Clinics

Total Clock Hours: 812-1076

Total Credit Hours: 32-68

The Division of Clinics is committed to providing quality patient care and excellence in clinical education through the continued development of clinical competencies and the development and practice of the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to start into chiropractic practice.

The objective of the Division of Clinics is to provide the student supervised practical experience in integrating the philosophy, science and art of Chiropractic through the observation and delivery of chiropractic care to patients in a clinical environment. Clinic courses occur concurrently throughout the Doctor of Chiropractic Program, while the student is completing the basic, clinical and chiropractic sciences, and culminate in the clinic practicum courses during the final quarters of their experience.

Observation and supervision of student interns by clinic faculty begins at an early stage in a student’s career. After having had an introduction to body structures, function, malfunction and diagnosis, and the fundamentals of basic techniques of spinal adjusting, students begin observing and providing care for classmates on a reciprocal basis. As students mature through the educational and clinical processes, they begin to broaden their experiences through work with student families and outpatients. Patient progress, records and procedures are evaluated and compared in various clinical forums.

Clinical Education (Clinical Setting)

Observation, interaction and supervision with clinic faculty begins at an early stage in a student’s career. During the first six quarters of scholastics, the student is also acclimated to their future clinical environments. After having had an introduction to body structures, function, malfunction and diagnosis, and the fundamentals of basic techniques of spinal adjusting, students will observe clinical care of classmates. These opportunities to observe procedures and protocols and interact with future clinical mentors are in order to provide a smoother transition from academics to clinical settings.

Clinic Practicum Courses:

These courses are opportunities to acquire clinical experience required for graduation. As the individual student progresses, an increasing variety of techniques may be utilized, and an increased level of performance and responsibility is expected. Mentoring through direction, supervision and the practical application of patient care by the clinic faculty is provided in all clinic practicum courses. Students are evaluated according to their ability to demonstrate clinical competence, as well as completion of quantitative and qualitative clinical requirements, and they are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis for each Practicum course.

Three-Level Clinic System

By creating a multi-level approach to clinical education, an infrastructure has been developed to allow for a more integrated approach to patient care and a more structured approach for attaining increasing levels of responsibility in the delivery of chiropractic care while contributing to the overall goals of the College of Chiropractic.

Level I Clinic experience encompasses Pre-Clinic courses/activities in quarters 1-8. Level I Clinic is where basic clinical competencies are developed. It will provide an environment where there will be close faculty supervision. In this environment, the patient experience is more time consuming than what would be expected in a Level II or Level III clinic. The majority of patients in a Level I clinic should not be complex cases. Progressing to Level II clinic requires, in addition to other requirements, meeting the clinical minimum requirements of 5 adjustments and 1 exam with an average score of 3 out of 4 on Intern Quality Assessments (IQA).

Level II Clinic experience encompasses the Clinic Intern experience in the Center for Health and Optimum Performance (C-HOP) during quarters 9, 10, 11 and 12. Level II is where students will continue to develop clinical competency and critical thinking skills. Although clinical competency development continues, the student now needs access to a larger volume and variety of patients with a range of conditions. In this setting, the student intern must be able to be mentored from faculty with significant patient management expertise. In a Level II clinic, complex cases are expected and needed, will include a variety of specialties (i.e., radiology, orthopedics, rehabilitation, pediatrics, nutrition or sports) and provide the expertise required of a chiropractic clinic in an educational environment. Progressing to Level III clinic requires, in addition to other requirements, meeting the clinical minimum requirements of 75 adjustments, 8 exams and 10 x-ray presentations with an average score of 3 out of 4 on the Intern Quality Assessments (IQA). Interns schedule three (3) two-hour blocks per week to observe and participate in patient care activities.

Level III Clinic experience encompasses the Clinic Intern experience in off-campus facilities during quarters 13 and 14. These clinical opportunities may be experienced in one of Life University’s Community Outreach Clinics, or in the office of a Life University Extension Faculty in the local area, out of state, or internationally. Level III is where the student intern will begin integration into a broader healthcare environment and be exposed to an increased range, variety and complexity of cases. Patient management must reflect a heightened skill in clinical time management without compromising care standards or the patient’s sense of receiving excellent care. In addition, this experience will allow for direct interaction with the business aspects of running a practice in a variety of settings. Requirements for graduation will be completed during this level of clinical education.

