The Pennsylvania State University
Clinic Intern Program
PSU Clinic Intern Program
HOW OUR PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED
PSU: The Beginning
 Started in 1998
 Started by pre-healthcare professional student request as well
as doctor request
 Limited opportunities to gain healthcare experience

Hospital only
US Dept of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
http://archive.ahrq.gov/prep/nursinghomes/atlas/atlas_pa.htm
Google Maps, accessed 5/14/2014
PSU: The Beginning
US Dept of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
http://archive.ahrq.gov/prep/nursinghomes/atlas/atlas_pa.htm
PSU: Organizational Management
 Four Credit course through the Continuing Education
Office


Bio- Behavioral Health program --- BBH 497x
Reviewed and renewed annually
 Fall Semester:


15 weeks of 2-hour weekly class = 30 hours
10 weeks of 4-hour weekly clinic shift = 40 hours
 Spring Semester


15 weeks of 4-hour weekly clinic shift = 60 hours
2-3 one-hour classes = 2-3 hours
 100 hours total of patient contact hours
PSU: Organizational Management
 Program Coordinator, Instructor:

Currently: Advanced Practitioner with Master’s Degree
 Clinical Coordinators

Licensed Practical Nurses, one for each clinical floor
 Others with roles in program:




Assistant Director of Clinical Operations and Director of Nursing
Nurse Manager
Nurse Leaders
Technical and Clerical support*
PSU: Organizational Management
Due February
Reviewed
over Spring
Break
Interview
End of March
Class
selection and
notification of
acceptance
Training
Beginning of
Fall Semester
classes
Continuing
into Spring
Semester
Application
PSU: Recruitment
 Promotional Campaign (2005)
 Press Release
 Posters in the clinic
 Newspaper feature article
 Bus advertisement
 Last 5-9 years
 100+ applicants by word of mouth for 12-20 seats
 Application submitted online
 Interviews
 Selection

Average Class size (2003-13): 16 students
PSU: Training
 Prior to starting classes




Background check
Child Abuse Training
HIPAA Training
BBP/TB Training
 Classes start in the Fall



2 hours/wk
Penn State Student Health Center, University Park, PA
Enter clinic on ~ week 6
About 2 weeks of clinic oversight before independent
 16-20 hours of training prior to clinic exposure
Picture credit: http://www.opp.psu.edu/about-opp/divisions/cpd/images/revExterior-Dusk1.jpg/view
PSU: Risk Management
Interviewed, hand selected class
Prior to Entering Clinic
Certificates and
Training
Signed contract
Signed Confidentiality
Statement
Competency sign off
for skills
3-6 hours of scenario
training
In the Clinic
EHR reports daily/weekly
Identifiable as Interns
Restricted Menu options
PSU: Risk Management
PSU: Risk Management
PSU: Risk Management
PSU: Risk Management
 ABSOLUTE confidentiality: I will display sensitivity
and accept diversity in my clinical encounters at UHS. I
will not discuss any patient or incident outside of UHS. I
will not access any patient information that is not
essential to my work including my own chart. I
understand that failure to maintain patient
confidentiality, at any time, will end in my dismissal from
the program, will result in a failing grade for this course
without the ability to drop the course and may result in
referral to Penn State’s Office of Student Conduct, Risk
Management and Bio-Behavioral Health departments.
All of these offices may take action separately.
PSU: Staff Involvement
 UHS- wide involvement


Mentors – Nursing staff
Shadowing
Clinicians and RNs
 Other departments
 Physical Therapy
 Lab/xray
 Pharmacy
 EMS

 Directly involved in running program



Advanced Practice Clinician – Instructor
Clinical Coordinators – Designated LPN per floor (rotates)
Administrative support – as previously listed
PSU: Evaluation and Feedback
 For academic course
 SRTE – standardized questions with free text
 Student Worker Group
 Email Questionnaire at end of academic year
 Ongoing student and staff feedback
 Meetings
 ANGEL anonymous feedback form
Learning Outcomes
WHAT OUR STUDENTS OBTAIN FROM THE
PROGRAM
PSU: Learning Outcomes
 Clinical Skills
 “Skills” Clinics
 Equipment “rental”
 Purchase of stethoscope
 Measurement tools
 Classroom skill competency check off
 Clinic skill competency check off
 Mentor/Coordinators observation period
PSU: Learning Outcomes
 Communication
 “EHR clinics”
 Spelling, abbreviations, common
medications
 Scenarios training
 Measurement tools
 Exams, evaluations, mentor feedback
 Classroom
PSU: Learning Outcomes
 Consumers of Healthcare
 Advocates for student services
 Training needed before entering clinic
HIPAA
 Child Abuse training
 Background checks
 Immunization requirements


