Perhaps best way to volunteer

Princess'Dad · 11-06-2009, 08:11 AM

With the new Hipaa laws, it is being harder for students to "shadow" docs (our hospital has forbidden the old practice of giving them white coats as "young docs". Now after to get permission from each patient for young premed.

But, if you speak Spanish, many clinics are looking for translators (eg Vanderbilt's free clinic). This is an excellent way to be part of the team and is a great plus on your application - plus you see all types of patients and are involved in their care as part of the medical team.

entomom · 11-06-2009, 11:58 AM

Agree that knowing Spanish is a valuable skill. My D1 translated at a local low income clinic while in HS and is currently doing the same at a clinic in her college town. Last weekend she was so excited, she was working as a team with 1st and 4th yr med school students on a couple of interesting cases.

shades_children · 11-06-2009, 12:04 PM

P'D:

Don't translators have to be properly certified and trained?

entomom · 11-06-2009, 12:26 PM

I'm pretty sure my D didn't go through any training or certification when in HS, not sure about the current situation, I'll ask her.

GoldShadow · 11-06-2009, 12:29 PM

Would it be easier to get a shadowing position if somebody has an EMT-B cert and patient contact experience?

I'm not sure what the situation's like anymore, I haven't shadowed since the end of high school.

entomom · 11-06-2009, 12:59 PM

Just talked to her. In HS, she wasn't an 'official' translator, but she was often asked to help translate since they knew that she spoke Spanish. She said it was looser than it should have been, likely due to a shortage of translators or Drs that know Spanish in our area.

At her current clinic she was given a verbal test to make sure that her skills were up to snuff; no training though.

Princess'Dad · 11-06-2009, 04:28 PM

"official" documentation not needed most places. At ours, they are "vetted" by one of the full time staff. I was looking at Vanderbilt's "search for one" and they are also not certified. Many, olike entomom's d, work at free clinics.

As for EMT, the answer is no. HIPAA requires that you be involved in the care. At teaching hospitals with medical students, the patient signs a consent for the medical students. The days of "shadowing" are out. As noted, we cannot do it in the hospital or office unless we tell the patient before hand. We have been encouraged not to dress them up in white coats as this often "fools" the patient.

Steeler · 11-06-2009, 08:59 PM

Was it not normal to tell patients before? The doctors I shadowed always introduced me as as a student, I've logged many hours without a single patient objecting.

Princess'Dad · 11-06-2009, 10:09 PM

The times they are changing. Used to be "young doctor". Now they have to sign consent. If you have a lawyer read the Hipaa laws, it is felony to dress college student in white coat and address as young doc. Now have to say college or high school student interested in medicine.

bluedevilmike · 11-06-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Now have to say college or high school student interested in medicine.

... okay. This hardly makes shadowing impossible.

Princess'Dad · 11-07-2009, 09:14 AM

Well,
The hospital will now not allow it (unless they are in a specialized program such as a premed club at school - and then they are preconsented by every patient). Our medical group is the same. It is not like it was 5 or 25 years ago.

Back to original post. The best way now to "be part of the team" is to volunteer as an interpretor.

blieux_monkey · 11-07-2009, 01:41 PM

I actually think it's absurd to dress the student in a white coat and call them a young doc, and I am glad they are getting rid of that. When I did my shadowing, I was always introduced to the patient as a college student interested in medicine and the doc asked the patient if it was alright for me to be there. 9 of 10 times, it was okay. Very seldom did the patient (or parents) not give their consent. I still got a great shadowing experiences regardless. Though, I do see that it's harder to do shadowing within the hospital, as opposed to a private practice.

As for the best way to volunteer, possibly the interpreter position is the best way. However, the number of pre-med students who fluently speak a second language would be small. I don't see how the changes to HIPAA make shadowing any less of possibility or lessen the shadowing experience.

Princess'Dad · 11-10-2009, 03:53 PM

Blieux,
I can tell you that every applicant I have seen that worked as a phelbotomist or an interpretor got ranked quite high (or paramedic or nurse...). Shadowing only helps to answer the question "are you sure you want to be a doc" - while an answer is needed, shadowing is not the sole means. While not being "sure" lowers a position, shadowing does not raise it.

blieux_monkey · 11-10-2009, 04:26 PM

I agree that all of those positions are far better in terms of clinical experience than shadowing is.

I certainly don't think an applicant should limit themselves to only shadowing experiences, and I don't think shadowing experiences are necessary either. I think pre-meds can get more out of volunteering in a department in the hospital for a few months than shadowing a doctor for a few days.

ZFanatic · 11-10-2009, 07:44 PM

When I did it, I was introduced to any patient who seemed to care at all that I was in the room, as a student looking to go into medicine. I would usually chat with the patient when the doc had to run and get something, and they were impressed I was still in HS. They thought I was a med student... lol.

But for surgeries, they had to sign a consent form for every surgery. Not a single one objected. Not like I was doing anything but standing and watching.