dr_nalayak
Forum Senior
Topics: 25
Posts: 153
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I am in real dilemma here.I am working as a medical assistant now for 2 months taking histories and vitals,doing ekg,holters and all that in a private cardiology office with 4 cardiologists.I am not sure if thats gonna help me.my scores are 80/76/cs 2nd attempt/gc holder.should i keep on working here or get a paid externship.can somebody tell me if MA job is considered USCE.please advise.
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| cartman
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 215
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No real word on this. From what I know it depends on the Program Director of the program that you are applying to........
If its any consolation........I'm also in the same boat i.e working as an MA
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| medicus_81
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 432
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just my 2 cents: there are no paid externships...or at least I have not heard of any
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| dr_nalayak
Forum Senior
Topics: 25
Posts: 153
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by paid externship i meant websites that charge money for USCE.i tried for observership and externship everywhere but cant find one.now time is running out for 2009 match application and i need to better my cv.
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| zinnia
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 4
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dr_n....i have similar creds as you and also gc..having a great difficulty getting observership/any experience..do you think we should consider giving step3 if nothing else seems to be working out?
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 40
Posts: 2,828
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I would keep my MA job, try to impress the doctors there to get good LORs, maybe even a phone call to a PD (?) if I need one, and study to pass the step 3 with a great score.
But I am tired of investing, so... Very personal point of view.
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| MDin08
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 95
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buddy, u'll do th same things(maybe less) in the paid externship than what u r doin right now...u r doing ekgs, holters...cool...just mention all this in ur perosnal statemnet, & in ur interview they'll be more interested in asking u about ur experience as an MA than ur scores....+ i agree with arlete try to get good lors & a ph call to a PD may seal the deal!!!
Good luck!!!
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| needhelpplease
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 54
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How does one work as a medical assistant??Do you have to take a course and be certified or can you start right away?I am a 2007 graduate with step1 95/step2 99/cs fail on the first attempt and now waiting for the results.I am a gc holder and i am looking for observerships and externships but could not find any.......I am even ready to volunteer as medical assistant......I have no research or publications.....Any info will be helpful
thanks a lot
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
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i am not sure that i agree with folks here. a medical assitant job is so way low that i dont think it looks good on your cv. i cannot see a doctor writing you an LOR because you smile at the patients and gets their records in time and gets them into the room in time etc etc. i think the externship is your betterway to show your capabilities. it is also the only way to show that you are attempting to integrate into teh medical system in the united states. it is an investment, arlete, but remember the gains at the end of the day. they are worth much more than what you would have put in. invest in a hands-on externship and you will get your returns at the time of the match.
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 40
Posts: 2,828
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tolito:
I don't want to make you change your mind, but I think any position in a healthcare enviroment gives you opportunities to show how worthy you are. Not only the smiles (and never underrate them like that!) and demeanor, but eventually situations happen that prove how knowledge and common sense go a long way to help patients. I worked as an EKG tech. I think the environment techs were the only ones not to give me orders.  Wonderful people, by the way. But there is a good half a dozen doctors who would call a PD in my behalf, if I asked them. Very busy, competent doctors.
About the investment... The best return will be going back to work as a doctor. I'm not doing it for the money. But if you don't set a limit to what you are willing to spend and sacrifice, you may end up accepting whatever comes your way, for the sake of recouping what you invested, and I don't want to go there. I like to have choices. Having hope and spending this time studying and meeting you guys were worth every cent, even if I never see the dollars back!
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| Korotkoff
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 179
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It seems like people are not paying attention. Dr. Fischer said Medical Assistant position counts as a clinical exprience. Check it out.
http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/60827/3/
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| Justice
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 117
Posts: 2,323
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You are reading between lines... But here is another message by DrF:
"...4. Research is better than medical assistant. Lofty. More academic...."
To me it sounds that MA is of low value, as a truly good USCE is much better than any research... Indeed, MA degree can be earned by taking a 4-6 week tech college course... You don't need to be MD to work as MA... My opinion: if you can afford externship, go for it. If you can't, try to find at least observership in an accredited program...
What I found while doing observership (officially called as Visiting MD) is even more frustrating: officially, I could not do much, but virtually I could do anything except signing (not writing, I did write them) orders, and examining patients... Counsellings, admitting, discharging, presenting patients to attending, writing daily progress reports, etc, etc, etc... Took one 30 hr overnight call, and am going to take another... Before I started, I had been informed that my responsibilities would be like those of the 3rd year American med students... To my big surprise, I did not see any med students (even 4th year) doing much... So, in my evaluation letter I was compared to PGY1s, and it is cool to see that they say that I am capable of acting at this level without limitations... This is not something to crow about, this is rather to make the ranking of our efforts sound... But at the end, acting as MA is better than doing nothing... Just make sure that in the letter they assess you as a doctor and PROSPECTIVE PGY1 applicant, not simply as a good and fast helper who knows the best the location of boxes with single-use enemas...
GL
Edited by Justice on 05/22/08 - 07:46 PM
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 40
Posts: 2,828
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Yes, USCE counts more than research, that counts more than MA job. What bugs me for sure is the cost of it. Not only you have to pay (when it's the case), but you have to pay for all your bills at the same time.
Bottom line is: Do you "want it" or do you "want it at any cost"? Every person needs to know himself good enough before making the right decision. Then, no regrets, no matter the result.
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| Justice
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 117
Posts: 2,323
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arlete wrote:
Every person needs to know himself good enough before making the right decision. Then, no regrets, no matter the result.
Very, very wise!!!
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| cartman
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 215
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I've been working as an MA for the last couple of years and its been a great experience. Its a wonderful way to get USCE and get comfortable with patient interaction. Medical Assistant's are so much more than just greeters. Everybody at work including my supervising physician is really respectful towards me. I just got a wonderful LOR from my supervising physician.
Besides rooming patients and history taking, I'm also responsible at work for documenting encounter notes, calling patients back and yes scrubbing in on outpatient surgeries and other medical procedures. In my opinion externship / observership may sound better but working as an MA or technician gives you more hands on clinical experience than anything else.
I come from a humble background. I have bills to pay and loved ones to support. I need something that pays the bills. I consider myself very lucky to be working as an MA and would only trade it for a residency spot and nothing else !
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| dr_nalayak
Forum Senior
Topics: 25
Posts: 153
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Dr fischer's remarks are moral boosting for me.but as arlete wrote do you Do you "want it" or do you "want it at any cost"?,I think at this point being rejected once in match I want to give a full throttle for 2009 match,so that i dont have any regrets if god forbid anything goes wrong.So far I learned MA is counted as USCE but still externship,does'nt matter how u get looks better on your cv.and i am not being paid for MA.its volunteer as for now,hopefully i'll get some money after a while.I dont care if somebody says i am being used.I am getting USCE.any sacrifice to get into residency is worth it if thats what u want.
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