Subject: Clinical Background Clearances Policy: 8
Effective Date: 08/18/2008 Standard Element: 3E, 4J
Purpose: This policy is to inform students that clinical facilities may require one or more background checks and/or drug testing prior to attendance of their clinical experiences. All documents must be stored through Castle Branch background and document management service.
Policy: Students are expected to demonstrate professional behaviors consistent with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant.
Procedure:
1. Information regarding criminal background checks, FBI fingerprinting, child abuse clearance and drug screen is available to prospective students on the PTA program’s website.
2. The student will be made aware of this policy upon admission to the program during the First Year Testing, Counseling and Advising Program (NSO), orientation, and classroom discussion. The students will be provided access to the PTA Program Student Handbook online.
3. The student will be required to sign the Student Acknowledgement Form during NSO and prior to start of their clinical experience indicating that they are aware of this policy.
4. The ACCE will review the implications of this policy during PT 290 course.
5. Students are responsible for the cost of completing all clinical requirements/clearances. The ACCE will inform each student on the process of accessing Castle Branch to complete clinical requirements. Students will be responsible to meet the requirements as set forth by the clinical site. Students who fail to meet the pre-clinical requirements by the assigned dates will not be able to start their clinical experience as scheduled.
6. The ACCE will review Castle Branch for completeness of clinical requirements. The students will have the responsibility to provided any clinical requirements/clearances to the clinic between 2-4 weeks prior to their start date or as indicated by the site. The student must abide by the clinical sites policy and procedure.
7. All clinical requirements must be successfully completed. If a student fails or has an unfavorable result on any of the clinical site-requested requirements, the clinical site may refuse to accept the student. The PTA program cannot guarantee the acquisition of additional clinical placement. The ACCE will make a reasonable attempt to locate another site of equal competency. Locating another site may require time which could lead to a delay in the start date of the clinical experience. Placement at another clinical site would require the student to meet the clinical requirements/clearances of that clinical site. If the second site refuses to accept the student based on the outcomes of the clinical requirements/clearances, the student will not be able to complete the clinical education component of the program. Failure to successfully complete the clinical education component of the PTA program will result in dis-enrollment from the PTA program
8. If a student is asked to leave during a clinical rotation based on a positive drug test or because of criminal behavior the student will fail the rotation, may be subjection to judicial action, and dismissed from the PTA program.
9. Violations of the Standard of Ethical Conduct For The PTA may include a positive criminal background check, depending on the nature of the violation and/or a positive drug test. This may cause a clinical site to refuse or terminate student placement, in addition to hindering professional license.
Revised and Reviewed 6/2011, 6/2013, 6/2015
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