Can't find a PA to shadow

[TitanEAG]

Alright folks, so I've been trying desperately to find a PA to shadow and I've hit some discouraging roadblocks. My physician politely told me she can't. I work in a hospital and managed to form some contacts and after pestering a PA (politely ofcourse ) I got this e-mail from the administrators (forwarded to me by the PA):

"We can only allow shadowing for students that are already enrolled in a program for which we have a legal affiliation agreement. Even though she is an employee here, this is not her usual job so it would be like bringing someone in from the community who is thinking of enrolling in Medical School"

Basically she contacted the administration to get clearance and this is what she got. Now I am a bit discouraged but I will keep pursuing this other ways, but for those of you who have successfully shadowed a PA/MD...how did you get in???

[PaulK]

That's a lame excuse they gave you - basically a hospital administrator said "It would be too much of a liability."

Soooo, here's what you do:

Find a PA to shadow in a doctor's office AKA private clinic. There, the doctor, and not some corporation makes the final decision.

I suggest you go to a few clinics and ask for business cards of the docs and PAs there. Then write them a polite and very professional email asking if you might be able to shadow them. We have an article on how to write that letter along with a few other articles on shadowing. You can find them here.

[TitanEAG]

Thanks Paul,
I will definitely do that.