Volunteering question

[freedoctor17]

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After a long wait list I've finally been notified of an opening at a free clinic I wanted to volunteer at near my campus. Unfortunately the only positions involve mainly secretary type work like scheduling, emailing, follow ups with patients on satisfaction over the phone, etc.

Currently I'm volunteering in a hospital and get actual patient contact, I could probably do both if I do a little less hours in research each week but not sure if I should?

Mainly I wanted to do this because I've been curious to see what goes into running a free clinic from the inside but the fact that I'll just be sitting behind a desk is kind of a turn off. I'd probably see patients checking in but not actually within the "clinical" setting.

Should I do it or would it be better to just keep focus on the other things I've been doing? Anyone else have some experience with a similar position they can share?

 

[jsomerthonia]

I would say keep focusing on things that you're doing and keep an eye out if a more desirable position opens up at the free clinic. I volunteered at a free clinic and the people who work at the front desk where definitely very vital to its success but like you mentioned, not a lot of patient contact, mostly just signing up patients, asking them to fill out a form and occasionally dealing with attitude due to the long wait time....but these people who did work at the front desk were able to "climb" the ladder and get patient contact by talking to the right people...so maybe that's something you can do. If you don't think your research, academics and social life wont falter, I would do it but otherwise, I'm sure you could set up times to speak with doctors who work at the free clinic about their experience and I try and get a more desirable position for yourself later on....

 

[freedoctor17]

I would say keep focusing on things that you're doing and keep an eye out if a more desirable position opens up at the free clinic. I volunteered at a free clinic and the people who work at the front desk where definitely very vital to its success but like you mentioned, not a lot of patient contact, mostly just signing up patients, asking them to fill out a form and occasionally dealing with attitude due to the long wait time....but these people who did work at the front desk were able to "climb" the ladder and get patient contact by talking to the right people...so maybe that's something you can do. If you don't think your research, academics and social life wont falter, I would do it but otherwise, I'm sure you could set up times to speak with doctors who work at the free clinic about their experience and I try and get a more desirable position for yourself later on....

Ok thanks! I might try and asking around at the hospital I already volunteer in to see if anyone knows a doctor who volunteers there (they're only like 10 minutes away from each other) and go from there. I think I'll do it over the summer anyways to get a feel for it if I don't this semester. During the summer it's usually easier to get positions.

 

[Goro]

After a long wait list I've finally been notified of an opening at a free clinic I wanted to volunteer at near my campus. Unfortunately the only positions involve mainly secretary type work like scheduling, emailing, follow ups with patients on satisfaction over the phone, etc.

Currently I'm volunteering in a hospital and get actual patient contact, I could probably do both if I do a little less hours in research each week but not sure if I should?

Mainly I wanted to do this because I've been curious to see what goes into running a free clinic from the inside but the fact that I'll just be sitting behind a desk is kind of a turn off. I'd probably see patients checking in but not actually within the "clinical" setting.

Should I do it or would it be better to just keep focus on the other things I've been doing? Anyone else have some experience with a similar position they can share?

Stick with the hospital work