• Class Absence/Tardiness and Participation
• Clinical Education
• Immunization and Health Information
• Community Service
• Professional Appearance
• Professional Behaviors
• Textbooks
• Written Assignments and Communication
• Practical Exams
• Student Assessment

CLASS ABSENCE/TARDINESS AND PARTICIPATION

Absence from classes and/or consistent tardiness constitutes unprofessional behavior. Students are expected to be in class and on time. Instructors may report a student who is regularly late or absent to his/her advisor. Students are required to notify the main office (secretary) by phone 293-3610 or instructor when they are absent due to illness or other circumstance. Please note, an instructor may require verification of the absence if an excused absence is to be given. Only students with excused absences may receive special assistance from the instructor with class work missed. Further rules for class and clinic attendance may be noted by an instructor. Make-up work and exams are at the discretion of the course instructor.

Students must actively participate in all lab sessions.

Students will not be excused from classes immediately preceding and following holidays except under unusual circumstances and only by the Chairperson of Physical Therapy. Absence without approval before or after designated academic holidays, breaks, or end of semester will result in lowering of the student's final course grade by one level (e.g., B to B-).

Effective August 2002
Reviewed and Updated August 2003

CLINICAL EDUCATION

Students must satisfactorily complete all clinical education assignments. Students will be expected to defray any and all associated costs, including insurance, immunizations and titers, room and board, and travel to facilities. Before a student is allowed to attend a clinical assignment, he/she must have satisfactorily completed all previous academic and professional requirements of the program, be in good health as shown by the required physical exam, have all required immunizations, maintain current CPR certification, fingerprinting/criminal background check, and have a full health insurance policy which will be in effect the entire assignment. Some clinical sites also require additional liability insurance.

All students will be required to do at least one full-time clinical rotation in West Virginia as part of the Rural Health Education Partnerships Program. This will necessitate that all students complete at least one rotation out-of-state. All students will be expected to travel outside the Morgantown area [50 mile radius] for at least one, and possible more than one, full-time or part-time rotation.

More detailed information can be found on the Clinical Education portion of this website.

Effective August 2002
Reviewed and Updated August 2004

IMMUNIZATION AND HEALTH INFORMATION

The WVU School of Medicine has compiled a comprehensive health policy designed to address the multifaceted health needs of your career.

Health Insurance
Health insurance is REQUIRED of all students who matriculate at West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Department of Human Performance and Applied Exercise Science before starting clinical/fieldwork rotations. If you do not have health insurance through your parents, spouse or a personal policy, you may purchase health insurance through the University Student Health Service. This insurance is in addition to the University Student Health Services, which is available to all university students. The insurance covers 100% of billable service at the Ruby Memorial Hospital with School of Medicine physicians in attendance. Health services away from Morgantown in West Virginia or other states are covered at 80% of billable charges. All students must provide documentation of health insurance annually.

Physical Examination, Immunizations, and Titers
All students must complete a physical examination prior to the beginning of the professional program. The physical form is attached.

All students must have the following immunizations. Immunizations must be documented PRIOR to beginning the professional program, unless otherwise noted.

1. Students are required to have 2 documented shots of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), unless born before 1957.
2. Students must have a diphtheria/tetanus shot (dT) within the past 10 years.
3. Students must have completed the primary series and booster for polio.
4. All students must have PPD (test for tuberculosis) within 6 months of starting the professional program. The student must have this repeated on an annual basis for the duration of the professional program.
5. Students must complete the Hepatitis B series of 3 shots. Students must have had at least the first two shots in the series before beginning the professional program. The third shot, as well as the Hepatitis B Titer, must be completed and documented prior to December 1 of the first year of the professional program.

All students must have the following immune (IgG) antibody titers for proof of immunity. Results must be documented PRIOR to beginning the professional program, unless otherwise noted:

1. Measles (rubeola), mumps, rubella
2. Varicella
3. Hepatitis B (must be documented before December 1 of the first year of the professional program).

Some clinical sites may require additional immunizations or other health measures to protect special populations. The program faculty will alert you to these when appropriate.

