optimistic3 Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 So I'm looking for a PA to shadow and I considered asking my own PA who treats me with my physician. I actually have a doctor appointment tomorrow and I'm not sure if I should ask. 1. Assuming this PA even lets anybody shadow her, are they allowed to let their own patients shadow them? 2. Is that weird to ask? It's giving me anxiety even thinking about asking and possibly being rejected but she's the only PA that I know in this area. I also really DO NOT want to put her in an awkward position at all. If I were closer to her, I may not worry about asking but honestly she's never even said a word to me; she just walks in with the doctor. She's never even introduced herself..... Also she knows that I'm applying to PA school since my doctor and I have talked about it while she was in the room. Do you think she would have suggested it if she was ok with me shadowing her? Ideally I'd find someone else that I don't know but I'm having trouble finding anyone who will let me shadow. So how do you feel about shadowing your own providers? Have you done this? If this is a bad idea, please let me know. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliB Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 FWIW, I had never seen a PA as my own provider, but I did get one of my brothers to ask his PA if he'd be willing to let me shadow -- he said yes, as long as he wasn't seeing my brother!. I did ask my own MD and while it didn't work out in her practice, she did connect me with another colleague of hers who was in a position to have a pre-PA shadow her. In addition, I did shadow providers in my other personal physician's practice (even observed a minor procedure on my sister-in-law, with her full permission). So, yes, I would ask. If they don't feel comfortable or feel it would be in any way inappropriate, they may be able to connect you elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Before I applied, I shadowed the PA who worked for my PCP for a shift. Just wanted to see what primary care was like. My advice is to ask the PA, not the doc. He can always make up a reason if he doesn't want you to shadow. This falls in the class that nothing can go wrong if you ask. Until you ask, you're already not shadowing him or her. People shadow me all of the time. We all have been there. Someday you too can pay it forward. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 FWIW, I had never seen a PA as my own provider, but I did get one of my brothers to ask his PA if he'd be willing to let me shadow -- he said yes, as long as he wasn't seeing my brother!. I did ask my own MD and while it didn't work out in her practice, she did connect me with another colleague of hers who was in a position to have a pre-PA shadow her. In addition, I did shadow providers in my other personal physician's practice (even observed a minor procedure on my sister-in-law, with her full permission). So, yes, I would ask. If they don't feel comfortable or feel it would be in any way inappropriate, they may be able to connect you elsewhere. Before I applied, I shadowed the PA who worked for my PCP for a shift. Just wanted to see what primary care was like. My advice is to ask the PA, not the doc. He can always make up a reason if he doesn't want you to shadow. This falls in the class that nothing can go wrong if you ask. Until you ask, you're already not shadowing him or her. People shadow me all of the time. We all have been there. Someday you too can pay it forward. Good luck. Thank you both so much for your motivation. @UGoLong , the bolded sentence really made an impact on me and you're totally right. I just came back from my doctor appointment and I was nervous to ask but I did it anyway and she introduced me to a PA in the practice! I've got an appointment to start shadowing!!! I guess I was wrong about who that other person that comes in with my doctor is. Turns out, she's not a PA but I didn't ask who she was - maybe a nurse? I could've sworn that I read PA-C on her badge the last time I was there but maybe I'm mistaken. Anyway, the PA that I met was super duper nice and I can't wait to start shadowing her! Thanks again! Like you said, I hope someday when I'm a PA, I can pay it forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted August 7, 2015 Administrator Share Posted August 7, 2015 That was most likely an MA or scribe. PAs don't work that way. I shadowed my PCP, a DO, and he wrote me a very nice letter of recommendation. I had been with him for 9 years at that point, and he'd watched me get into EMT school and develop my medical interests, so it was a cool fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 As we get older, we typically regret the things we should have done but didn't more than those few awkward things we shouldn't of but did. Don't hang back on things that could advance your dreams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealityCheck Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 My current employer has a corporate policy of no shadowing - period. I wasn't told that when I took the job even though they knew I am adjunct faculty at the PA program. Now, I have people calling me all the time and I have to say no. I have an opportunity to change jobs in the very very near future - meaning a month - and I made sure that students would be ok and shadowing would be welcomed. It makes a difference. I am looking forward to getting back to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 That was most likely an MA or scribe. PAs don't work that way. I shadowed my PCP, a DO, and he wrote me a very nice letter of recommendation. I had been with him for 9 years at that point, and he'd watched me get into EMT school and develop my medical interests, so it was a cool fit. I never thought about a scribe but that would make sense since she doesn't talk to me. She just listens and types on the computer! At my previous doctor's office of this same specialty, the PA would come in after the MA but before the doctor to talk to me about everything, then she would go relay the information to my doctor, then she'd come back in with the doctor where they would talk to me. I was a patient at this practice for over a year with frequent visits. Some days I would see the PA but not every visit so I wasn't sure exactly how that worked. I've also had some doctor's offices where the PAs work independently and I didn't even see the doctor. Would you say the latter is the norm? My current employer has a corporate policy of no shadowing - period. I wasn't told that when I took the job even though they knew I am adjunct faculty at the PA program. Now, I have people calling me all the time and I have to say no. I have an opportunity to change jobs in the very very near future - meaning a month - and I made sure that students would be ok and shadowing would be welcomed. It makes a difference. I am looking forward to getting back to it. Thank you for making sure of that! All of use pre-PA students greatly appreciate it!!! Is it because of liability issues that some places won't let students shadow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted August 7, 2015 Administrator Share Posted August 7, 2015 At my previous doctor's office of this same specialty, the PA would come in after the MA but before the doctor to talk to me about everything, then she would go relay the information to my doctor, then she'd come back in with the doctor where they would talk to me. I was a patient at this practice for over a year with frequent visits. Some days I would see the PA but not every visit so I wasn't sure exactly how that worked. I've also had some doctor's offices where the PAs work independently and I didn't even see the doctor. Would you say the latter is the norm? Any time a PA and a MD/DO see you in the same visit, it's an inefficient waste of time, because two providers have to see you but only one gets to bill for the encounter. I have no idea why the previous set up was that way--perhaps a new PA getting up to speed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 Any time a PA and a MD/DO see you in the same visit, it's an inefficient waste of time, because two providers have to see you but only one gets to bill for the encounter. I have no idea why the previous set up was that way--perhaps a new PA getting up to speed? You make an excellent point that I've never thought of before. I'm glad I asked! Now I wonder why it was that way, too. I would ask them if I were still a patient there but I moved across the country. But as the patient, I did really like that setup, actually. I was able to spend a lot of time with the PA and they (there were 2 that worked the same way) would always make sure that the doctor was informed about everything I told her, even when I would forget myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumsden Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Snowball it! Most PAs and MDs I worked with were eager to help, and wanted me to get into PA school. If you get that vibe from someone you shadow, ask them if they know other NPs, PAs or MDs who might be willing to let you shadow. (Shadowing an NP can help you articulate in interviews why you opted to apply to PA programs, and can also show you another approach to working with patients.) About 2/3 of the people I shadowed were found with this technique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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