GWINNETT HOSPITAL SYSTEMLearning Resources

Shadowing/Observation Experiences

6050-07

Original Date / Review Dates / Revision Dates
09/2007 / 9/2010, 1/2011 / 9/2010, 1/2011

POLICY

It is the policy of Gwinnett Hospital System (GHS) to provideshadowing/observation experiences whenever possible for students in university/college and graduate healthcare curriculums, for individuals to meet university/college healthcare programs admission requirements and for individuals interested in pursuing healthcare careers; in accordance with the Health Insurance, Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). No one under the age of 18 will be permitted to shadow. This policy is in effect for all areas, clinical and non-clinical, within the hospital system.

DEFINITIONS

Midlevel Provider – A healthcare provider practicing under the supervision of a physician.

Observer – An individual in an observation experience to explore a health care profession. This experience does not allow for participation in patient care, or involvement with Gwinnett Medical Center technology and equipment. Term may be used interchangeably with Shadower.

Procedural Areas – Units/Departments that perform patient procedures. Examples include operating room, endoscopy, cath lab, and labor and delivery.

Process Form – Documentation form containing information required for the shadowing/observation experience.

Shadower – An individual in an observation experience to explore a health care profession. This experience does not allow for participation in patient care, or involvement with Gwinnett Medical Center technology and equipment. Term may be used interchangeably with Observer.

Student – An individual enrolled in a healthcare curriculum.

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PROCEDURE/GUIDELINE

  1. Students requesting to shadow an associate/physician;

1.Student

a.Identifies an associate/physician/midlevel provider who has agreed to allow the student to shadow them in the hospital setting.

b.Completes Shadowing Process Form and completes shadowing materials available on GMC’s external website.

c.Submits the Shadowing Process Form with GHS required shadowing materials to Learning Resources .

2.Associate - when an associateis to be shadowed, the associate is identified on the Shadowing Process Form. The associate to be shadowed emails Learning Resources,, the following:

  1. Name of the shadower,
  2. Documents their department manager has approved the shadowing;and
  3. Notes the date/s (1-2 days), time (start-finish), and number of hrs. the shadowing is to occur.

3.Physician/Midlevel Provider – when a physician/midlevel provider is to be shadowed the physician/midlevel provider is identified on the Shadowing Process Form.The physician/physician designee/midlevel provideremails Learning Resources , the following:

  1. Name of the shadower, and
  2. Notes the date/s (1-2 days), time (start-finish), and number of hrs. the shadowing is to occur.

4.Learning Resources (LR) - upon receipt of all required documents:

a.Communicates approval/denial of the shadowing request within 5-7 business days of receipt of request.

b.Directs Associate/physician or physician designee/midlevel provider to have shadower pick up an Observer badge from LR prior to shadowing date.

  1. Instructors requesting a shadowing experience for their clinical group:

1.Instructor completes the Observation Section of the “Request Form: Nursing Student Clinical Group”;

2.Instructor emails the Request Form to the student placement coordinator in the Learning Resources Department to place the requestfor their student/s shadowing experience.

3.The LR student placement coordinator:

a.Communicates the request to the area manager/designee; and

b.Informs the instructor of the acceptance/denial of the request by the area manager/designee.

4.The LR student placement coordinator: informs all parties that the shadowing can proceed.

C. The length of the shadowing experience will be limited to one to two days as approved by the

department manager.

Exceptions may bemade for extended shadowingexperiences, when extended shadowing is a documented requirement of an academic program and is approved by department manager.

D.Individuals shadowing/observing must dress in business casual attire with supportive shoes or

wear attire as designated by the Procedural area..

E.Individuals shadowing/observing will wear a name badge identifying them as anobserverat all times.

F.Individuals shadowing/observing are to be accompaniedat all times, by theperson they are to be

shadowing.. This will be the named associate or named physician/midlevel provider as

identified on the Shadowing Process Form.

G. Individuals must complete the Shadowing Process Form along with the documents listed on the Gwinnett Medical Center external website at:

these tests, acknowledgements, and forms are turned into the Learning Resources (LR) Department prior to beginning the shadowing experience.

H.Additional requirements for Shadowers/Observers in Procedural Areas:

1.Approval by the Director of the Procedural Area or designee.

2. Complete the OR Protocolself study and accompanyingAcknowledgement form also

located on the GMC external website with the shadowing materials noted in “G”.

ATTACHMENTS

Shadowing Process Form For Requests

Request Form: Nursing Student Clinical Group

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Learning Resources Department

Medical Staff Office

APPROVAL BODIES

Director, Learning Resources

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

KEYWORDS

Student, observation, shadowing, observer

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