UAB MEDICINE Observership Request
Becoming a pre-heath student observer with UAB MEDICINE is an opportunity for individuals who are interested in a career in health care to shadow medical staff or workforce member (sponsor) and learn more about the field. UAB MEDICINE knows that pre-health observership is an excellent way to gain exposure to and become informed about the everyday practice of medicine. Working closely with a healthcare provider helps you to learn about expectations in the field and the challenges and rewards of practicing medicine. An observership experience also allows you to build a relationship with a mentor in the field and ask questions, ultimately helping you to decide if this path is the right one for you.
The following steps are required to initiate the UAB MEDICINE Observership request:
UAB/UABHS Privacy and Security Training (aka: HIPAA Training). Before any training module or requirement can be accessed via the LMS, the requester must be registered as student at UAB. Once verified, the process having the required UAB/UABHS HIPAA Privacy and Security Training appear under the ‘To Do’ tab in the LMS could be up to 48 hours. For those who are not UAB students, please email physci@uab.edu to be Assigned UAB HIPAA Training. Please include your full name, Institution Affiliation (e.g., High School, Undergraduate), phone number, and UAB Department or Division Contact. To ensure the health, safety, and privacy of our patients, families, and employees and for regulatory compliance, it is required that non-employees follow the necessary steps below before arriving on campus to volunteer, intern, provide services, or observe (shadow). The UAB Medicine Observer Manual Packet is required prior to the observing experience. Once you have submitted your request, please download the UAB Medicine Observer Orientation Packet for review. After review, you will collect signatures from the Clinician or Authorized Signer for the accepting Department or Division. Once signatures have been sought, please send the packet to physci@uab.edu. Completed orientation documents will be kept on file for one year with the Physician Scientist Development Office. For more information, please review the UAB Medicine Observer Policy. Visitor/Observer Permission Guidelines for the Operating Room: There are more restrictive guidelines for those requesting to observe in the Operating Room and Emergency Department. In addition to the Observer Orientation Packet, the given guidelines will be reviewed prior to entry to the operating room. Once approved by Employee Health, please forward your Employee Health Clearance to physci@uab.edu and the clinician (or administrator) you are observing for verification purposes. Please send copies of the records listed below to: employeehealth@uabmc.edu UAB MEDICINE Employee Health requires an appointment to verify immunization and vaccination status (Appointment required): Call 205.934.3675 to set up your appointment and to be placed on the calendar. Bring the following records to Spain Wallace, Suite# 123 619 19th St. South once appointment has been set by Employee Health Note if the observer has all of their records plus record of (TB Skin test (1) within the last 3 months or a negative T-Spot/QFT within the last 3 months) they are allowed to email their records to employeehealth@uabmc.edu to forgo appointment. Note that COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer required to observe in a UAB Hospital Setting. The UAB MEDICINE observer manual mentions this requirement but is not longer applicable as of July 1st. Click here for the UAB Pre-Health Undergraduate Student: UAB Medicine Observer Request Form
Description
Observing Fewer than 5 Days in the Clinical or Hospital Setting
Observing More Than 5 Days in the Clinical or Hospital Setting
(applies to most pre-health undergraduate students)
Post Observer Submission Request
Once your completed online application is received, the sponsor you wish to observe will review your submission along with UAB MEDICINE Department Administrators. After their review, they will either approve or decline your request for an observership. You will receive their decision in an email along with other instructions 2-weeks from your time of submission.
There is no guarantee of placement once the application process is complete. Observation placement is dependent on availability of staff and successful completion of orientation. The sponsoring physician assumes responsibilities of the observer during their stay. Since the primary purpose of this request is observation, the experience should focus on watching the physician as they perform their duties.
The pre-health student should never engage in any activity that is considered the practice of medicine. These activities include, but are not limited to diagnosing diseases, administering medications, performing surgical procedures, suturing, providing medical advice or other tasks generally reserved for the trained health professional.