Clinical Site Visits: Exploring the Perspectives of the Director of Clinical Education

Abstract

Introduction. Best practice in clinical education (CE) includes the formation of strong relationships through collaborative communication among all stakeholders. Directors of Clinical Education (DCEs) may establish this through a site visit (SV) during student CE experiences (CEEs) but several barriers to conducting SVs have been identified, including scheduling of visits, time, and cost. There is sparse literature describing the DCEs most preferred method of communication when conducting SVs. This study explored whether DCEs perceive SVs as important, their preferred method of communication used to conduct these SVs, and the reasons underlying these preferences. Methods. A survey of both scaled and open-ended questions was sent to 300 DCEs/assistant DCEs from Commission on Accreditations in Physical Therapy Education accredited Physical Therapy programs. The response rate was 41%. Results. Statistical analysis showed DCE preference for in-person SVs over other forms of communication while also rating them as “very effective.” Directors of Clinical Education indicated that the primary purposes of an SV are to nurture academic–clinical relationships and to exchange information. In-person SVs offer a more complete picture of the CEE and allow the DCE to observe non-verbal cues that are not afforded by other types of communication. The recent pandemic has caused a shift to an increased use of videoconferencing for SVs. The DCEs acknowledged that there is no “one size fits all” approach to the SV process. Discussion and Conclusion. Similar to students, DCEs prefer and value in-person communication for SVs but are mindful that clinician preferences warrant a degree of flexibility in communication methods and the structure of the SV. Videoconferencing may be an alternative during circumstances when an in-person SV is not possible. Future research in this area should explore the clinician perspective.

The Effect of On-Site Visits From the Physical Therapy Clinical Instructor Perspective: A Mixed-Methods Approach

“…15-18 CI perceptions of academic program commitment were higher by those who received on-site visits, and these visits are also preferred by PT students and DCEs. 19,20 Additionally, this study found that alum status among participants had an overall positive effect on perceptions of partnership.…”

“…However, the qualitative results demonstrated that on-site visits improved perceptions of communication, and this is in line with previous research findings. 7,8,19,20 e role of alum status may be the biggest contributing factor to perceptions of partnership among the variables included in the analysis. ere were higher perceptions of partnership with alums in the subcategories of trust, information sharing, and communication quality as well as in the aggregated partnership attributes and communication behaviors compared with nonalums.…”

“…Academic on-site visits can be both time-consuming and expensive if geographically distant from the academic program. 20 Further, on-site visits can create additional burden for the CI including time to conduct the visit, 15 impact on patient care, 10 and frustration if the goals of the visit are not clearly communicated. 17 The costs in both time and money are more justifiable when the on-site visit actively contributes to a stronger, more meaningful partnership between the clinical and academic partners as compared with other, less direct methods of communication with the clinical site.…”

“…However, the qualitative results demonstrated that on-site visits improved perceptions of communication, and this is in line with previous research findings. 7,8,19,20…”

“…20 e relationship between geographic distance (between the CI and the academic program) and CI perceptions of partnership is not well understood nor has been investigated in the context of academic-clinical partnerships. Greco et al 20 found that distance played a large role in the decision to conduct an onsite visit by DCEs. Business literature has explored the role of geography, and several similarities can be made with clinical education.…”