- Joined
- May 21, 2007
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 0
Pretty simple question. Also, since I volunteer in the ER, it would make sense to ask an EM doc to shadow, but are these fellows too...umm, busy compared to another IM doctor?
Can high school students shadow physicians?
- Thread starter Moxess
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2005
- Messages
- 3,435
- Reaction score
- 11
In general, yes, but obviously it depends on the physician (and possibly that particular hospital's policy... usually it isn't a problem). I don't think it hurts to ask.
Btw, both types of doctors are going to be plenty busy. But IM docs (i.e. internists/hospitalists) have one tough and some might say thankless job. Arguably among the most demanding and stressful jobs of any doctor in the hospital (topped only by ICU docs and general surgeons). Much more so than EM, in my humble opinion.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2008
- Messages
- 3,434
- Reaction score
- 3
Yea, what do you guys do in ER ???
Telling the patient he/she is all right ?
Telling the patient he/she is all right ?
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2008
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 0
i volunteered in the ER for three years.
this is what i did:
1) i went into the patient snack room and ate the snacks. they have great juice boxes and popsicles.
2) i read through patient charts. most of them were for friends who had stumbled into the ER due to alcohol poisioning, std's, UTI's, and other various things. now i have a lot of dirt on a lot of people i know. of course i can never say anything to anyone about it, but at least i know it.
3) i hung out in the trauma room (where patients who are admitted from ambulances and helicopters arrive) usually these patients are stabbed or shot so its cool to see doctors IN ACTION!
this is what i did:
1) i went into the patient snack room and ate the snacks. they have great juice boxes and popsicles.
2) i read through patient charts. most of them were for friends who had stumbled into the ER due to alcohol poisioning, std's, UTI's, and other various things. now i have a lot of dirt on a lot of people i know. of course i can never say anything to anyone about it, but at least i know it.
3) i hung out in the trauma room (where patients who are admitted from ambulances and helicopters arrive) usually these patients are stabbed or shot so its cool to see doctors IN ACTION!
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2004
- Messages
- 20,793
- Reaction score
- 110
I shadowed an orthopedic surgeon over the summer before my senior year while I was in HS.
I was able to follow him in clinic a few days a week and then I watched him in surgery the other days. It was some amazing exposure that early on.
I know my med school actually has a summer program for HS students where they shadow a number of different health professions. I saw the presentations they put together at the end, a bunch of them got into OR, ED and various clinics around the hospital.
It's definitely possible to shadow and get exposure as a HS student. The best way to do this is to talk to family friends or docs you know. Ask them if you can shadow them for a day or if they know someone you can. If that doesn't work, you might be able to find a formal program that is designed to give HS students exposure to the health professions (such as a mini-med school, or an outreach program, etc).
I was able to follow him in clinic a few days a week and then I watched him in surgery the other days. It was some amazing exposure that early on.
I know my med school actually has a summer program for HS students where they shadow a number of different health professions. I saw the presentations they put together at the end, a bunch of them got into OR, ED and various clinics around the hospital.
It's definitely possible to shadow and get exposure as a HS student. The best way to do this is to talk to family friends or docs you know. Ask them if you can shadow them for a day or if they know someone you can. If that doesn't work, you might be able to find a formal program that is designed to give HS students exposure to the health professions (such as a mini-med school, or an outreach program, etc).
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2008
- Messages
- 12,110
- Reaction score
- 246
I shadowed 2 different anesthesiologists in high school. It was really cool.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2006
- Messages
- 478
- Reaction score
- 1
Yes, a doctor that you know is a great way to get involved in shadowing. Just be aware though that as far as shadowing goes, it won't be an exciting experience. Typically, do to HIPAA and patient protections laws, you aren't allowed to touch a patient, so you'll be mostly just watching the doctor speaking with patients and ordering tests.
With that said, when I shadowed a couple of ER docs in highschool, I thought it was a great experience that helped to solidify my decision to enter medicine.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2005
- Messages
- 3,435
- Reaction score
- 11
Bring a mini-spiral/notepad and a pen. Something that is easy to carry around. You don't need a clipboard.
Chances are the clipboard you've seen other people carrying into the room is the patient's vitals (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiration rate, pulse oximetry).
N
nonesuchgirl
If they're not medical people (doctor, nurse, tech, PA, MA, NA, etc) or registration/scheduling/billing (clerk, registrar, whatever) they might be study people- go in , ask a few questions, write down the answers.
Then you file the form somewhere and forget about it for a few years.
They could also be social work, nutrition, patient representatives, legal.
Then you file the form somewhere and forget about it for a few years.
They could also be social work, nutrition, patient representatives, legal.
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2008
- Messages
- 44
- Reaction score
- 0
What do you do in the ER? I worked in the ER checking people in...it's a very intresting experience.
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2007
- Messages
- 17,074
- Reaction score
- 73
Okay, I should have gotten to this sooner. I do all of my shadowing in two ER's One is a Top 10 Level 1 Trauma and the other is not top 10 but also Level 1.
