Medical education is education related to the practice of being a medical practitioner; either the initial training to become a physician, or additional training thereafter. Medical education is also the subject-didactic academic field of educating medical doctors at all levels, including entry-level, post-graduate, and continuing medical education. Medical education applies theories of pedagogy specifically in the context of medical education. Specific requirements such as professional activities must be met before moving on in stages of medical education.

Why Medical Experience?

When it comes to getting into a , having the best GPA and MCAT scores don’t cut the bill alone. Highlighting your exceptional medical work experience and hospital shadowing projects in your personal statement can help you stand out from the crowd. Having medical experience gives you plenty of opportunities to observe some of the skills required to become a brilliant physician. In addition, it helps you decide whether medicine is the right career choice for you.

Types of Medical Experience for Pre- Med Students

Along the path to medical school, many students choose to pursue clinical experiences to complement their pre-medical schoolwork. Here are some types of medical experiences:

• Medical Scribing: As one of the most common clinical experiences seen by our Admissions Boards, scribing in an Emergency Room or inpatient hospital department allows a pre-med to take an active role in the healthcare process. This type of experience is seen frequently by our Admissions Officers, but it is the self-reflective pre-med student who can effectively convey how their time as a scribe has molded their understanding of the healthcare system and contributed to their desire to become a physician.
• Physician Shadowing: Most pre-med students have some degree of shadowing experience on their plate, and for good reason: shadowing is an excellent way of learning firsthand what a practicing physician actually does day-to-day. It requires minimal commitment on the part of a pre-med, so the amount of time spent shadowing is the key here. Selecting a physician(s) based on specialty and area of interest is important to develop a robust understanding of providing care.
• Volunteering at Healthcare Facility, Clinic, or Hospice: Whether at a hospice facility or in the community as an EMT, pre-meds can gain direct and impactful patient care experiences through their volunteerism. The scope of volunteering in these roles is vast, but common roles include: hospice volunteer assisting patients at the end of life; volunteer EMT positions at events and around the community; volunteer patient intake at a local clinic; or volunteering as a counselor or other service position with local nonprofits that work with underserved or high-risk communities. These types of experiences highlight the service-oriented aspect of many pre-med students.
• Paid Positions: Generating additional income while receiving invaluable clinical experiences is on many pre-med students’ radars, and our best advice to doing so involves receiving additional certifications. These types of positions are natural segues into becoming an entry-level healthcare provider and may require several months of initial certification training, but they are the most direct, hands-on clinical experiences a pre-med can find.

In order to decide which type of experiences fits you the best, the table below shows the pros and cons of each type:

What Can a Medication Aide Do?

Written by Haya Eshtayeh BA

A medical facility needs several employees in order to run. You find Receptionists, Technicians, Physiologists, Doctors, Therapists, Nurses and many more working there; some help with administration and others with taking care of patients. However, there is one particular job that deals daily with patients and is responsible for administering their medications: it is the Medication Aide Technicians. Therefore, what does a Medication Aide do? Where do they work? What is their pay scale? What are their responsibilities and duties? Moreover, what does it take to be a Medication Aide?

What Does a Medication Aide Do?

A Certified Medication Aide is a certified nursing assistant (CNA) responsible for administering daily medication to patients in a medical facility. Also referred to as Medical Aide Technicians, their duties include monitoring patients, reporting changes, and collecting samples.

Where Does a CMA Work?

Medication aides work in long-term care facilities, hospitals, medical centers, assisted living care centers and correctional facilities.

    What Is a CMA Pay Scale?

Medication Aides earn on average $28,203 a year, with entry-level employees earning $13,500 and those with more experience bringing home over $39,000 a year. Some aides will work a typical 9-to-5 work week, but most work evenings, overnight and weekends, as patients must take medication at all times of the day.

What Are CMA Responsibilities?

Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities employ certified medication aides to distribute medicines to patients and residents. Like other nursing disciplines, women make up the majority of medication aides, nearly 88 percent of all nursing aides, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therefore, who works in this field needs to:

– Deliver routine daily medications, either prescription or non-prescription, to patients.

– Coordinate with different nurses to assist with patient care and medications.

– Follow written or verbal instructions on how to manage medications.

– Record medication dosages and times.

– Observe patients and document changes in their condition.

– Gather samples for analysis.

– Ensure equipment is routinely inspected and cleaned.

– Uphold all health and safety standards.

– Respond to patient emergency call signals, bells, or intercom systems to identify patient needs.

 What Are CMA Duties?

A CMA is a qualified and self-motivated and extremely detail-oriented person. The need to possess in-depth knowledge of patient care procedures. Providing excellent patient care is a vital part of this job, that is why excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required and being attentive to patients’ conditions is a must too.

What Does It Take to Be a Medication Aide?