Shadowing
Clinicians
 All departments

PSU: Learning Outcomes
 Leadership Skills
 Students report
Increased confidence
 Increased independence
 Increased awareness of ethics and morals
 Increased awareness of healthcare roles


Returning students
Aide during classroom
 Work independently within the clinic

Challenges
WHY YOU THINK YOU DON’T WANT TO
CREATE A PROGRAM
PSU: Challenges
 Program challenges
 Orienting 12-20 “new employees” every year
 Risk with “comfort”
 Time Commitment of Staff
Willing Instructor
 Ensure students are trained + objective measurement tools for
grades + keep it interesting
 Willing Clinical Coordinators
 Willing Mentors
 Willing Shadowing opportunities

PSU: Challenges
 PHI/HIPAA
 EHR access







Very limited
Confidentiality scenarios
Intake scenarios
Contract and Confidentiality statement clearly reviewed and
signed
EHR “pings”
Coordinator checks in chart
Protect patient and intern
PSU: Challenges
 Patient Rights
 Patients may “Opt out” of intern involvement
Please note that a student intern may be involved in your
treatment.
If you do not wish to have a student intern involved in your
treatment, please notify a staff assistant at the information desk.



Interns taught to identify and avoid questionable situations
Zero tolerance policy
PSU: Challenges
 Staff Confidence in Training
 Rotating Clinical Coordinator position
 Making program updates a standard part of meetings
 Involve staff in training
Benefits
WHY YOU SHOULD WANT TO CREATE A
PROGRAM
PSU: Benefits
 Staff Satisfaction
 Keeping schedule on
time
 Allowing nursing to
spend more time on
complex duties
 “Injects youthfulness
into the clinic”
 Do more with less
 Greater “purpose”
PSU: Benefits
 Patient Satisfaction
 Keep visits on time
 Assume students involved due to academic setting
 Patients become interns
 Opt out at check in
Photo credit: http://greentour.psu.edu/sites/healthCenter.html
PSU: Benefits
 Organization mission and goals
 UHS
University Health Services' vision is to foster a healthy Penn State campus
community where students, faculty, and staff will enjoy optimal health as they
pursue their academic, career, and personal goals.
The mission of University Health Services is to heal, educate and care by
providing student-centered acute and preventive health services and leadership for
the Penn State community on health related issues.

Student Affairs
Provide involvement opportunities
 Promote active and responsible citizenship
 Augment academics

My time at UHS gave
me a great perspective
regarding healthcare.
It reaffirmed my
commitment to
healthcare and pushed
me further to pursue
my goal of becoming a
physician. It has been
an invaluable
opportunity and one
that I will always be
thankful for.
PSU: Benefits
 Individual Volunteer satisfaction
 Survey results
 SRTE results

2014 feedback:
100% -- Very satisfied or Satisfied with quality of training
 100% -- Thought the training of appropriate for role in clinic
 100% -- Satisfied with advancement toward career goals after
volunteering/working with Clinical Services
 100% -- Very satisfied or Satisfied with overall experience at UHS

PSU: Benefits
Costs:
Income:
Staff time:


Nurse Manager/Leaders

Administrative staff

Program Coordinator/Instructor

Clinical Coordinators
Program Costs

CPR certifications

Shirts

Flu Vaccines

TB Two step screenings

Background checks

HIPAA/BBP/TB training

Recognition Items

End of Year Dinner
Tuition
PSU: Benefits
 Financial
“Value of Program”
 Volunteer hours

“Value of hours”
100 hours per year per
student x 15
1500 hours
Based on Job descriptions for
level 2 Nursing specialist
(~$17/hr).
$15,300.00
60% of job duties = 60% pay
= $10.20/hr
*Average intakes done by LPN in 4 hours = 12
*Average intakes done by Clinic Intern in 4 hours = 9.8
In conclusion