PAI 06: Health Care Experience - Part I
Posted By: Paul | The Physician Assistant Insider Podcast | 31 Comments
Today’s episode of the podcast covers a frequently asked about topic: what makes good health care experience (HCE) for applying to PA school?Here I go over what to look for in any activity you are planning on participating in for health care experience. What makes good HCE? What types of HCE are best? Which types to avoid? It’s all here. In our next episode - Part II - we will cover how to actually score a health care job or volunteer gig. Don’t miss it!
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Hi Paul,
Do you have tips on how to write personal statements geared specifically for PA schools? The app you mentioned is it available for androids? I searched and couldn’t find it. Also where can i purchase the book? Thanks
Oh my word Paul, you are an angel sent from the physician assistant gods!! This was one of the most informative podcasts I’ve ever heard! Thank you so much!!
Hey paul. Great podcast! I work as an ER scribe and as an EMT but i’ve been working as a scribe longer. Can i still count that as HCE? Also where can i purchase the book? Im very interested in purchasing it. Lastly i just want to thank you for all you’ve done with this site. It such a valuable resource to me! =)
Hi, Marian! Thanks for the kind words. Yes, DEFINITELY count scribing as HCE.
The book isn’t available yet, but be shortly - on the blog. I’ll send out an email announcing when it hits the stage.
I have and android phone and was trying to download the app, but could not find it. Is the app just for Iphone users?
Hi Paul!
I just listened to your podcast! Thanks for dedicating time for us (future PAs).
I was happy to hear that experience in hemodialysis counts for a great experience. In fact it does! Im working as a Hemodialysis Patient Care Technician at a well known dialysis clinic. I had no real clinical experience before. Before I got the job, I had worked as a Medical Interpreter for 4 months and I had been to massage school. However, the job requirements were to have a GED, CPR certification and clinical experience was preferred but not required. I got right in, I just got done with my 11 week of paid training (part classroom/mostly clinic). I am in charge of 4 patients per shift (we work under RNs), we trouble shoot symptoms, assess their treatment (respecting standing orders), and get to cannulate with 15 gauge needles!!. The work is repetitive, but I can’t think of a better opportunity to get my health care experience and work closely with patients.
I was wondering… Does Dental Assisting count as HCE?
Generally, yes. But how much credit they give you will depend on the school. If that is your only HCE, then you should get out and get more/other to supplement. You can call schools to ask how they feel about it.
Any progress on the book? Great podcast. Great website!
Thanks! The book is complete and has been on-sale since November. You can learn more about Crafting a Winning PA School Essay: A Step-by Step Guide to Tipping the Odds in Your Favor by clicking the link.
-p
I know you said that an x-ray tech was good experience but what about an ekg tech?
Yes, definitely!
I loved your podcast! I would like some advice in my decision. I currently am a office manager for a diaylsis Unit and I work Per diem at the local hospital as a secretary. I have an opportunity to become a diaylsis technician and/or nursing assistant in the critical care unit. In your opinion what should i use as my health care experience one or both, while I finish my bachelors and have time to gather my HCE? Thanks!
If it doesn’t stretch you too thin (you MUST protect your grades!) my vote would be to do both. Dialysis tech will have you making more independent decisions, which is good to show. CCU assistant will have you around LOTS of complex medicine that you will be able to suck up through osmosis, but isn’t as independent. I also prefer breadth whenever possible. GO FOR IT (THEM)!
Hi! Can you tell me the best type of HCE to have? I’m currently a high school senior and I want to get started on hce as soon as possible and hopefully I can take classes at a community college this summer. I was thinking EMT….
Hi, Pindi - I suggest you check out our forum topic on that subject. You can read it at: https://www.mypatraining.com/staging/forum/creative-ways-to-get-patient-care-experience-t5.html
Paul, my son is in high school and his future goal is to be a PA. Do you have any suggestions for undergraduate degrees that complement becoming a PA?
Our most asked question. I will direct you to our article and our podcast on the topic.
Hi Paul,
I am going to be starting to volunteer in a hospital office as an assistant to a medical assistant. They are allowing me to do things such as take vitals, height/weight, etc. that medical assistants usually do. Since it is volunteer will this type of experience count as HCE when I apply to schools?
It does. It would be great if you could parlez that into an MA position, or any other paid position that has you working with patients. Orderly? Physical therapy assistant? You get the picture.
Hey Paul,
Great site. I don’t know how you do this and practice as a PA, too. My question: in your experience, do adcoms consider surgical tech to be good HC experience? I’m wondering how “hands on” it since the patient is asleep most of the time. Thanks!
