Communication Sciences & Disorders

221 Bohannon Hall, 1207 Ordean Court, Duluth, MN 55812

Phone:(218) 726–7974; Fax: (218) 726–8693

Email: cd@d.umn.edu

University of
Minnesota
Duluth

College of Education &
Human Service Professions

Part 6: Undergraduate Clinical Education: Observation Requirements

Purpose

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) state that an individual must have 25 hours of supervised observation. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders requires that these observation hours be completed BEFORE beginning clinic practicum.

Your goal is to complete 25 hours of observation before the end of your junior year. As a junior, your formative assessment will include an artifact on your observation experience. These experiences are part of your preparation for CSD 4197: Clinic Practicum.

The CSD Program includes the study of phonetics, the anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms, the normal development of speech and language, and an overview of the nature and management of disorders of speech, language, and hearing. During many of these undergraduate courses, students are assigned to observe clients with various communication disorders and differences. These observations must be completed under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds a current ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence. Observations may take place at the Robert F. Pierce Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at UMD or they may take place in other school or health care settings.

Before starting observation hours, undergraduate students in CSD must complete the following:

  1. Complete HIPAA Course 1
    • All students, faculty, and staff who have access to Protected Health Information must comply with the Federal Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. Undergraduate students will be assigned HIPAA course 1, which must be completed before the student is allowed observe clients as a part of the CSD Program.
  2. Obtain and wear a name badge
    • For client safety and confidentiality, all students who are active in the RFP Clinic must wear a name badge which identifies them as part of the CSD Program. This badge is obtained as a part of your mandatory practicum orientation, with a nominal fee charged by the UMD UCard Office.

Rules for Participating in Observation of Client Sessions at RFP Clinic

Clinical observation is an important part of our student clinical education as well as clinical service activities. We encourage observation by authorized personnel, but students must be mindful of certain procedures which are designed to assure the rights and welfare of our clients. Many of these rules are pertinent to off-site observations as well.

  1. Follow the Procedures for Arranging Observations (RFP Clinic and Off-Site) to ensure a positive observation experience. It is not acceptable to observe clients if you have not made previous arrangements. Observation areas are small and are easily crowded, and at times a session may be inappropriate to observe, as determined by a clinic instructor.
  2. Review the Client File. You are expected to review the client case history file in the clinic office before completing the evaluation. This will make your observations more meaningful and will reduce the number of questions you have for clinic instructors and student interns. Rather, you may be prepared for a richer experience because you will have a deeper understanding of the client history, goals, and objectives.
  3. Professional conduct. When you enter the RFP Clinic or any facility as an invited observer, you are a representative of the profession you are studying. As such, you are charged with conducting yourself in a professional and courteous manner. You are expected to adhere to the Clinic Dress Code (see Handbook Part 12) and wear your clinic name badge during observations.
  4. Introduce yourself to family members and clinic instructors as a student observer fulfilling course requirements. Be sure to wear your clinic name badge. All families receiving services at the clinic have received a letter explaining that students observe therapy as a part of their participation in this university clinic, but it is professional courtesy to introduce yourself to the family or clinic instructor.
  5. Defer questions. If family members or other observers ask you questions about the therapy or disorder, politely explain that you are a student observer and not qualified to answer their questions at this time. Encourage them to direct their question to the clinic instructor or the student intern who is working with the client. This is your responsibility under the ASHA Code of Ethics.
  6. All client information is confidential. Under no circumstances is it appropriate to discuss your observation with individuals outside the clinic setting. When presenting information about your observation in class, refer to the client as "the person I observed" or similar rather than by name. Do not discuss your observation with other professionals or people in other agencies.
  7. Take notes. It can be helpful to keep written records of your observations, with the date completed and a brief description of the observation activities and your impressions. To assist you in keeping records, the CSD Department has provided two types of Observation Forms for you to use (Appendix B). When you reflect on your observation experiences, these journal entries may help you form your artifact for your ePortfolio. Remember, no client identifying information may be recorded. No client identifying information (name, case history #, date of birth) may be on any written observation notes.
  8. Observe without judgment. When writing notes about client%acute;s behavior or performance on observation sheets while observing, use descriptive, not judgmental statements. Be aware that family members may try to see what you are writing, so it is important to be professional and discrete.
  9. Meet with interns or instructors. If you would like to discuss the case with the student intern or clinic instructor, please see them briefly following the session. Please reserve your comments and concerns about a session for the private meeting with the instructor or student intern. Others in the viewing room may be disconcerted or disturbed by your comments. Be aware that the intern or instructor may not be able to meet with you right after the session, and you may need to schedule a meeting for another time. All information discussed with the student intern or clinic instructor is confidential.
  10. Limit to two observers. To assure that there are no more than 2 student observers at a time for any session, please follow the procedures for arranging clinic observations. If there are already 2 CSD students signed up to observe a session, you will need to find another session to observe.
  11. Turn off, pick up. Turn off the speaker and collect your belongings when you leave the observation suite. Because observation suites are fairly small, please refrain from bringing large bags and backpacks into the suite during your observation.
  12. Observation Hours Record. Be sure to document your observations and obtain signatures as appropriate on your Observation Record Form (Appendix A).