Level I Clinic (1st - 8th Qtr.)

Knowledge from individual courses in the Basic, Clinical and Chiropractic Sciences will be integrated and applied. The focus is on developing fundamental skills through perception, comprehension and the discovery of definitive characteristics required for student intern application.

Level II Clinic (9th- 12th Qtr.)

Knowledge and skills acquired during the Level II experience provide a framework for further developing critical thinking skills. The focus is on refinement of fundamental skills by accomplishing competencies clearly and deliberately through practical application with ever-increasing levels of expertise.

Level II Practicum Courses

These courses are opportunities to acquire clinical experience required for graduation. As the individual student intern progresses, an increasing variety of techniques may be utilized, and an increased level of performance and responsibility is expected. Mentoring through direction, supervision and the practical application of patient care by the clinic faculty is provided in all clinic practicum courses. Student interns are evaluated according to their ability to demonstrate clinical competence, completion of quantitative and qualitative clinical requirements and are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis for each Practicum course.

Level III Clinic (13th and 14th Quarter)

Skill development and knowledge acquired provide a framework for continued development of critical thinking skills. The focus is on continued refinement of fundamental skills by accomplishing competencies in improved clinical performance through application with a wider variety of patients. Graduation requirements are expected to be completed during this level.

Level III Practicum Course Descriptions

Student interns are utilizing all of the skills necessary to manage a wide range of patient presentations. Student interns will demonstrate the ability to accept graduated responsibilities in conjunction with delivering patient care. Opportunities exist that allow student interns to expand their patient care and cultural knowledge and understanding by participating in this senior level clinic experience.

These courses are opportunities to acquire mandatory clinical experience. As the individual progresses, an increasing variety of techniques may be utilized, and an increased level of responsibility is demanded. Close supervision and control by the supervising clinician are provided in all clinic practicum courses. Student interns are evaluated according to their ability to demonstrate clinical competence, completion of quantitative clinical requirements and are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis.

All chiropractic care, educational components or community participation conducted while an intern is enrolled in a CLIN course will remain congruent with the standards of care and education that occur in the Life University College of Chiropractic, its clinics and are required by the Council on Chiropractic Education.

P.E.A.K.: Practice, Excellence, Art and Knowledge: Clinic P.E.A.K. option is a clinical experience that will offer the highest level of instruction and practical skills development. Student interns will have the unique opportunity to work under the direct supervision of a Life University Extension Faculty member providing chiropractic care in a private office.

INTERNATIONAL CLINIC: This option is a clinical and cultural experience that will offer the highest level of engagement, with both patients and citizens of the chosen international destination. Student interns will have the unique opportunity to work under the direct supervision of Life University faculty member(s) providing chiropractic care in a private chiropractic office. In addition, student interns will reside in the assigned country and have the opportunity to experience and acquire an appreciation of the culture through local activities and participating in community and social events.

This option may be limited for F-1 visa international students due to the residency requirement of the Student Exchange Programs (SEVP) of the Department of Homeland Security. F-1 visa students who wish to P.E.A.K out of the U.S. must start working with the Department of International Programs at least one quarter earlier.

P.E.A.K. is the off-campus internship. Any internships outside of the campus for F-1 visa international students must be approved by the Director of Department of International Programs (PDSO) as a Curricular Practical Training (CPT). F-1 visa international students must attend the mandatory Curricular Practical Training (CPT) workshop in advance to be eligible for the CPT authorization and submit all the required documents no later than Week 10 of the previous quarter. The documents received after the deadline are not accepted and such international students cannot PEAK off-campus.

