok though. We've all been there, I won't lie. I just hope that the OP learns some humility and understands, maybe not now but later, that being a medical student doesn't mean squat in the real world of medicine simply because we are so far from being truly irreplaceable thus deserving automatic respect from everyone when we walk into a room full of people.

 

[NickNaylor]

My PCP asked what I would be doing this upcoming year. After I told him he continued to treat me like I knew nothing.

Being a med student doesn't mean your entitled to different treatment. Physicians, after all, are rumored to be the worst patients.

 

[Rendar5]

I've had smart patients and not-so-smart patients ask me to look at their X-rays and CT scans. You know what I did? I showed them and explained to them their findings. After my explanation, they all showed understanding of what I explained and were happy to have that knowledge. A med student would've had identical treatment by me and would not have gotten any more knowledge than non-med student patients.

 

[Geekchick921]

My PCP asked what I would be doing this upcoming year. After I told him he continued to treat me like I knew nothing.

Being a med student doesn't mean your entitled to different treatment. Physicians, after all, are rumored to be the worst patients.

My PCP has known since I was applying. I was working with her sometimes before that, as well. If nothing else, she would have known when I asked her to complete my pre-matriculation physical form. She has actually always been very open with me about the good and bad of medicine as a career, and I really appreciate it.

I wouldn't say she's given me any different treatment than any other patient that isn't an idiot and sees her regularly.

 

[septoplasty]

In contrast to my earlier post, I had a "tool" moment mid way through MS2 when I broke my wrist playing hockey so I was immobilized, coincidentally, I was also on cipro for an unrelated cause.

So my question to the ortho attending:

Me: "Wont I be at increased susceptibility of tendon rupture cause i'm on cipro and also because my wrist was immobilized for almost 2 months"

Attending: *Thinking inside his mind, what a douche bag MS2*, no, tendon rupture most commonly if it ever occurs is most common on the achilles tendon where there is stronger tension involved.

Me: *crap* okay.

 

[410322]

In contrast to my earlier post, I had a "tool" moment mid way through MS2 when I broke my wrist playing hockey so I was immobilized, coincidentally, I was also on cipro for an unrelated cause.

So my question to the ortho attending:

Me: "Wont I be at increased susceptibility of tendon rupture cause i'm on cipro and also because my wrist was immobilized for almost 2 months"

Attending: *Thinking inside his mind, what a douche bag MS2*, no, tendon rupture most commonly if it ever occurs is most common on the achilles tendon where there is stronger tension involved.

Me: *crap* okay.

I don't know that this is a "tool" moment. If you said it smugly as a, "Look at me I'm so smart!" statement, possibly. If you were actually asking the question and weren't a prick about it, I don't think it was unreasonable. Am I missing something?

 

[Kinis]

I don't know that this is a "tool" moment. If you said it smugly as a, "Look at me I'm so smart!" statement, possibly. If you were actually asking the question and weren't a prick about it, I don't think it was unreasonable. Am I missing something?

Being a recent member to this site, it seems one is quickly named a 'tool' should one express any kind of curiosity or enthusiasm for the medical field 🙂

 

[septoplasty]

I don't know that this is a "tool" moment. If you said it smugly as a, "Look at me I'm so smart!" statement, possibly. If you were actually asking the question and weren't a prick about it, I don't think it was unreasonable. Am I missing something?

No no, I was actually trying to get him to realize that I was a med student, so qualifying as the ''Look at me, I'm so smart" category.

 

[septoplasty]

Being a recent member to this site, it seems one is quickly named a 'tool' should one express any kind of curiosity or enthusiasm for the medical field 🙂

This curiosity is short lived, and once you progress through school, and through the field, you'll soon realize that this "curiosity" is what is killing you slowly on the inside.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Being a recent member to this site, it seems one is quickly named a 'tool' should one express any kind of curiosity or enthusiasm for the medical field 🙂

You'll quickly get that curiosity snuffed by more answers than you could ever possibly digest. Don't you worry. It's coming.

 

[Sheldor]

Don't you worry. It's coming.

That's what she said.

 

[miui]

Unless specifically asked, I tend not to bring it up. May sound too "I can probably do your job!"

 

[mjl1717]

Unless specifically asked, I tend not to bring it up. May sound too "I can probably do your job!"

I hear you!!
(I think a lot has to do with this: "Its not what ya say but how you say it")

Also:
1)It can be good to be modest..[Instead of some spunky, unrestrained lad bragging "Um gonna be a big doc"]

2)Sometimes you can learn more buy just listening..

😎

 

[Gastrapathy]

Oh for heaven's sake, just tell me you are a medical student.

That way I know that the only way I will convince you that you have IBS and not IBD is a good-old flip-flop (and I won't waste time explaining why they are unnecessary tests).