Procedures for Arranging Observations at the RFP Clinic

Because of its location on the UMD campus and its varied client base, the RFP Clinic is a popular choice for arranging client observations. In addition to students observing for their initial 25 observation hours, interns in practicum may observe clients with similar diagnoses as a part of their clinical practicum. Clinic instructors observe client sessions on a frequent and regular basis. A client´s family or care provider also may observe therapy sessions. Because of the heavy observation demand and in an effort to make observation experiences positive for everyone, the RFP Clinic asks that you use the following procedure to arrange observations

  1. Only TWO student observers are permitted to sign up to observe any given session.
  2. To arrange an observation, go to the observations schedule in the clinic office. You will see a list of observation options, with spots to sign up and reserve your spot. Include your contact information. It is your responsibility to follow up on possible session cancellations or time changes. You will not be contacted by the clinic.
  3. If client is crossed off the list, this means the clinic instructor has determined that is an inappropriate session to observe.
  4. A new and updated list will be available for each week of the semester.
  5. A clinic instructor typically will go out of their way to accommodate you as opposed to canceling your observation. At times, however, a clinic instructor may cancel your observation if they believe it will interfere with a session. This is a rare event and it is not personal. Sometimes a family member in the observation room needs some privacy. Sometimes a large family comes to watch a given session.

Suggestions for Arranging Observations in Schools and Health Care Settings

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists in schools and health care settings often welcome student observers. The Rules for Participating in Observation of Client Sessions are helpful guidelines to follow for any observation site. All observations must be supervised by a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist who holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence. The supervisor must sign your Daily Observation Record (See Appendix A), as proof that you completed the observation.

To arrange an observation at a school, call the main office of the school, introduce yourself and explain your position as a student in the UMD CSD Program. Ask if it would be possible to observe the speech-language pathologist or audiologist at the school. The office personnel will direct your request to the appropriate person.

To arrange an observation in a health care setting, you may need to ask to be directed to the Rehab Program Director before making your request. Some health care organizations will direct you to the Director of Student Education. Again, introduce yourself and explain your position as a student in the UMD CSD Program. Ask if it would be possible to observe the speech-language pathologist or audiologist at their facility.

Documentation of Observation Hours

Students are responsible for keeping a record of all observation hours using the Student Daily Observation Record (Appendix A). All observations must be supervised by a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist who holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence. For each observation you complete, the supervisor must sign your Student Daily Observation Record, as proof that you completed the observation. Because the Daily Observation Record is an official document applied toward your degree, please make all entries in ink. Avoid using pencil to document observations.

At the end of each semester, you will enter your total observation hours for each supervising clinician on the Semester Observation Form and Clock Hours Summary Form. See Appendix A for specific instructions and sample forms.

Transition to Practicum

In your junior year, as a part of CSD 3241: Foundations of Treatment in Communication Disorders, you will be teamed with a clinic intern and a clinic instructor for your initial case management experience. You will observe an assigned client for a number of sessions, and you will have the opportunity to conduct a therapy session with that client at the end of the experience, under the supervision of a clinic instructor.