<p>So I may be beginning my first physician shadowing soon (shadowing a cousin of mine). I had a few questions if anyone could please answer:
What exactly do you do when shadowing a physician? Do you just follow them around even when they are meeting with patients? The physician I'm planning on shadowing is an internal medicine doctor. Do shadows do work for physicians or do they stick with the doctor wherever he/she goes? I'm totally oblivious to how it all works :/</p>
<p>Also, what would be proper attire for shadowing? I know many doctors where a dress shirt and slacks or dress pants to their clinics, so should I be dressed in this way as well, or would jeans and a polo be sufficient?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any help :)</p>
<p>You may not be able to be present when a physician is with a patient. The patient has to give their permission first for you to be present. So that will be a case-by-case kind of thing. (When my ortho had a student shadowing, he asked me to sign a permission form/ confidentiality waiver first each time before the students was allowed in the room. The student observed both my surgery and later my surgical follow-up office visit.)</p>
<p>Your job will largely be that of observer, although that can include you being a go-fer at times.</p>
<p>And whether you will stick with just one physician or may be allowed to follow other physicians depends on what kind of relationships your cousin has with the other doctors at his practice/hospital. I have heard of it happening both ways. </p>
<p>I would dress professionally–which means dress shirt and slacks.</p>
<p>I think it also depends on where you’re shadowing. I’ve shadowed at a hospital in the surburbs of a city and at a teaching hospital (one with a med school, so med students too, and residents and fellows, etc) and the experiences were subtly different.</p>
<p>Shadowing at the private hospital was much like WOWMom described–asked consent, couldn’t always go in, etc. I didn’t do a ton of shadowing at that hospital (which is in my home town). </p>
<p>I did the majority of my shadowing in a teaching hospital (my university’s hospital). I’d go in for a half day of clinics (arriving about 10 minutes before clinic began). Then I’d go see patients with the student or the resident (who would ask if it was OK for me to stay, which it was every single time I went), watch the student or resident present to the attending, then go see the patient again with the attending. I’d hang out with the physicians or the nurses in between patients. I’d watch outpatient procedures if any were scheduled. I’d go with the docs to consult with others–to talk to the radiologist or the surgeon, for example. </p>
<p>Seems like all doctors are slightly different. Just be polite and flexible and I’m sure you’ll be great! Dress professionally too–my guy friends who shadowed at the university hospital with me always wore a button down shirt, a tie, slacks, and dress shoes. </p>
<p>Have fun!</p>