SHADOWING WORKSHOP

Presented by the Creighton Career Center and the PMED Seminar

Program

SHADOWING WORKSHOP

Presented by:

Lisa Brockhoff and Linda Dunn

Creighton Career Center

Shadowing…What Does it Really Mean? Beyond just looking it up

online…It is actually watching someone do a job for a few hours, days or whatever time is necessary.

It is the only way to really find out what you may like or not like about a specific profession or clinical specialty!

You will ALWAYS learn something- both positive and negative

Will come away either more excited or less excited – never neutral

Why do I need to shadow?• “But I already KNOW what

doctors do –” – Your experience as a

patient (or TV fan) does NOT give you a real picture of what it takes day in and day out

– You need to be sure – Medical Schools want to

KNOW that you have truly explored being a doc!

– The focus should be to have exposure to many different practices and specialties

What is an “ideal” shadowing experience?

• How many times do I need to shadow?

• How many hours of shadowing do I need?

• How many different doctors do I need to shadow?

The Rule of 4-3-2-1

• At a minimum– 4 - different doctors– 3 - different visits to each

doc– 2 - hours at each visit– 1 - no more than one doc

you already know• The best shadowing experiences will occur over several years• Not a checklist• Learning process

What are the “logistics” of shadowing? • Find a physician to shadow• Use of Reference USA

– Physicians all over the US who graduated from CU’s Medical School

– Demonstration

• CU Physician Experience Database (available to sophomores)

• Networking• Shadowing Guidelines

handout

Before you Shadow…

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act )– Patient Confidentiality is

PRIMARY! – Physicians will prefer those

already HIPAA proficient• PMED students received

certification, so refer to this.

• RESUME – If you have one, use it.– PMED 201 students will

attend Resume Development workshop in the Fall

Shadowing Etiquette• Have a good reason for your

choice of doctor• Contact the appropriate

person• Be flexible in scheduling • Dress professionally and

wear comfortable shoes• Have at least 5 questions

– Inquire about referrals for other physicians

• Always write a Thank You note

• Remember that shadowing is not a not a group project

While you are there

• What is the scope of a shadowing visit?– To watch, listen and learn– Observing only

• BE SENSITIVE to patients• Be on time• Be polite, sensitive and considerate of office staff, nurses and other docs• Remember that you are there to learn, not teach!

• A database of more than 850,000 US doctors and dentists

• Can select by geography, medical specialty, size of practice, medical school attended, etc.

• Examples: CU medical school alums in Des Moines; Nebraska med school alums in Denver; Pediatricians practicing in Omaha from Creighton’s medical school, etc., etc.

Other Suggestions for Getting Clinical Experience: • Start shadowing with your

own physician and their colleagues

• Volunteer at local hospital and long-term care facilities

• Get trained to be a Certified , Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Tech, Phlebotomist, etc.

• Information about local CNA, EMT and Phlebotomy programs available through Career Center

• Summer months – good time to do this…. Could then get paid for clinical experience