Undergrad's Quickest Path to Medical Experience
Hopefully by now you’ve actually read how I learned every MCAT class in 6 months before the exam, the time frame is relevant here. At the conclusion of the MCAT I actually had gotten hired as a medical scribe at what was called Elite Medical Scribes, now owned by Scribe America. This was consequently the same time I was hired as an MCAT teacher. But here is the unique thing about that... I hadn’t taken a chemistry, bio (except HS bio), psychology, etc. class before that point... So how did I do it? How did I convince the recruitment staff that I am apt for this intense bio-oriented job? That’s what I’m about to share with you. All jobs require one thing, the assurance that you can actually get the job done. That’s it... nothing else (aside from requirements such as a degree in some cases). So I played off this card and you can too. There are many opportunities for medical experience: shadowing, lab tech, CNA, volunteer, researcher dealing with patients, niche areas, and medical scribing. I would like to pay attention to the very last one because it is the only one that you basically get to be a doctor, and get paid for it (usually cheap, but upwards of $20/hr if you have full time availability at a private practice). For this reason I will focus on medical scribing, this should be your main medical experience focus. Shadowing has plenty of forums to help you out as the next most valuable pre-med medical experience. My goal here is to tell you what you need to know to become a medical scribe, as well as learn nuances and tricks that others don’t tell you about how to get in. First, you need a resume that states you can get the job done, and more importantly you need a cover letter to show it.
6. Is that you can type... (but this is a given. If you can’t, get a keyboard cover, never look at your keys again, use this for 3 months, and boom you’ll type like a boss).
Scribing has an enormous learning curve, expect to need to learn 1000 medically related words in the 4-6 weeks of learning modules (unpaid) which you will watch before becoming a medical scribe. The greatest supply of scribe jobs in America comes from Scribe America I believe which would have a roughly 4-6 week training course. After writing your resume and cover letter (emphasizing all these key skills, ideally shown through examples), make sure you follow up (phone preferred) every week until you receive the job or get a rejection. When you speak on the phone, have those items that you put on your cover letter mentally on hand. Also be prepared to answer a couple questions (most popular that aren’t just simple interview questions) when you get a phone interview:
I recommend using an answer similar to mine here, I claim that I use problem-focused coping. This is actually an MCAT psychology term, it means when a problem arises you have a need to solve it as a mechanism of coping. However there are unsolvable problems, here is a time where you say what you do to cope, this could be a walk, eat, take a second to breath, etc., just make sure it is in the context of something you can do in a hospital.
Note that you will likely not be able to conversate with patients much, so be able to think ahead and say “In such an experience, if my job warrants me the ability to respond to the patients, I would...” Here note that you will remain calm because calmness in your will have a mirroring and empathetic effect on the patients. Acknowledge that you may be asked to leave and will comply, etc. You can’t really do much here anyways.
You will make sure you get all the essential notes and understand the physician’s reimbursement requires that you note all items required for a high level chart (let’s the physician get paid more). Also, you understand that some items may be misinterpreted because you don’t have the same experience the physician has, you will ask the physician if your fellow scribe is unable to help ease your confusion.
They want to see if you’re someone that will speak up or not. Ironically, it is not good to speak up here. They want you to know that you are NOT a physician, the physician is. You will write exactly what the physician tells you. Now you can say if the regimine looks unusual, you can bring it up asking if that was what the physician meant to put, this is what you are here for, double checking the physicians notes and writing the whole interaction down.
Physician time is VALUABLE, and there indeniably will be words you don’t know. First, look it up. If that is insufficient, ask a fellow scribe. If that is insufficient, ask another person in the hospital. Finally, you can ask the physician. Make sure that you show them you understand the order of command and order of value in time. You’re there to make the physician's time increase, not reduce.
They want 1 year of full time or 2 years of part time. But they can’t make you do it, but you should want to. In my case I did one year of part time (full time for the first 3 months). I couldn't stand it anymore because of all the typing to be honest, it was giving me tendonitis. Part time is 2-3 shifts a week, each about 8-10 hours, same as the physicians but you tend to leave a bit earlier than they do. Here you need to mention this is the commitment you can provide. They “spend” a lot of time training you, so they want to make sure the investment is worth it. You will SUCK in the beginning. It’s part of the process, make it your goal to learn and get up to speed as quick as possible. Make sure you answer this question so they know this.
They want 1 year of full time or 2 years of part time. But they can’t make you do it, but you should want to. In my case I did one year of part time (full time for the first 3 months). I couldn't stand it anymore because of all the typing to be honest, it was giving me tendonitis. Part time is 2-3 shifts a week, each about 8-10 hours, same as the physicians but you tend to leave a bit earlier than they do. Here you need to mention this is the commitment you can provide. They “spend” a lot of time training you, so they want to make sure the investment is worth it. You will SUCK in the beginning. It’s part of the process, make it your goal to learn and get up to speed as quick as possible. Make sure you answer this question so they know this.
Your answer will vary, but I want you to hit on a couple points. There are things you need to learn: 1. Medical words, 2. Medical notes process, 3. Medical reimbursement, 4. Medical software. Form your answers in relation to these. For example, I’ve learned many softwares from my unorthodox background, so I worded the learning of medical software with this in mind. Same goes for the rest, use your concrete examples/experiences to prove you will take this task head on because you’ve done it before.
Remember, they are looking for a great Medical Scribe Candidate, so if you can show that you will be good. The way the interviews worked for me and tend to work is first, you’ll get some interview from a recruiter at the company. If you show that you can meet all those criteria I outlined above, you’re good. After, you’ll likely interview in person with the head scribe, or do a phone interview first. They know what it takes, and they may be pretty harsh. A lot of people want this job, show them you have what it takes, and be confident that you do!
4. Call up hospitals (this is less of a shot in the dark than number 3 and I recommend it).
So how is this the “Undergrad’s Quickest Path to Medical Experience?” If you look at all the other opportunities, aside from shadowing which is super difficult to get and is short lasted, this is a tested and true method for pre-med students to get medical experience. What I tried to provide is a method to get into medical scribing by knowing what they are looking for, making you the ideal candidate, even if your experience is lacking. Good luck and happy scribing!