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.

Clinical Education (Clinical And Competency Examinations)

A Clinical Knowledge Competency Test (CKCT) is a written exam covering the six quarters of basic sciences courses that is given to students prior to entry into student clinic. Two Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), which are multistation practical examinations, are also given. These OSCE are designed to measure the interns clinical competency and enable them to proceed to higher levels of clinical involvement. Students who are unable to successfully complete a specific examination are not permitted to advance. Specific competencies measured in OSCE are the case history, neuromusculoskeletal examination, physical examination and x-ray interpretation. Full spine technique and motion palpation will also be tested.

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 the Pre-Clinic courses in quarters 1-7 as well as the Clinic Intern experience in the Campus Center for Health and Optimum Performance (CC-HOP) during quarters 8 and 9. 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 50 adjustments and 5 exams.

Level II Clinic experience encompasses the Clinic Intern experience in the Center for Health and Optimum Performance (C-HOP) during quarters 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 140 adjustments, 15 exams and 20 x-rays.

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, International clinics, or perhaps 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 - 9th 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 (10th- 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.: Performance, 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.

OUTREACH: The Outreach option is a clinical experience that encourages community participation with a service oriented mindset. This is a special opportunity to serve the underemployed, unemployed or otherwise disadvantaged population. Under the direct supervision of Life University clinic faculty, your clinical knowledge and skills will be enhanced by a challenging and complex patient base.

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.

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 student intern requests, CLIN 4814 may be substituted for by CLIN 4834 (Immersion Clinic). This will allow the student intern to complete up to six elective credits by enrolling in a P.E.A.K. Immersion course.
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 Executive Director of Level III Clinic Programs and receive additional approval from the Director of Clinic Advisement, the Assistant Dean of Clinics and the Dean of the College of Chiropractic.

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.

Level III Clinic Choices - Must take at least two of following

(Depending on a student’s choice, completion of a minimum 12 or 18 credits of electives is required to graduate)

Cross-listed Elective Courses

Physiotherapeutics 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.

Physiotherapeutics Clinical Practicums

Two additional physiotherapeutic practicum courses are offered (for 0 credit), PUBH 5545 Physiotherapeutic Clinical Practicum and PUBH 5850 - Physiological Therapeutics - Advanced Clinical Practicum , to assist students in documenting clinical physiotherapeutics procedures and practicum time as required for licensure eligibility in some states. These two courses are coordinated through the C-HOP Functional Kinesiology Center (For Maryland, California and Ohio).

While these courses are 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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