Medication Aide education programs require only a few month’s commitment and take place at community colleges, tech schools and medical centers. Typically, a medication aide training program takes three to six months to complete and includes both classroom and hands-on training. Before starting a training program, most providers require students to have a high school diploma or GED and be currently certified nursing assistants or hold a nursing degree. Some programs also ask that students have some experience in a long-term care facility before taking the course. Training courses cover medication prep and how to deal with side effects and drug safety. In addition, a certification is essential for a Medication Aide; earning a license or permit generally requires filling out an application, meeting the education qualifications and paying an application fee. Candidates must also take and pass an exam.

As a result, a Certified Medication Aide Job requires:

– High school diploma or relevant qualification.

– Must be a certified medication aide.

– A previous experience as a medication aide (not a usual requirement).

– Able to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

– Good understanding of medical and .

While it may seem like a simple task, dispensing medication to patients requires special training. Even mild drugs like aspirin can have devastating effects when given to the wrong patients, which requires someone with the know-how to safely administer medication. A Medication Aide job is tough; however, whoever works in this field is notably a learned and bright person.

Hospice Care is defined as a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. In this article, however, we want to throw out sterile definitions and take a closer look at what it means to care for patients that are terminally ill, and the most important aspect of what a great caregiver should have: Compassion.

The Need for Hospice Care

Hospice care is focused attention on caring for the dying with serious illnesses. These are patients that doctors think have only a short time to live, often less than 6 months. Believing that this physical and spiritual treatment will make a huge difference in the patient’s life, physicians, nurses and family members often opt to make this process as comfortable as possible. Hospice involves caring for dying patients by helping them be as free from pain as possible, providing them with assistance to complete wills and other arrangements for their survivors, giving them social support through the psychological stages of loss, and helping family members cope with the dying process, grief, and bereavement. In addition, the process of hospice care will prioritize comfort, quality of life, and individual wishes freely; far away from any stress or restrictions.

National Hospice resource

Levels of Hospice Care

Patients differ in needs and required care according to their health case; as a result, there are four different stages/ levels of hospice care that meets each patient’s needs.

The four levels of hospice care are available for anyone who is eligible for Medicare:

• Routine Home Care

Routine home care is the basic level of hospice care provided in your home, assisted living, or nursing home. This level of care offers a team approach by hospice staff and your physician to provide comfort at the end of life.

• Continuous Home Care

This is when a nurse stays in your home for an extended period of time because the patient is experiencing a medical crisis or having a severe symptoms such as unrelieved pain.

• General Inpatient Care

Once the patients’ severe symptom requires an advanced level of hospice, they should be moved to specialized places called “General Inpatient Care”. The goal of inpatient hospice care is to control severe pain and symptoms, so the patient can receive the care that is consistent with their wishes.

• Respite Care

The respite level of hospice care is provided on an occasional basis and offers a planned, short-term break for caregivers who face the challenges of assisting patients with an advanced illness. The patient should receive a plan of care require 24-hour care.

Who are the caregivers? 

Caregivers are the people who have unique features that reflect compassion, love, mercy and hope to give the patient a secure and comfortable space to live. They can be a member of the patient’s family or loved ones; otherwise, it can be people that are specialized to provide such care for the sake of a happy and satisfied final moment/ ending.

Caregivers do not only provide a perfect sensible space, but they also provide help that makes the patient’s life easier when it comes to their daily routine. I would describe the caregivers as “adaptors”, according to the way they adopt their feelings, ideas, and time to fit their patients needs.

In most cases the disciplinary teams include: the nurse, nurses aide, medical assistant, homehealth aide, social worker and the physician.

Hospice Caregivers Challenges 

Caregivers are responsible for taking care of the basic needs of patients and giving hope to the patients for their remaining time. However, there are hidden challenges that caregivers face while performing hospice care. Some of those challenges will be outlined below.

According to caregivers’ continuous care routine, they may face many challenges that affect their daily lives, such as being exhausted exhausted from long hours of work. In addition, caregivers may also have fears about losing their loved one/ patient at any time or making a mistake that could compromise their quality of life. Caregivers may also have a difficult time when it comes to making decisions that may jeopardize the patients comfort level, such as removing a favorite pillow for a new one, or a favorite chair for a newer model, as some patients can become very emotionally attached to these things. High levels of caregiver stress may drive those working in hospice care to feel angry with themselves and/or guilty about decisions they have had to make, often taking that stress home with them.

A Reason to care

Individuals taking care of patients in hospice settings aim to help patients feel mercy, compassion and love, with the goal of providing a peaceful and relaxing end. Often, the greatest challenge is helping the patient feel the will to continue on, as the will to live can often help patients in hospice care hold on for a few more precious moments with family and or loved ones. Giving compassionate care should always be emphasized in any health care setting, especially when caring for those in their final stages of life. This is where the field of medicine truly becomes a calling, not a job description.

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