Preceptorship Program
Guidelines

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Preceptorship program is to expand and enhance the clinical portion of the educational program at Cleveland University-Kansas City. The program is voluntary and offers opportunities for growth and new experiences for both the field practitioner and the student intern.

 

OBJECTIVES

The overall objectives of the Preceptorship program are:

  1. To provide practical experience for the student through assisting in the care of patient’s in a field office setting.
  2. To improve the overall educational program of the University in general and the clinical experience in particular by providing additional opportunities for learning.
  3. To provide the student with an avenue that will facilitate the transition from the University Clinic setting to the field practice environment.
  4. To increase contact between the University and the field practitioner for the purpose of fuller utilization of available teaching skills and field experience.
  5. To provide the field practitioner with the assistance of a competent, motivated intern, while at the same time allowing the field practitioner to assess for future associates.
  6. To provide the field practitioner with a form of active contribution to the University, the community and the profession.

Please Note: The preceptorship program is designed to be a patient care experience extension of the educational program. This experience should be actively led by the field practitioner. Student interns may not, at any time, be expected to serve as a primary care giver separate and/or distinct from the preceptor doctor. Additionally, the preceptor doctor should not be dependent upon the student intern for any type of office coverage. The student intern should not be expected to function independently of the preceptor doctor or without the preceptor doctor’s direct supervision.

Programs

The University offers two forms of the preceptorship program:
(A) The Regular Preceptorship Program and (B) The Extended Preceptorship Program.

A. The Regular Preceptorship Program

Cost:
None

Eligibility:
Interns enrolled in their final trimester

Length of the Program:
A minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks

B. The Extended Preceptorship Program

Cost:
Tuition is $500. The charge for this course is an administrative fee and is not dependent upon the number of hours of enrollment. (Interns should check with the Financial Aid department regarding possible loan availability.)

Eligibility:
Interns enrolled in their final trimester

Length of the Program:
The entire 16-week trimester

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS FOR INTERNS

  1. Shall have completed all qualitative & quantitative clinical requirements and be in good academic standing.
  2. Shall have completed the University application process and received the approval of the University.
  3. Shall, when required, have completed, signed, and submitted all additional state board mandated paperwork that may be necessary to obtain approval from the specific state in which the preceptorship is to be completed.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PRECEPTOR DOCTORS

Preceptors doctors:

  1. Shall be approved by the university president or his designate.
  2. Hold a current, valid license to practice chiropractic that is in good standing. If the preceptor doctor has any past or pending disciplinary actions listed on current or past licenses, the preceptor doctor shall notify the University and provide all pertinent information for review.
  3. Have current, valid malpractice insurance. The preceptor doctor shall disclose if they have any active malpractice claims.
  4. Have been in active practice for a minimum of three years or satisfy individual state requirements.
  5. Conduct office procedures in a professional and ethical nature.
  6. Have offices that are professional in appearance.
  7. Comply with the required hours necessary for intern attendance. Student interns are required to engage in a minimum of 28 clinical education hours per week.
  8. May not be an excluded individual on any Federal government exclusion list.
  9. Shall complete any state regulatory board application procedures and/or requirements that may be required for lawful preceptor participation in their state.

Please Note: Student interns are assigned to one preceptor doctor only. If the preceptor doctor is practicing within a group or multiple doctor setting, it should be understood that unless special approval has been given by the University, the intern should be directly supervised by the approved preceptor doctor only.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INTERN

The Intern:

  1. Shall fully read and make themselves aware of all rules and regulations within the syllabus and University Preceptorship Program Guidelines prior to signing the preceptorship application/agreement.
  2. Shall complete, sign, and submit appropriate University application materials to the Director of the Preceptorship program. The application process should begin 4-6 weeks prior to leaving on the preceptorship to allow the University time to complete the doctor approval process.
  3. Shall, prior to beginning the preceptorship, make themselves aware of all rules & regulations regarding the preceptorship statutes within the state in which they will be participating in the preceptorship.
  4. Shall provide the university with a current address and telephone number during the preceptorship.
  5. Shall assume responsibility for personal transportation and living arrangements.
  6. Shall spend a minimum of 28 hours per week in the preceptor doctor’s office.
  7. Shall ensure timely submission of all reports outlining the intern’s attendance and progress by the preceptor doctor to the University on a weekly basis.
  8. Shall follow all policies and procedures of the preceptor doctor’s office.
  9. Shall not, as per Medicare law, provide treatment to Medicare eligible patients.
  10. Shall not end the preceptorship early (more than two weeks prior to graduation) without the prior approval of the Director of Preceptorships.
  11. Shall at the completion of the preceptorship present all original documents required for graduation, to the Director of the Preceptorship program including:
    1. Signed and completed Attendance Records
    2. Student Evaluation of the Preceptorship program
    3. Student Evaluation of the Preceptor doctor
    4. Preceptorship Learning Goals & Objectives
  12. Shall immediately contact the Director of Preceptorships in case of emergency, illness, or injury that could lead to absence from the preceptorship.
  13. Shall adhere to all University policies (Preceptor Program Guidelines, Clinic manual, University Catalog), including the student code of ethics, while participating in the preceptorship program.
  14. Shall immediately notify the Director of Preceptorships if they become aware that the preceptor doctor is engaged in unethical or illegal practices that may be in violation of state law, federal law, or the preceptorship program guidelines.
  15. Shall not expect or accept any type of wage, payment, or compensation for services performed in the preceptor doctor’s office.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRECEPTOR DOCTOR