Students who have not completed the listed immunizations and titers will not be permitted to participate in clinical/fieldwork rotations.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Each student must be certified in CPR, including adult, child, and infant CPR and choking. Students must provide a copy of a current CPR card prior to beginning the professional program. The student is responsible for keeping an up-to-date CPR certification throughout the professional program.

HIPAA Training
All students are required to complete training for awareness and compliance with the patient privacy regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This training will be available to all Health Sciences Center students, and must be completed within three months of starting classes, by students currently enrolled in the program. Students entering Fall, 2003 or later, will receive the training during the first professional semester, prior to embarking on clinical rotations.

OSHA Training
All students must be trained in standards for preventing transmission of bloodborne and other infectious agents. This training must occur before students enter the clinic, and annually thereafter. Initial training will be provided in class during the first semester. An annual retraining session will also be provided.

Documentation of Health Information
Prior to beginning the professional program, the student must submit a completed Health History, a completed Physical Examination, and a completed Immunization Form. In addition, the student must submit a copy of a current CPR card, health insurance information, and documentation of any immunizations and titers not recorded on the Immunization Form.

It is the student's responsibility to provide updated information on immunizations, health insurance coverage, PPD results, and CPR certification. Students whose files are incomplete will not be allowed to participate in clinical/fieldwork rotations. In addition, registration for other courses may be restricted, or course grades may be affected, for students whose files are incomplete.

Communication of Health Information
Before a student begins a clinical/fieldwork rotation, the academic program must verify to the clinical site that the student has complied with the health requirements. Some sites may request additional documentation, such as copies of immunization cards, lab reports, etc. In this case, the student will be notified and will be required to furnish the clinic with the appropriate records. Therefore, the student should keep a file of his/her own for copies of all the required documentation.

Questions concerning these health issues can be sent to Charmaine DuBois, Administrative Associate, Clinical and Fieldwork Education, West Virginia University, Department of Human Performance, PO Box 9225 RCBHSCS, Room 8707, Morgantown WV 26506-9225, or by calling (304) 293-0440.

Maintain copies of your physical, immunizations, titer results, cpr cards, health insurance, etc., as you will be responsible for your own copies of your materials. The department is not responsible for making copies of your records.

Revised and effective: Spring, 2004

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Requirements
Community service is required of ALL Health Sciences students, including full-time, part-time, and graduate students.

Classes of 2008 and earlier
Physical Therapy students must complete 50 hours of general community service prior to graduation.

In addition, each student is required to participate in rural outreach activities as part of their rural clinical education rotation.

Classes of 2009 and later
Physical Therapy students must complete 75 hours of general community service prior to graduation. It is the student's responsibility to complete 65 hours of the 75-hour general service requirement. The other ten hours will be obtained during a class community service project in the third professional year.

In addition, each student is required to participate in rural outreach activities as part of their rural clinical education rotation.

Definition of Community Service
A method under which students actively participate in organized service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community. It is monitored by their program/school at the HSC and the community. This service activity helps foster civic responsibility and may be integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students.

Learning Objectives

• To foster civic responsibility.
• To enhance the hands-on learning experiences of the student.
• To assist the student in identifying and meeting health and social needs of the community.

Record of Service
Each student is responsible for identifying opportunities for community service and reviewing them with his/her advisor BEFORE completing the service. The student must then log service hours electronically using the "Community Service" function of the Student Online Learning Environment (SOLE) courseware. [Students will be introduced to SOLE during on-campus orientation.] The student's advisor will then use SOLE to verify the student's hours.

Effective August 2002
Reviewed and Updated August 2003, July 2006

PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE

Neatness and cleanliness are an essential part of the health profession. As a student of a professional program, appropriate attire and grooming will be expected at all times.

Students are expected to abide by the Physical Therapy dress code Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and other scheduled class times.

At no time will jeans, shorts, T-shirts, jerseys, tank tops, hats or ball caps, sweats or athletic clothing, or non-polishable or unclean athletic shoes be worn in the classroom.

Many courses require students to present case studies, research, or other projects to students and faculty. Whenever a student is making a presentation, he/she should strive to look professional. Presentation grades may be partially based on presentation style, including professional appearance.