I like every EM doc I have ever met. Generally (and this is soley based on my experiences) they are extremely busy. The nurses take less patients and they don't really talk much to other EM's (unless they have residents) which means they like the company. They see a lot of crap so tend to be pretty lax. All of them explain anything I ask about, including about the personal aspects of medicine i.e. (The pay/healthcare sucks because...). Every now and then (a couple times each time I shadow) they will ask about medical things for me to answer. Usually really simple stuff that I have already seen at least once. ex. "This Pt has athsma and is using her inhaler 3 times / day, what is something else we can do?" or "Okay so a little blood in the urine and pain on the rt lower back, what is something it could be?" Easy stuff that makes you realize you are picking up on some stuff and makes it feel like you aren't wasting your time there.
As a volunteer I can't help you there. When shadowing it depends on your attending, but overall not much. I get introduced to all of the patients (in a way that doesn't sound like it is optional for me to be there). One of the attendings I shadow has me touch just about every patient in some way. Listen to lung/heart sounds and pulls me in to see things. The other is more of an observing thing but shes really good at explaining things and answering questions. I should add she sees more patients and has no residents so she really doesn't have the time to let me touch the patients as it isn't really medically nessesary.
I don't talk to the patients at all really. The first thing you will see is that the Doc isn't in the room long and there are more important things that need talked about than me or anything I could say. That being said sometimes they want to start a conversation and I oblige but it's pretty much an unspoken rule that I leave when the attendings do. (This is a good policy to avoid being asked questions, esp from drug seekers who are the natural enemy of the ED physicians.
I hope I answered this well. I just got back from the ED and am extremely out of it.
I like every EM doc I have ever met. Generally (and this is soley based on my experiences) they are extremely busy. The nurses take less patients and they don't really talk much to other EM's (unless they have residents) which means they like the company. They see a lot of crap so tend to be pretty lax. All of them explain anything I ask about, including about the personal aspects of medicine i.e. (The pay/healthcare sucks because...). Every now and then (a couple times each time I shadow) they will ask about medical things for me to answer. Usually really simple stuff that I have already seen at least once. ex. "This Pt has athsma and is using her inhaler 3 times / day, what is something else we can do?" or "Okay so a little blood in the urine and pain on the rt lower back, what is something it could be?" Easy stuff that makes you realize you are picking up on some stuff and makes it feel like you aren't wasting your time there.
As a volunteer I can't help you there. When shadowing it depends on your attending, but overall not much. I get introduced to all of the patients (in a way that doesn't sound like it is optional for me to be there). One of the attendings I shadow has me touch just about every patient in some way. Listen to lung/heart sounds and pulls me in to see things. The other is more of an observing thing but shes really good at explaining things and answering questions. I should add she sees more patients and has no residents so she really doesn't have the time to let me touch the patients as it isn't really medically nessesary.
Yea, what do you guys do in ER ???
Telling the patient he/she is all right ?
I don't talk to the patients at all really. The first thing you will see is that the Doc isn't in the room long and there are more important things that need talked about than me or anything I could say. That being said sometimes they want to start a conversation and I oblige but it's pretty much an unspoken rule that I leave when the attendings do. (This is a good policy to avoid being asked questions, esp from drug seekers who are the natural enemy of the ED physicians.
I hope I answered this well. I just got back from the ED and am extremely out of it.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
i wonder if "shadowing" as a HS student is allowed in Hong Kong =/
b/c all your personal stories sound so good~!
b/c all your personal stories sound so good~!
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2008
- Messages
- 785
- Reaction score
- 0
Chances are, these are probably residents. But, that is just my guess, I couldn't tell you without seeing them.
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2007
- Messages
- 6,874
- Reaction score
- 1,357
You can go to a hospital and ask them what type of volunteer opportunities they offer. A lot of hospitals offer ER volunteering so be sure to ask.
2
237392
sure you can!
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
I'm a junior and my school just gave students the opportunity to shadow professionals of all kinds, and there were physicians on the list. If you don't have family or friends that have connections to doctors, ask your school if they have a program that will allow it.
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2009
- Messages
- 273
- Reaction score
- 0
He's not supposed to be doing that either.
You're not allowed to touch charts if you are not providing care to that patient at that time.
If anyone finds out what he has done, they can take him for all he's worth and I hope they do.
It's called HIPAA.
Some people's children....
- Joined
- May 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
Would they ask about your shadowing experience at interviews for BS/MD programs?
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2009
- Messages
- 63
- Reaction score
- 0
They may or may not ask. Either way, I don't think it would be an overwhelming factor when choosing applicants. They are looking for well-rounded individuals who reflect certain qualities the school/program values.
Volunteer, shadow, research but don't base your whole premed experience on those things. Remember to be balanced.
Volunteer, shadow, research but don't base your whole premed experience on those things. Remember to be balanced.
