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Health Professions Advising at Mason |
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Exploring Career OptionsVolunteering and ShadowingStudents seeking experience in a clinical setting should look into volunteering at hospitals for enough time to show dedication to the medical profession. This means a minimum commitment of
While some students may have done some volunteering in a hospital during their high school years, those students should be encouraged to continue volunteering, perhaps in a different ward or clinic so they are not accustomed to one work setting for health care. If they volunteered in the emergency room, they should consider volunteering elsewhere (for example, an inpatient clinic or an outpatient clinic). At any rate, high school experience should be supplemented with experiences during their college years. Students will likely need to undergo a criminal background check (which is standard for all hospital workers) and some orientation courses on patients' privacy rights to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA. HIPAA dictates a patient's rights regarding the confidentiality of electronically stored medical and insurance information; a health care setting should be willing to train volunteers to comply with HIPAA regulations. While students are not required to hand in a report to the Health Professions Advising Office to document their volunteering experience, students are encouraged to keep a personal log (or blog with appropriate privacy setting) of their interactions in the clinic as a volunteer or observer. The student should work on their descriptions of what interactions they had with patients (without disclosing their personal information) and what insight they gained about themselves, the workplace, or the profession. If it is recorded, they will be able to look back and rely on these descriptions when the pre-application and real application process begins. I can't find a shadowing opportunity because of "HIPAA".With the caveat that one should not interpret this paragraph as legal advice, HIPAA does not prevent students from volunteering or shadowing physicians (read the law); patient confidentiality has always been expected of volunteers, but the law covers electronic data that previous privacy laws did not. However, with more incidents of identity theft, there is greater concern about inappropriate disclosure of personal and medical information. Briefly, the law states that the patient has the right to discuss his/her own private medical information but that health care providers must have consent to disclose their private medical information when it comes to discussing their case. Uniquely identifying information cannot be disclosed without patient consent. HIPAA compliance is never an excuse to decline volunteers or students interested in shadowing other physicians if they are already in compliance. The physician or clinic should contact their chief of medical staff to understand the policies at that institution on volunteering and HIPAA. If the physician wanted to set up an shadowing opportunity, he/she might have to draft a written participation agreement in which shadowers must agree to comply with understanding HIPAA policies at that institution (see example from the University of Miami School of Medicine). The agreement must be signed by the student and filed at the clinic or physician's office. Otherwise, it might tell you something about their confidence in your abilities as a future health professional if they do not think you can interact properly with patients while they are working. How do I find a health professional for shadowing opportunities?The Virginia Board of Medicine has a search engine that lists practicing allopathic, osteopathic, or podiatric physicians. All other prehealth students can use the general search engine for current licensees in dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and other health professions. The Medical Society of Northern Virginia also keeps a referral list for patients. The Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association also has a directory of osteopathic physicians with whom you can shadow. How do I ask a physician for an opportunity to shadow?These are links to various internet resources with advice for specific prehealth student groups.
Who should I contact to volunteer?Most hospitals have an office to coordinate volunteers. If you are not from the metro-DC area, seek a hospital or clinic in your hometown and contact their office for volunteer services. This list should neither be considered comprehensive nor construed as endorsements. Any additional suggestions would be more than welcome. Many items on this list come from Volunteer Fairfax and include mostly metro-DC if they have a website. A searchable national listing of volunteer opportunities is available at Volunteer Match.
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Exploring Career Options List of Programs by Profession External Links Exploring Grad/Prof (University Career Services) Premedical Students Guide to Preparing for Medical Programs (University Career Services) Medical Programs Internet Resources (University Career Services) Nursing and Health Careers Resources (University Career Services) Careers in Biology (American Institute of Biological Sciences) Sloan Career Cornerstone Center (Sloan Foundation) New Century College Life Science Track Information |
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