Anatomy Laboratory
To protect clothing in the anatomy lab, a knee length laboratory coat should be worn. Also, it is suggested old clothing be worn under the lab coat because the odors from the cadaver lab will penetrate clothing and may not be easily laundered. Some students discard these clothes after the course has been completed. Because of these odors, it is advisable to launder these clothes separately.

Physical Therapy Laboratory
Appropriate attire is required for each physical therapy laboratory class. Appropriate attire a student will need to have is:

NOTE: On some occasions, laboratory classes will occupy the majority of the day. Thus students will be permitted to wear lab clothing (t-shirts and long pants over shorts and halter tops) during the noon hour or when lab classes are back-to-back. Students are advised to keep an extra set of clean lab clothes in their lockers so never to be unprepared for a scheduled or changed lab.

Clinic Attire and Grooming
Health Sciences students, staff, and practitioners are required to place a high value on personal appearance, including attire. The reasons are rooted in concerns for infection control, communication, and cultural sensitivity. This document sets forth standards for dress and appearance necessary to meet the service and safety objectives of placing patient welfare first and the educational objectives of preparing the student to assume the role of a professional health care worker. Patient trust and confidence in the health care provider are essential to successful treatment experiences and outcomes. The message communicated by the caregiver by his/her dress and appearance plays a fundamental role in establishing this trust and confidence. Students should consider the cultural sensitivities of their most conservative potential patients and present themselves in a manner that will earn their respect, ensure their trust, and make them feel comfortable. Recent trends in clothing, body art, and body piercing may not be generally accepted by your patients, and should not be worn by DPT students.

The following guidelines help prepare the student to establish a successful caregiver-patient relationship. Individual clinical facilities may have more stringent guidelines; in those cases, the clinic’s guidelines must be followed.

• General Standards
  • Health Sciences Center name tags or badges are worn at all times.
  • Good personal hygiene is to be maintained at all times. This includes regular bathing, use of deodorants/antiperspirants, and regular dental hygiene.
  • Avoid distracting perfumes or colognes (may precipitate allergies or sensitivities).
  • All clothing, including lab coats, must be clean and pressed.
    
• Hair maintenance
  • Hair should be neat, clean, and of a natural human color.
  • Hair should be styled off the face and out of the eyes.
  • Shoulder length hair must be secured to avoid interference with patients and work.
  • Avoid scarves or ribbons (unless culturally appropriate).
  • Beards/mustaches must be neatly trimmed.
    
• Dress, Shoes, and Hand Care
  • Clothing should be clean, professionally styled and in good repair.
  • Women: skirts (knee length or longer) or tailored slacks with blouse or dress shirt.
  • Men: tailored slacks, dress shirt and a necktie.
  • Shoes must be brown or black in color, comfortable, clean and in good repair. Shoes must be worn with socks or hose.
  • Fingernails should be clean and of short to medium length. Muted tones of nail polish are appropriate for women. No artificial nails.
    
• Jewelry
  • Keep jewelry at a minimum (represents potential for cross-infection, may be distracting to patients).
  • The following are permitted: a watch, up to four rings, small earrings (large earrings are distracting and may be pulled through the ear), academic pin/s, other pins, badges, or insignias which represent an award, modest bracelets/s and necklace chains. Appropriate holiday pin during the holiday is suitable.
    
• Lab Coat
  • A clean, white, jacket-length lab coat should be worn over clothes.
    
• The following items are specifically prohibited in hospital or clinic situations:
  • Blue jeans (regardless of color, or pants of a blue jean style), shorts, Bermudas, leggings, stretch pants or tights, pants with external seams, zippers, pockets (e.g. cargo pants, overalls), hip-huggers, low-riders, bell-bottoms or flares, sweat pants or athletic clothing.
  • Midriff tops, tee shirts, halters, translucent or transparent tops, shirts or tops with plunging necklines, shirts with writing or decals, tank tops or sweatshirts.
  • Sandals or open toed shoes, high heels, platform soles, or canvas shoes (blood or needles may penetrate the fabric).
  • Dangling jewelry, rings with sharp protrusions, large buttons or pins (could interfere with function, transmit disease or be grabbed by the patient).
  • Visible body tattoos or visible body piercing.

