I would like to start this bog off by stating the difficulty of finding job shadow opportunities on the topic of healthcare ethics. However, Dr. McElroy has been a huge help and has done a wonderful job of helping me gain exposure to different opportunities and experiences.
My second “Job Shadow” was on February 7, 2024. During this job shadow, I conducted an interview with the psychiatrist and CEO of New South Psychiatry. This is Dr. Haygood, and he was very welcoming and helpful on our call.
I tried to get a holistic view of what a psychiatrist does as well as focusing on my topic to get information for my presentation in the spring. First, we discussed what are the most commonly addressed issues on a day-to-day basis. He said that he mostly addresses mood and anxiety disorders. He says that he sees an array of depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, as well as generalized anxiety. He mainly deals with adults but claims that it is not uncommon to work with adolescents as young as 14 years old.
We then discussed what went into a psychiatric assessment. I was interested to find out that the assessment begins before the patient even realizes it. He begins making mental notes when he meets the patient in the waiting room. Factors that stand out include consistent poor punctuality as well as general attentiveness play into his diagnoses. In adolescence, he will get exterior information from parents and even teachers.
This led to a discussion on how ADHD was diagnosed. First, I learned how big of a deal the DSM is in psychiatric assessments. This serves as a handbook that lays out the groundwork for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. One of the largest factors that will lead a psychiatrist to ADHD is the patient's outward actions similar to actions addressed in the lobby. Especially in adolescents, ADHD is demonstrated in the outward actions of the patient. When diagnosing ADHD, it is important to get a thorough history. This is important in ensuring that the correct prescription is given. Lastly, neuropsychological testing can be done to help support the psychiatrist's diagnosis.
While it was not the ideal job shadow scenario, I was still able to learn a lot and collect information to use in my presentation.
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