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RSHS Student Academic Handbook
Policy on Professional Behavior Clinical Education Manual
Pre-Clinical Health Requirements
Additional Pre-Clinical Requirements
All students will be required to obtain a two-step PPD exam prior to the start of the professional phase. Annually, thereafter, each clinical site requires students have documentation of a recent PPD exam (within 6 months).
- CPR Certification
Students are expected to keep their CPR certification up-to-date. In the month prior to expiration of CPR certification, students will receive a request from the Office of the Department Chair to provide a copy of the renewed certification by the end of the month certification expires. Failure to have valid CPR Certification will result in student not participating in clinical education or other patient related activities offered within the curriculum.
- Drug Screening
All students must be aware that some clinical sites are requiring drug screening tests prior to students being placed in that facility for a clinical affiliation experience. Students assigned to one of these clinical sites will be required to take drug screening tests, within a specified time frame, and all costs incurred will be the responsibility of the student. Results of drug screening tests should be sent to Dean Gregory Frazer, John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sciences, 302 Health Science Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 only if the clinical site requiring the screen does not wish to receive them. See Linda Beatty in the Deans Office (x5338) to learn how to process results to the Dean.
Additional Clearances:
Most clinical sites will have additional pre-requisites that require students to obtain clearances such as child abuse, adult abuse, criminal background checks, FBI clearances and drug screening. In some cases a clinical site may require the student submit evidence of urinary drug screening (UDS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training and Officer of the Inspector General (OIG) clearances. These requirements are site specific and may result in additional costs to the student. It is the student's responsibility to review the site folder, communicate with the CCCE or the Human Resources Department at the clinical site to learn the requirements well in advance. Students complete a Site Information Form, which is reviewed by the ACCE or the Assistant ACCE, to assist them with this process. Students who do not meet these site specific requirements may find the clinical site canceling the affiliation on the first day of the clinical experience. Further details about the clearances are listed below. Students that are going to a school based setting in Pennsylvania (Pediatrics and high School Sports) can process their criminal clearance by accessing the following website http://www.pa.cogentid.com.
Abuse and Criminal Clearances
A number of sites, primarily Pediatric or Skilled Nursing Facilities, now require Act 33 (child abuse) or Act 34 (criminal record) clearance. The clearances are for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania only. Any student assigned to a site with these requirements should fill out an application to obtain clearance from the state. These must be done six weeks prior to the clinical experience. The student is responsible for having these background checks completed in advance of the affiliation. Failure to do so may result in the student's removal from the clinical site. There is a nominal fee charged by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for this service. There may be different forms and state requirements for clinical sites outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . Some of these clearances are:
- Criminal Backgound Check – Usually all states of residence where the student has lived in past 7 years
- An FBI Criminal Clearance – Requires finger printing; takes 3-6 months
- Adult Abuse Clearances – Filed according to State Requirements
- Child Abuse Clearances – Filed according to State Requirements
The student may wish to utilize an outside agency to obtain their criminal clearances. These agencies may charge a fee to the student but can coordinate the process of obtaining criminal clearances, adult and child abuse clearance, receive drug screen results and seek other verifications that may be required by a clinical site. Below are the web addresses for this.
www.CertifiedBackground.com Package code: UQ88
www.americandatabank.com
OSHA Training
All students receive training in universal precautions and handling of blood borne pathogens as part of the Professional Phase Orientation and Foundational Skills course. Additional training as to confidentiality and reporting of blood borne exposures is presented in the PT and Consumer Education course. Once this training is complete a letter is prepared and distributed to students for their portfolio. The student keeps this letter as evidence that they have completed this training.
OIG Clearance
Less frequently the clinical site may require a clearance from the Office of the Inspector General. This must be processed by the ACCE or the Assistant ACCE. The student should request an appointment and a clearance record will be processed. The clearance will be printed out and placed in the student's portfolio. The student should also send a copy to the clinical site.
HIPAA
Student Data Form
Student Site Assignment Form
Physical Therapist Student Evaluation: Clinical Experience and Clinical Instruction
Clinical Assignments
Each student will have at least one clinical experience in each of the following clinical settings: acute care, rehabilitation, and outpatient physical therapy. Other experiences include but are not limited to: orthopedics, pediatrics, oncology, cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, and home health care. Students must plan for at least one clinical education experience outside of the Pittsburgh area (beyond a 75 mile radius) to allow for a more diverse learning experience and for greater opportunity to become excellent in physical therapy. The Department of Physical Therapy within the John G. Rangos School of Health Sciences maintains contracts with more than four hundred clinical sites. These sites are located throughout the continental US, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, etc. but are primarily located in the State of Pennsylvania. Students are responsible for costs related to travel and housing as well as medical tests and clearances that a clinical site requires.
Assignment of Clinical Sites
Compliance with Pre-requisite Requirements of the Clinical Site
Contacting a Site
Students are not allowed to contact any site without prior approval by the ACCE . Students who disregard this policy and independently contact a site regarding a possible clinical affiliation for themselves will NOT be allowed to affiliate at that site, even if the site gives approval.
Volunteer/Work Experience
Students should be aware when scheduling volunteer and work experiences that these locations may not be used for clinical education.
Clinical Education Schedule
Class 2010
Class 2011
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