Effective August 2002
Reviewed and Updated August 2003

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS

The Mission and Philosophy Statements of the Division of Physical Therapy emphasize development of the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary for effective physical therapy practice. Professional behavior is vital to the success of each physical therapy student, the WVU physical therapy program, and the physical therapy profession. Thus, we will use the ten behaviors (generic abilities) identified by clinicians as those abilities that exemplify the profession as a guide throughout the curriculum. To facilitate development of competency in the ten professional behaviors, we will provide formal and informal feedback to each student.

A listing of these ten "generic abilities" can be found below. Please note that these behaviors apply to both the clinic and classroom settings. Professional classroom behaviors, including (but not limited to) being awake, alert, and well prepared for lectures and labs, maintaining composure when discussing examination results, being seated and ready to proceed when class is scheduled to commence, waiting until class is dismissed, avoiding excessive conversation during class, etc. fall within the realm of the generic abilities.

Early in the first semester, each student will complete a generic abilities self-assessment in PT 711: Professional Roles I. The student will then meet with his/her advisor to review the self-assessment. Near the end of the first semester, and then every semester through the rest of the curriculum, the student will meet with his/her advisor to review development of his/her skills in this area.

If necessary, your advisor will work with you to develop plans for improvement. Consistent violation of these criteria is one factor which will be taken into account should a student be brought before the Academic and Professional Standards Committee.

The Use of Generic Abilities in the Professional Curriculum

Policy
The Division of Physical Therapy faculty believes that students must develop appropriate professional behaviors in order to successfully apply the knowledge and skills they acquire during the professional program. In order to assist students in developing these behaviors, the faculty has incorporated the ten Generic Abilities developed by Warren May et al [see Definitions attached] into the program.

Procedure

1. Each student will self-assess his/her professional behaviors using the Self Assessment form as part of PT 711: Professional Roles 1. The student will review this self-assessment with his/her advisor.
2. The faculty will give students feedback on their professional behaviors. This may be done formally, via formative or summative course feedback, or informally.
3. The faculty will communicate this feedback to each student’s advisor using the attached Anecdotal Record form.
4. Each student will meet with his/her advisor twice each semester [at midterm and at the end of the semester] to review feedback.
5. If a problem in professional behavior is identified, the faculty advisor will counsel the student regarding plans for improvement. Consistent exceptional behavior (positive or negative) will be taken into account should a student be brought before the Academic and Professional Standards Committee.

Generic Abilities Definitions
Generic abilities are attributes, characteristics or behaviors that are not explicitly part of the profession's core of knowledge and technical skills but are nevertheless required for success in the profession. Ten generic abilities were identified through a study conducted at UW-Madison in 1991-92. The ten abilities and definitions developed are:

1. Commitment to Learning
   The ability to self-assess, self-correct, and self-direct; to identify needs and sources of learning; and to continually seek new knowledge and understanding.
2. Interpersonal Skills
   The ability to interact effectively with patients, families, colleagues, other health care professionals, and the community and to deal effectively with cultural and ethnic diversity issues.
3. Communication Skills
   The ability to communicate effectively (i.e., speaking, body language, reading, writing, listening) for varied audiences and purposes.
4. Effective Use of Time and Resources
   The ability to obtain the maximum benefit from a minimum investment of time and resources.
5. Use of Constructive Feedback
   The ability to identify sources of and seek out feedback and to effectively use and provide feedback for improving personal interaction.
6. Problem-Solving
   The ability to recognize and define problems, analyze data, develop and implement solutions, and evaluate outcomes.
7. Professionalism
   The ability to exhibit appropriate professional conduct and to represent the profession effectively.
8. Responsibility
   The ability to fulfill commitments and to be accountable for actions and outcomes.
9. Critical Thinking
   The ability to question logically; to identify, generate, and evaluate elements of logical argument; to recognize and differentiate facts, illusions, assumptions, and hidden assumptions; and to distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant.
10. Stress Management
    The ability to identify sources of stress and to develop effective coping behaviors.

Developed by the Physical Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison May et al. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 9. 1, Spring 1995.

