Overview
*Akron Shadowing will be transitioning to Clinician Nexus as of August 22, 2023. Our current process (online requests) will be accepted until Tuesday, August 1 while the transition takes place.
Additional information regarding Clinician Nexus can be found here.
Our shadowing program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General facilities allows observers who are interested in exploring a healthcare role for a defined period of time (1 hour up to a maximum of 4 weeks) to gain visual and verbal experiences in either their field of study or another area of interest. Shadowing experiences are observational in nature and do not include hands-on work with patients and data.
If you would like to shadow an Akron General Caregiver, please arrange the shadowing experience with the caregiver first, before submitting your online request form.
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
*Akron Shadowing will be transitioning to Clinician Nexus as of August 22, 2023. Our current process (online requests) will be accepted until Tuesday, August 1 while the transition takes place.
Additional information regarding Clinician Nexus can be found here.
How do I go about setting up a shadowing experience?
- Experiences for shadowing are set up between the person who would like to shadow and a Cleveland Clinic Akron General (CCAG) Caregiver.
What is the Medical Education Department’s role in my shadowing experience?
- Shadowing experiences are sought out by the person requesting to shadow.
- Medical Education manages the non-employee/employee shadowing onboarding process, to ensure all onboarding requirements are met prior to arrival on campus.
Is there an age requirement for Learners on Campus/Shadowing?
- The age requirement for shadowing is 15 years or older.
- For operating rooms: students under the age of 16 may be allowed to tour but will not be allowed access to operating rooms or patient care areas. Approval from the care area nurse manager is required before your online request can be submitted.
- Students under the age of 18 will have certain tasks in SilkRoad (non-employee onboarding) that will require both the student and a guardian to complete.
What does shadowing look like at CCAG?
- Shadowing experiences are an hour up to a 4 week maximum taking place on personal time.
- It is a visual and verbal experience only. No hands on training may occur.
- Observers must maintain HIPPA policies and refrain from accessing any CCF systems using caregiver credentials.
- For shadowing experiences, CCF employees must identify as an observer during the shadowing experience and if the shadowing experience is for their own personal interest
If I have an exemption for the flu and/or the COVID vaccines. Am I still able to shadow?
- Shadowing onboarding requires all observers to be vaccinated with the flu (November to March) and COVID-19. If observers are not vaccinated for the flu and/or COVID-19, the shadowing experience will be cancelled.
If I have completed Student Onboarding through SilkRoad, do I have to go through the SilkRoad process again for a shadowing experience?
- Students who have completed the SilkRoad New Student Onboarding within the last year meets the onboarding requirements for shadowing. Students will follow the shadowing guidelines set for an employee, which is completing the online request form 7 days prior to the start date.
If I have a positive TB result, am I still able to shadow?
- During SilkRoad onboarding, if the observer submits a positive TB result, the process would be to supply a chest x-ray that was taken within the last 5 years and submit your annual TB questionnaire which is completed at your primary care physician’s office.
Am I able to complete SilkRoad onboarding tasks out of order?
- SilkRoad tasks have to be completed in order and some tasks require approval before another task is released.
Who do I contact if I need directions/information of where to meet a CCAG Caregiver on my first day?
- Observers are to reach out to the CCAG caregiver or coordinator who set up the shadowing experience.
Who acquires scrubs for OR experiences?
- Observers are to reach out to the CCAG caregiver or coordinator who set up the shadowing experience to obtain scrubs.
How does the Visa process work for a shadowing experience?
- Observers will have to follow the guidelines set for their Visa.
- Medical Education department is unable to assist in obtaining a Visa, nor are we able to serve as a sponsor organization.
Onboarding for Shadowing
*Akron Shadowing will be transitioning to Clinician Nexus as of August 22, 2023. Our current process (online requests) will be accepted until Tuesday, August 1 while the transition takes place.
Additional information regarding Clinician Nexus can be found here.
Current Cleveland Clinic Employee:
- After the employee has set up the shadowing experience with a CCAG caregiver, at least 7 days prior to the shadowing experience, the online request form must be submitted.
- Once the online request is received and reviewed, an email will be sent to the observer, designated coordinator/shadowing provider that onboarding requirements have been met and the shadowing experience can take place under the following protocols:
- Must wear a Cleveland Clinic issued badge while on campus.
- Maintain HIPPA and refrain from accessing any CCF systems using the caregiver credentials.
- Remain hands-off, visual and verbal experiences only.
- Must identify as an observer during the experience.
Non-employee who has completed SilkRoad onboarding within the last year:
- After the student has set up the shadowing experience with a CCAG caregiver, at least 7 days prior to the shadowing experience, the online request form must be submitted.
- During flu season (November - March), observers must provide influenza documentation with their online request.
- Once the online request is received and reviewed, an email will be sent to the observer, designated coordinator/shadowing provider that onboarding requirements have been met and the shadowing experience can take place under the following protocols:
- Must wear a Cleveland Clinic issued badge while on campus.
- Maintain HIPPA and refrain from accessing any CCF systems using the caregiver credentials.
- Remain hands-off, visual and verbal experiences only.
- Must identify as an observer during the experience.
Non-Employee who has not completed SilkRoad onboarding or onboarding tasks expired (over a year):
- After the observer has set up a shadowing experience with a CCAG caregiver, complete the online request form a minimum of 30 days before the first day of the shadowing experience.
- During flu season (November - March), observers must provide influenza documentation with their online request.
- Between 1-3 business days after receiving the online request, observers will receive an email from SilkRoad, which is our onboarding systems for all non-employees at CCAG.
- Observers will complete the following onboarding modules:
- Finish Profile Set-Up
- Vaccines:
- COVID-19 vaccine, proof of documentation required (no exemptions).
- Tdap booster within the past 10 years, proof of documentation required.
- Negative tuberculosis screening: two-step Mantoux test (TB test), QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test, or T-Spot test within 6 months before the student experience.
- Measles (Rubeola) immunization.
- Mumps immunization.
- German measles (Rubella) immunization.
- Chickenpox (Varicella) immunization.
- Hepatitis B immunization or signed waiver.
- Observers will complete the following onboarding modules:
- Observers will complete the following onboarding modules continued:
- Complete MyLearning Modules including required policy sign off.
- Report to Akron General badging office to obtain badge.
- 100% of Silkroad tasks, including obtaining a badge, must be completed a minimum of 7 days prior to the starting date of the shadowing experience. An email will be sent to the observer, designated coordinator/shadowing provider that onboarding requirements have been met and the shadowing experience can take place under the following protocols:
- Must wear a Cleveland Clinic issued badge while on campus.
- Maintain HIPPA and refrain from accessing any CCF systems using the caregiver credentials.
- Remain hands-off, visual and verbal experiences only.
- Must identify as an observer during the experience.
Employee/Non-Employee Virtual Shadowing Onboarding:
- After the observer has set up the virtual shadowing experience with a CCAG caregiver, at least 7 days prior to the shadowing experience, the online request form must be submitted.
- Once the online request is received and reviewed, an email will be sent to the observer, designated coordinator/shadowing provider that onboarding requirements have been met and the shadowing experience can take place under the following protocols:
- Maintain HIPPA and refrain from accessing any CCF systems using the caregiver credentials.
- Remains a visual and verbal experience only.
- Must identify as an observer during the experience.
