Creating Best Practices in Managing a Student Clinic

Guidelines for Managing a Student Clinic

Preamble:

A successful student massage clinic will be a self-sustaining enterprise which will allow student massage therapists to actively practice the skills, attitudes and behaviors which will be necessary for a successful massage career under the supervision of appropriately-qualified massage practitioners.

The following is a list of major Learning Objectives and the knowledge, skills and abilities which underpin those objectives.

Learning Objective 1- Accountability:

1.1 Adherence to federal, state, local and institutional laws, rules and regulation related to the practice of massage therapy.

1.2 Adherence to the stated clinic policies regarding attendance and time management.

1.3 Demonstrate compliance with HIPAA and other confidentiality/privacy regulations.

1.4 Adherence to massage therapy profession code of ethics and standards of practice.

Learning Objective 2- Communication:

2.1 Demonstrate appropriate verbal communication and nonverbal in all professional relations.

2.2 Demonstrate appropriate written communication skills in charting and professional correspondence.

2.3 Demonstrate capacity to create a safe, comfortable environment for clients to receive massage.

2.4 Clearly and accurately delineate professional and personal boundaries to clients and other stakeholders.

2.5 Demonstrate concise documentation and client care record keeping.

Last updated 03/15/2012 1 Learning Objective 3- Professionalism:

3.1 Demonstrate the highest level of professionalism in all interactions related to the student massage clinic.

3.2 Demonstrate professional dress, habits and demeanor.

Learning Objective 4- Hygiene and Sanitation:

4.1 Demonstrate appropriate personal hygiene.

4.2 Demonstrate appropriate Universal Precautions techniques and applications during the massage session.

4.3 Demonstrate proper techniques for sanitizing massage equipment and supplies.

Learning Objective 5- Massage Skills:

5.1 Demonstrate proper client draping for modesty and comfort.

5.2 Demonstrate proper client positioning and bolstering.

5.3 Demonstrate ability to give a massage designed to meet a specific therapeutic outcome.

5.4 Demonstrate the ability to give a massage focused on general wellness enhancement/relaxation.

5.5 Demonstrate the ability to adapt massage methods/techniques during the session based on assessment, client feedback and/or needs.

5.6 Demonstrate appropriate pre-massage preparation including review of client medical and treatment records and post-massage clean-up of the treatment area.

Learning Objective 6- Clinical Reasoning:

6.1 Demonstrate the ability to develop a plan of care based on client needs/goals and presenting condition.

6.2 Consistently apply the latest research and evidence of treatment efficacy when developing a client plan of care.

Last updated 03/15/2012 2 Learning Objective 7- Self-Care/Bodymechanics/Wellness:

7.1 Demonstrate the ability to perform massage, at varying pressure levels in a biomechanically efficient and safe (for both client and practitioner) manner.

7.2 Develop and follow a self-care and personal wellness plan designed to optimize massage practitioner health.

Learning Objective 8- Knowledge of the Human Body:

8.1 Demonstrate the ability to locate and palpate relevant anatomical structures.

8.2 Consistently recognize indications and contraindications for massage and respond appropriately.

8.3 Demonstrate the ability to use therapeutic massage techniques to address indicated pathologies.

8.4 Accurately describe the structure and functions of the systems of the body and how massage therapy can affect those systems.

8.5 Correctly perform various physical assessments to note postural adaptation, dysfunction in movement and/or function.

Learning Objective 9- Business Practices:

9.1 Demonstrate the ability to schedule clinical appointments.

9.2 Participate in the creation and implementation of marketing the clinic.

9.3 Demonstrate the ability to follow clinic policies and local/state/federal regulations.

Last updated 03/15/2012 3 Here is a compilation of questions which arose in the discussion held at the 2010 AMTA National Convention workshop.

Definitions of Clinic and Clinic Time Questions:

o What is the minimum number of hours of clinical experience that should be accepted? Maximum?

o Does just being in the clinic count as an hour or does it have to be an hour of massage?

o What can be considered a clinic?

o Does event massage count as clinical time?

o What courses should be prerequisites for entering clinic?

Clinic Supervisory Staff Questions

o What qualifications are necessary for a clinical supervisor/instructor?

o What is the optimal student to supervisor ratio in clinic?

o What sort of training should be provided for clinical supervisors?

o How can mentoring be utilized to improve the student and clinic supervisor’s effectiveness?

Revenue Questions:

o How to balance the clinic as a revenue-producing business vs. a learning environment.

o What are appropriate fees for student massages?

o What about donations instead of fees?

o Should students be allowed to accept tips?

Attendance issues:

o What constitutes “attendance”?

o How are make-ups handled?

o What happens when a client no-shows or there is no client booked?

Last updated 03/15/2012 4 Client issues:

o What types of clients should a clinic seek out? Healthy vs. medical conditions.

o Who determines if medically complex clients can be treated? Triage?

o Are students expected to treat medically complex clients if not comfortable?

o What role do client evaluations of student practitioners play in the grading/evaluation process?

Bibliography

American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Creating Guidelines for a Student Massage Clinic. Open Forum at the 2010 AMTA National Convention, Minneapolis, MN.

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). A Normative Model of Physical Therapist Professional Education: Version 2004. Downloaded from: www.calstate.edu/app/dpt/documents/ch1.pdf on December 22, 2010.

Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge. www.mtbok.org

This document was developed in work sessions with a variety of participants at the 2010 AMTA national convention and the 2011 AMTA schools summit. It will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Special thanks to Kathy Paholsky and Peter Szucs for their work in facilitating the workgroups and drafting this document.

Last updated 03/15/2012 5