Volunteer at a private practice - should I put on AMCAS?

[maystdnt]

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So I volunteered at a private practice where the doctor let me check vitals and record the main reasons that the patient is here. However, I am unsure of if I should list this on the work/activities section of AMCAS because from what I've heard you usually need certification, which I do not have. I've also heard that it varies by state (I live in CA btw) and you usually need a medical assistant certification to do this. The doctor basically trained me, but I am not sure of the legality of this in the eyes of adcoms. What do you guys think? Should I be worried or just list it? Also, I got this position from previously shadowing the doctor so does it look bad to double-dip and list the doctor as both shadowing and the volunteer position? Thank you.

 

[OchemOficionado]

It’s clinical experience. You should list it. It isn’t like you were giving injections or assisting in procedures so it doesn’t sound like you broke any laws. In fact, what you were allowed to do is very common.

 

[mdphdNYC]

To be totally safe, you could list "Learned to take vitals" rather than your primary responsibility being taking vitals, and emphasize the supervision you received. Then you could emphasize the parts of your job that involved talking and empathizing with patients in interviews rather than doing intake. I would put them as one experience, not because it's "double-dipping" but to give yourself more room for other activities on AMCAS

 

[Catalystik]

So I volunteered at a private practice where the doctor let me check vitals and record the main reasons that the patient is here. However, I am unsure of if I should list this on the work/activities section of AMCAS because from what I've heard you usually need certification, which I do not have. I've also heard that it varies by state (I live in CA btw) and you usually need a medical assistant certification to do this. The doctor basically trained me, but I am not sure of the legality of this in the eyes of adcoms. What do you guys think? Should I be worried or just list it? Also, I got this position from previously shadowing the doctor so does it look bad to double-dip and list the doctor as both shadowing and the volunteer position? Thank you.

I suggest listing it, but not with the Shadowing, which belongs in its own space. If you are sensitive about the vital sign issue (a non-issue in my state, BTW) you can refrain from mentioning that part of your duties, instead saying that you "roomed" patients and recorded their chief complaints.

Do you have sufficient hours from the volunteer portion for you to list it on its own, or did you plan to group it with other active clinical experience?