The Preceptor Doctor:

  1. Shall complete, sign, and submit the appropriate application materials to the Director of the Preceptorship program (the application must subsequently be completed each time a preceptor doctor hosts a student intern within their office).
  2. Shall, encourage student intern exposure and understanding to the many duties, roles, and responsibilities of a practicing chiropractor. This may include observing and/or assisting the preceptor doctor in patient care (exams, adjustments, x-ray, physiotherapy, etc. as allowed by state board statutes), patient education, office procedure, documentation, staff management, business procedures, HIPAA, etc.
  3. Shall personally direct, supervise and approve all chiropractic functions performed by the intern during the preceptorship.
  4. Shall be present at any and all times that the intern is performing any chiropractic function.
  5. Shall ensure that the intern performs only those duties that are lawful and ethical in the practice of chiropractic in the state.
  6. Shall not, as per Medicare regulations, allow the intern to provide services to Medicare eligible patients.
  7. Shall develop and clearly establish a time schedule that will assist the student intern in completing their required hours.
  8. Shall verify, sign, and encourage timely submission of attendance records kept by the intern each week and provide performance evaluations to the University in a timely manner.
  9. Shall immediately contact the Director of Preceptorships in case of any emergency, illness, or injury that could lead to their absence, or the absence of the student intern, from the preceptorship.
  10. Shall provide performance evaluations, including the final evaluation of the intern, to the University in a timely manner and prior to the conclusion of the preceptorship.
  11. Shall not re-assign the intern to any other doctor at any time.
  12. Shall not refer to, or allow the student intern to be referred to as a doctor. Shall not allow any person to otherwise think or be misled into thinking that the student intern is a licensed doctor.
  13. Shall not be liable for payment of any wage, salary, or compensation for services performed by an intern, instructor, or supervisor associated with Cleveland University-Kansas City’s College of Chiropractic.
  14. Shall immediately notify the University if, at any time during the approved preceptorship, their license is suspended, revoked, or if disciplinary action is taken by any state board.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY The University:

  1. Shall provide all pertinent information and forms to the intern and the preceptor doctor.
  2. Shall assist the intern and the preceptor doctor in the application process.
  3. Shall administer and regulate the preceptorship program under the supervision of the Director of the Preceptorship program.
  4. Shall enforce rules and regulations that are mutually agreed upon by the University and the preceptor doctor.
  5. Shall confer the appointment of the preceptor doctor as an extension faculty member. This is a title without financial compensation. It is to be held for a period of one year. Subsequent renewal is subject to mutual agreement between the University and the preceptor doctor.
  6. Shall agree to remove an intern upon the recommendation of the preceptor doctor for just cause.
  7. Shall credit the number of hours served in the preceptorship program as University clinic hours for the intern.
  8. Shall provide malpractice insurance coverage for the intern assigned to a preceptor doctor’s office.

Please Note: The University assumes no liability for any injuries or accidents that may be incurred by student interns during participation in off campus preceptorships.

Misc.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  1. All intern and doctor applications, along with other required documents, must be completed and submitted to the Director of Preceptorships before the intern is allowed to proceed with the preceptorship. Depending on the state board, the approval process may take up to two months.
  2. No field practitioner shall serve as a preceptor to more than one intern at a time.
  3. Representatives of CUKC, may at any time during the approved preceptorship time frame, pay a visit to the field practitioner’s office to verify that program guidelines are being fulfilled by all involved parties.

Please note: Although most preceptor doctors are good, ethical, reputable individuals, student interns should understand that the University cannot guarantee the personal and professional standards of the preceptor doctor. The University will endeavor to verify the preceptor doctor meets strict eligibility criteria; however, student interns are advised to also carefully examine potential preceptor doctors prior to selecting them as their chosen preceptor doctor.

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