ACOE_Self-Study

Due to the UEC’s location in the nation’s most populous city, as well as the diverse externship site offerings, students experience a challenging quality and variety of patient care experiences. Using Meditrek, the quantity, quality and variety of each student’s patient encounters are monitored and evaluated by the 3 rd year optometric clinic IOR, the 4 th year optometric clinic IOR, the Director of Externships, and overseen by the chair of the Department of Clinical Education and the Clinical Education Council to ensure that each student is meeting clinical learning objectives. Additional details regarding the tracking of student-patient encounters is discussed below under Standard 2.8.1. 2.8.1 The number of patients seen, as well as diagnoses for each of these patients, are tracked and documented for each student. These data distinguish between patient encounters experienced during vision screenings, encounters in which supervised patient care was provided by one student, encounters in which supervised patient care was shared by more than one student, and encounters in which the experience was by observation only. All students are required to use Meditrek to record all patient encounters. The entries include the diagnoses and distinguish between patient encounters experienced during vision screenings, encounters in which supervised patient care was provided by one student, encounters in which supervised patient care was shared by more than one student, and encounters in which the experience was by observation only. An example of a report for a third-year student is given in Appendix II-12a, and an example report for a fourth-year student is in Appendix II-12b . 2.9 The program has established a set of clinical competencies necessary for the contemporary practice of optometry (as set forth in ACOE standards 2.9.1 – 2.9.10) and evaluates the student’s attainment of these competencies. Expectations for student achievement of clinical proficiency for entry level practice are informed by program learning objectives and clinical core experiences ( Appendices II-1 and II-4a ). The clinical competencies listed in this document have been operationalized through the development of a clinic grading form ( Appendix II-4b ) that is employed to evaluate student clinical performance during the third and fourth years. Expectations for performance increase as a student obtains clinical experience and advances through the curriculum. ACOE standards 2.9.1-2.9.6 & 2.9.8 are subsumed into the grading form. Moreover, the curriculum (pages 9-24 of Appendix II-2 ) addresses all these competencies. Critical evaluation of research literature through understanding of research principles and conduct is a component of most courses in curriculum. It is included in integrative seminar, sometimes through the use of problem-based learning assignments. Students are expected to utilize empirically-based clinical care standards when managing patients and are graded on their performance (Standard 2.9.7). Students are required to demonstrate basic life support skills for emergencies encountered in optometric practice (Standard 2.9.9), including CPR certification. In the summer of third year, interns take Basic life support for Health Care Providers (which covers CPR, AED, and rescue breathing for infants, children and adults) with faculty members who are certified to provide this training. Those who are unable to receive training in-house are required to obtain

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