Double P.E.A.K. Policy

Simultaneous registration for CLIN 4813 and CLIN 4814 (*See #3 below)
Those students entering the Level III clinic program may request permission to participate in a double P.E.A.K., if the following criteria are met:

If no on campus coursework is scheduled during the school week (Mon.–Fri.) during the double P.E.A.K. quarter.
The student intern has no other holds or restrictions that would prohibit registration for a double P.E.A.K.
*If a PEAK eligible student intern requests, CLIN 4814 may be substituted for by CLIN 5834 (Immersion Clinic) as long as the student needs as least 5 elective credits to meet the 18 required elective credits to graduate. This will allow the student intern to complete up to six elective credits by enrolling in a P.E.A.K. Immersion course. A student may enroll in up to 4 additional credit hours.
The office in which the student intern is placed is capable of meeting, at minimum, the hours, adjustments and other requirements that would be associated with the selected double P.E.A.K.

The student intern must make the request for a double P.E.A.K. through the office of the Director of PEAK and receive additional approval from the Executive Director of Clinical Operations.

If approved, the student intern may be registered for double P.E.A.K. with the understanding that they will be held to the cumulative standards associated with participation.

F-1 visa international students and P.E.A.K.

P.E.A.K. is the off-campus internship. Any internships outside of the campus for F-1 visa international students must be approved by the Director of Department of International Programs (PDSO) as a Curricular Practical Training (CPT). F-1 visa international students must attend the mandatory Curricular Practical Training (CPT) workshop in advance to be eligible for the CPT authorization and submit all the required documents no later than Week 10 of the previous quarter. The documents received after the deadline are not accepeted and such international students cannot PEAK off-campus. Per the SEVP DHS recordkeeping requirements, P.E.A.K. start and end dates must match the quarter start and end dates. All P.E.A.K documents will be stored 3 (three) years after the student’s graduation.

Level III Clinic Choices -

Students take CLIN 4813 in 13th quarter and CLIN 4814 in 14th quarter. Students may choose to replace either of these courses with an Immersion course (CLIN 5833 or CLIN 4834). A student may choose the elective course to remain active in the clinic system with limited requirements, but it does not replace the other listed courses.

(Completion of a minimum 18 credits of electives is required to graduate. 6 elective credits may be earned through taking a PEAK Immersion course)

Cross-listed Elective Courses

Physiotherapeutic, Adjunctive, and Rehabilitative Procedures

Life University, recognizing the need for chiropractic students to meet certain chiropractic licensing board requirements in physiological therapeutics, offers a two-course sequence within the Department of Sport Health Science in the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies, PUBH 5541 - Physiological Therapeutics - Adjunct Procedures 3 credits (AKA… MSHS 5410 - 4 credits), and PUBH 5543 - Physiological Therapeutics - Rehabilitative Procedures 3 credits (AKA… MSHS 5430 - 4 credits).

To satisfy the 120 hours instruction in physiological therapeutics required by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and most states, Life University students must successfully complete PUBH 3684 - Functional Restoration and Active Care – 2 credits (required for all students) and the two above-mentioned electives, PUBH 5541 and PUBH 5543 (three credits each in the DCP). Please note registration of MSHS 5410 & MSHS 5430 are charged 4 credits. Each program, upon successful completion, will award/ transfer the appropriate credit toward the respective degree.

Physiotherapeutic Clinical Practicums

An additional physiotherapeutic practicum course is offered (for 0 credit), PUBH 5545 Physiotherapeutic Clinical Practicum, to assist students in documenting clinical physiotherapeutic procedures and practicum time as required for licensure eligibility in some states. This course is coordinated through the C-HOP Functional Kinesiology Center.

While this course is accepted by many state licensing boards and by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, students should refer to the laws and applicable rules with regard to the current licensing requirements in each state in which they intend to seek licensure.

Life University accepts for-credit equivalent physiological therapeutics courses taught by other accredited Colleges of Chiropractic. However, students are responsible for determining whether particular state licensing boards to which they wish to apply will allow the course taken at another College of Chiropractic to satisfy a physiological therapeutics requirement.

Life University does not accept, for elective credit, those courses taught through any college/school of Chiropractic’s program of postgraduate education, as such programs are not accredited.

Other Cross-listed Electives (from Graduate Program - SHS Dept.)

The following elective courses, although being listed previously above, represent the specific, cross-listed courses made available from the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies. These courses can be used toward the minimum 18 credits of elective requirement for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

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