Effective August 2002
Reviewed and Updated August 2003

TEXTBOOKS

Required texts and some recommended texts will be available for purchase in the Health Sciences Bookstore. The Health Sciences bookstore returns unpurchased texts 3-4 weeks after the semester begins, so don't postpone buying them. Other recommended texts are available in the Health Sciences Library.

Reading the professional literature is vital to your success as a physical therapist. Therefore, access to the required textbooks is essential. Many of the required physical therapy texts have been selected because they will serve as texts for more than one course and/or as good references after graduation. Thus it is suggested these texts be retained as a start to building your own professional library.

The bookstore will order any book in print. Depending on the publisher and date of a book, it may take days or weeks for delivery.

Students are advised to purchase ring binders rather than spiral notebooks for organization of notes and handouts.

Effective August 2002
Reviewed and updated August 2003

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS AND COMMUNICATION

All written assignments must be typed using a word processor and submitted using the appropriate medium (paper, disk, or electronic mail) as assigned by the course instructor. Any references must be cited using American Medical Association (AMA) style.

For all papers and written assignments, the instructor may request hard copies of all articles and other resources to check for plagiarism. If hard copies are requested, the student must furnish these within 24 hours of the request.

Before submitting any written assignment, you should first utilize the spell-check and grammar-check features of your word processor. All written communication must reflect:

• professional terminology appropriate to the audience, reflecting the student's level of preparation
• proper grammar, spelling, and syntax

Effective August 2002
Reviewed and Updated August 2003

PRACTICAL EXAMS

All practical examinations must be successfully passed at a minimum level of 80%, including passing all critical evaluation items designated by the course or unit coordinator. Only one retake will be allowed on each practical examination.

Passing criteria for retakes will be identical to the original examination. For the purpose of calculating the final course grade, the student's retake score will be adjusted so that the maximum points awarded will be 80%. Any deductions for errors made during the retake will be deducted from the maximum score of 80%. (For example, a student who scores 70% on the first attempt must retake the practical examination. If he/she performs at a 90% level on the retake, the final grade will be 70%).

If the practical examination is not successfully passed on the retake, the student will automatically fail the course and will be evaluated by the Academic and Professional Standards Committee.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Comprehensive Examination: The comprehensive examination will serve as a formative assessment of student learning. The format of the written examination will be consistent with a “mock board examination”. The exam will consist of 200 objective (multiple choice) questions. The written examination will be offered in a computer format. The students will have a maximum of four (4) hours to complete the examination. Each course coordinator from the listed clinical courses will submit 10-12 questions that are consistent with the objectives of the course. The examination will be tied to PT 754 (Clinical Sciences 4) and the course coordinator will use their discretion as to how the student’s score will be woven into the overall course grade. All students will be required to pass the written examination with a score of 70% or higher in order to progress in the program and participate in PT 760 (Clinical Education 3). Students who fail to score a 70% will be given one opportunity to retake the comprehensive examination. The examination will be offered on a Monday from 8-12 in mid April of each year. To allow for adequate preparation and study, there will be no written or practical examinations given the week before the examination. Additionally, no classes will be scheduled on the day of the exam. Retake examinations will be offered during finals week.

Comprehensive Practical: The comprehensive practical examination will be offered by each of the full-time core faculty. The faculty will assess their individual advisees. Each faculty member will be responsible for developing a patient case, which will allow the student to demonstrate his or her knowledge of examination and intervention. A rubric will be developed by the assessment committee that will be used to ensure consistent grading. Individual faculty may schedule their practical examination anytime between Tuesday and Friday of the week in which the written examination is offered. All students will be required to score at least an 80% on the 100-point practical examination. Students will be given one opportunity to retake the comprehensive practical examination. The retake examination will be scheduled at the discretion of the individual faculty member. All students will be required to pass the comprehensive practical examination in order to progress in the program and participate in PT 760 (Clinical Education 4). The manner in which the practical grade is incorporated into the overall grading scheme of PT 754 (Clinical Sciences 4) will be left to the discretion of the course coordinator.

Graduate and Employer Survey: A web-based survey will be designed by the assessment committee as a one-year summative assessment of the clinical skills and knowledge learned by the students. An e-mail or letter will be sent to the graduates of each class on or before May 1 of the year following graduation. This assessment will focus on identifying the level of preparation for clinical practice.