Ben
Hi Paul!
I am new to your blog, and I love it!! It is super informative!
I have a low GPA of around 2.65. How competitive am I? Will school even look at my application if I have that low of a GPA? I am willing to do a ton of shadowing and experience hours. I am also planning on getting an average GRE score and hoping for a good essay. What are your thoughts on how baldy my GPA will affect my chances of getting an interview.
Thank you!
Taylor
Let’s be frank: your GPA is low. I’m not saying that you can’t get in, but it’s going to take work. You should retake courses that are required for PA school in which you received less than a B. You might consider a post-baccalaureate degree to demonstrate to them that you can handle PA school. These grades won’t in any way replace your low undergrad ones. But they will allow you to show that (according to your most recent grades) you can handle the rigorous academics of PA school.
Hi Paul,
Your site rocks FYI! I am currently a pharmacist and extremely excited and stoked about the pa profession! I wanted your input regarding my experience as pharmD in the retail setting and if it would be viewed as competitive since we are now transitioning pharmd’s into a more healthcare provider status? For example on a daily basis, I provide immunizations, healthcare screenings, follow-up care. Medication therapy management, and blood work screenings, not just filling rxs. This clinical patient experience over the past few years has really been motivating me to continue learning and to become a pa!
Yes, I think all that’s great. PharmDs should be well positioned, if they have worked in a clinical setting. Often in the larger teaching hospitals, they make rounds with doctors and PAs!
Hi Paul,
Great podcast! You gave me ideas of other jobs that I forgot about for patient care experience. But I want to see if I’m overly stretching the benefits of my current job. I work in an IVF lab where I handle mostly the andrology side (working with sperm) and I understand that that isn’t much of patient care experience but I also deal with the patients in person when they ask for explanations suggestions based on their analysis report (of which I did). In addition, I do the same when explaining embryo statuses. On the side, I also do vitals in the procedure room but that is basically the extent of what I do. Can I make this work as health care experience? I appreciate your input.
Thank you!
Jennifer
Jennifer - you can definitely claim SOME time with patients. The problem may be that your actual time with patients is only 5-10% of your time there, so that will be all the hours you can count toward patient care experience. Also, to be ideal, the health care experience requirement should have you caring for patients. You can argue that an embryo is a patient, but it’s not a good argument, at least in terms of what they want to see to let you in. Can you elbow your way in to doing some MA work with the patients and the docs?
Hi,
I live in Mexico but study at Wake Forest University. Would any of my experiences that I have done and will be doing in Guadalajara count for HCE when applying? Or does it strictly have to be done in the US. Thank you!
For the most part, time working with patients is time working with patients. They don’t usually care where you do it as long as you can make clear exactly what you did and can confirm it (they usually don’t check or audit, but you want it to seem on the up-and-up).
HI Paul,
absolutely love your page. What are your thoughts on the “ER scribe” position for HCE? Also I am working in a company that recruits docs and PA to come work for their ER dept. Its what is went to school for, health care administration. I like it but I find myself feeling unfulfilled and extremely bored… I would love to see the other side of it.I just graduated 8 months ago with a B.S in health science concentration in health care admin and public health and unfortunately my GPA was around a 2.8 due to a few bad grades the last semester, I realized I got lazy and I was just trying to graduate. I did an internship my junior year and they hired me FT 6 months later, while still going to school FT, could have been another reason my grades were slipping. The field of Medicine and health care has always been an interest of mine and now that I have seen some of the admin side, my heart is telling me to go back to school and be a PA! I don’t know if it will look bad if I just start taking the Pre-reqs I need at a Community college or should I get a whole new degree since my GPA is not great. Thought? I am still working FT at the moment and starting Human Anatomy and Physiology with the Lab and Medical Terminology next month. Can you give me any advice? I want to be the best candidate when I do apply. I have a few mission trips planned and also shadows and volunteering set up. Thanks in advance for any feedback!! 🙂
I would discourage you from getting another degree (at least another bachelor’s or pos-bacc degree). This is a huge time and money commitment and only a portion of it is relevant to PA school. It’s fine to get taking the prereqs, BUT: make sure you are ready to kill them. If you take them and you aren’t adequately motivated and you do poorly, you’ve PROVEN to them that you can’t handle the academics. Better to wait a little until you’re champing at the bit to get back into school. 2.8 is low, so you will need to retake some courses for sure.
As for ER scribe, MOST schools consider it great HCE, as I do. A FEW feel that it’s too hands off. I think it’s some of the best HCE you can get.