Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)
School of Health and Human Sciences
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Course Syllabus
CSD 476: Structured Clinical Observations
Fall, 2012
Course Prefix and Number: CSD 476
Course Title: Structured Clinic Observations
Credits: 1:0:2
Course Prerequisites: CSD 334, 336, and 337 (exceptions allowed with instructor’s permission).
For Whom Planned: Seniors and second-degree students admitted to the CSD undergraduate program.
Instructor Information:
Course Instructor:
Colette Edwards, M.A. CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, Clinical Educator
Office: # 319 Ferguson Building
Phone: (336)334-3924
Email: cmedwar2@uncg.edu
Course Purpose/Catalog Description:
Catalog Description : Complete clinical observation guides to fulfill ASHA Standard IV-C
(25 observation hours) and obtain Therapy Assistant experience at the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center.
Course Purpose : Students in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) are required to obtain 25 hours of clinical observation for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The purpose of this course is to provide CSD undergraduate seniors and seconddegree students the opportunity to obtain all 25 of the required ASHA observation hours at the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center (located 3 rd floor of the Ferguson Building) or at an approved off-campus site. Through Blackboard instruction, all class participants will receive HIPAA training
(privacy and security regulations) prior to making observations. Additionally, each participant will obtain 10 hours as a Therapy Assistant (TA) by working under the supervision of a CSD graduate clinician and on-campus supervisor in the clinic or under the direction of an approved off-campus
SLP. Students in the course must observe their Therapy Assistant client(s) at least two hours prior to working directly with him/her. Complete an observation guide(s) in order to count your hours toward the overall 25 hours.
Students Learning Outcomes (SLO), ASHA Standard IV-C: Upon completion of this course, students will:
A. analyze various types of speech, language, and hearing disorders observed in clinic sessions.
B. evaluate various types of diagnostic and therapy procedures observed in clinic sessions.
C. demonstrate knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which
govern privacy and security regulations regarding client’s personal health care information (PHI) by
making a passing grade on the University HIPAA training test.
D. collect and create therapy materials appropriate for a client.
E. review client files and clinic procedures.
F. research information about a disorder.
G. assist in planning, implementing, and evaluating supervised therapy activities.
Supervision Activities:
There is no course lecture component. Clinical faculty will provide supervision of Therapy Assistants and provide written review for some of the observation guides completed by the class participants. After obtaining HIPAA certification, students will observe and then complete the appropriate
Observation Guide (located on BB under “OG on Google Sites” menu tab). Next students will complete the Homepage form except for the last column. The supervisor will initial the last column after the Observation Guide (OG) has been reviewed. Ms. Edwards will review all the Master
Clinician Video Observation Guides and off-campus OGs. Students may observe off-campus when given permission by Ms. Edwards. Instructions for off-campus observations are located on Blackboard under the Off-Campus menu tab.
Students will receive at the end of the term:
A. HIPAA Training Certificate
B. Certificate of Completion of Therapy Assistant Hours
C. Certificate of Completion of Observation Hours
Evaluation Methods and Guidelines for Assignments:
Grading Scale: The course is graded as a pass or fail. Students will receive a passing grade upon fulfilling the following requirements:
1.
Completion with a passing grade on the University HIPAA training session test (located under “My Organizations” on the first page of BB where your courses are listed).
Students will review the UNCG HIPAA modules containing HIPAA rules and regulations. After viewing the modules, students will take the
HIPAA test. A passing grade on the test (80% accuracy) must be obtained BEFORE students can observe any diagnostic testing or therapy sessions at the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center or observe off-campus. Students will receive a HIPAA Certification Card to carry with their
UNCG FirstCard picture identification. Please contact the course GA when you have passed the test and she will send you the certification card.
Also you will be required to review the Clinic powerpoint “HIPAA Training for the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center.

2.
Completion of all 25 clinical observation hours
Observation Guides (on Blackboard under the menu tab “OG on Google Sites”) are completed after observing therapy sessions and some will be reviewed by the clinical supervisors in charge of the therapy sessions . SLP Observation Guides
(SLP OG) 2-19 and 23-25 can be used no more than twice. Observation Guides 20, 21, or 22 must be completed. You must observe one
Diagnostic Evaluation and one Diagnostic interview.
You may complete one Observation Guide for two half hour sessions (note at the top of the OG that the session was two half hour sessions). Audiology Guides also may be used if a student observes an audiology session.
3.
Participation as a Therapy Assistant (TA):
On-campus procedure :
Each student is paired with a CSD Clinical Educator and a 1st year Graduate Student Clinician
from the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center. Student Therapy Assistants (TAs) will assist in
planning, implementing, and evaluating therapy activities. At the end of the term, the Clinical
Educator and Course Instructor will assess the students’ performance as therapy assistants.
Students will complete a minimum of 10 hours a semester as a Therapy Assistant. At least two hours
of your 25 hours should include observing the client to whom you have been assigned. If you
complete OGs then the hours count as two hours of your 25 required ASHA hours. You may choose
to use these two hours as TA hours. If you do, then collect data or write jottings to give to the
clinician.
The TA form must be initialed by the supervisor or graduate clinician that you assisted (see form on BB). You also must watch the Clinic powerpoint “HIPAA Training for the UNCG Speech and
Hearing Center” (BB tab) and sign that you have reviewed it before you begin your work as a
TA. You may count the time you spend reviewing the Clinic HIPAA policies as TA hours.
Off-campus TA procedure: The supervisor observed will need to have a current ASHA Certification Card and a copy of the card must be given to
Ms. Edwards before obtaining the TA hours. The TA hours’ documentation form must be signed and returned to Ms. Edwards to meet the TA requirement.
Required Text(s)/Reading/References: Observation Guides are located on Blackboard under the menu tab “OG on Google Sites.” Other supplemental readings that accompany the guides are under Course Documents. There is also a link to Master Clinician videos (see tab on course menu).
Course Calendar: One meeting will be held at the beginning of each semester (1 hour) to explain course requirements. Also, information about the course will be available on Blackboard under Course Information and Course Documents. The Observation Guides are located under the menu tab
“OG on Google Sites.” No other class meetings will occur besides 8/20/12 at 11:00 in Room 325 Ferguson. You only need to attend one meeting.
Communication between students and the instructor is encouraged through Blackboard Announcements and/or email. The Graduate Assistant for the course will document the hours completed and answer appropriate questions.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to observe 25 hours and complete the appropriate Observation Guides. Students are expected to pass the
University HIPAA test and obtain 10 Therapy Assistant hours.
Academic Integrity Policy Section:
All students are expected to adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy as published in the UNCG Student Handbook. This code of conduct is online at: http://studentconduct.uncg.edu/
Learning Differences and Disabilities: For students with documented physical or learning differences and/or disabilities, appropriate arrangements will be made for completion of all classes and assessments. Documentation of these differences and/or disabilities must be made available to the instructor prior to the first assessment. Information regarding disabilities and/or differences will be kept confidential. If you are unsure whether or not you need special accommodations, please contact the UNCG Office of Disability Services, 336-334-5540 or ods@uncg.edu
.
Deadlines for Observation Guides: (Observe at least two hours a week!)
You may begin observing in the clinic on September 19, 2012.
You can watch Master Clinician videos or engage in off-campus observations for the first month.
By October 31, you must complete 13 observation hours.
By December 4, all 25 observation hours should be completed.
Clinic services on campus end on December 5, 2012.
*Final Grades will be submitted by December 12.
*Occasionally there are make-up sessions.
If you do not meet the deadlines that are listed above, you must complete an additional hour of observation and written guide before receiving a final grade.