Report: The University Health Clinic: Definition, educational practices and outcomes

Abstract

Introduction: Increasingly, universities are allocating substantial resources and efforts towards developing their own student-led clinical services (SLCS) within university health clinics (UHCs). For that reason, under the umbrella of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAPHE), clinical educationalists from 12 Australian universities have come together as a hot topic action group (HTAG) to collaboratively explore and enhance learning outcomes from this setting.Context: SLCS within UHCs increase placement capacity to meet growing demand. Moreover, SLCS within UHCs have the potential to provide an outstanding learning opportunity through high-quality supervision and activities designed to develop clinical competencies. However, the benefits of providing clinical education experiences for health and medical students in this setting has not been formally assessed.Typically, SLCS within UHCs are developed through consultation between universities and local health providers and are purposefully designed clinical placements with a focus on clinical educational activities for pre-registration students. UHCs may be located on or off campus and offer SLCS or other services to university staff, students and/or the wider

Chiropractic and osteopathic students' perceptions of readiness for transition to practice:The educational value of university clinic vs community and private clinics*

“…4 Students' competencies and capabilities are delivered mainly through participation in the student-led clinics at university health clinics (UHCs), a mainstay of allied health preprofessional education in Australia and other countries. 5 Beyond profession specific requirements, in Australia, the overarching framework for clinical education experiences, also known as work-integrated learning, is quality assured against the Higher Education Standard Framework 6 and the associated Guidance Notes for Work Integrated Learning. 7 The Higher Education Standard Framework section 1.4 states, Learning outcomes and assessment states specific learning outcomes for each course of study are expected to align with the knowledge and skills graduates need to learn and their ability to apply the knowledge in an employment situation relevant to the discipline.…”

“…On-campus clinics are considered by many to be a viable alternative to clinical education in other settings, as they reduce the need to engage or rely on external partners. 5 Moreover, many academics and clinicians are of the view that on-campus UHCs offer superior education, more equitable teaching, and opportunities for authentic assessment practices than offered in other settings. 5 However, conclusive evidence of the comparisons between the learners' experiences and the educational outcomes achieved is not yet available.…”

“…5 Moreover, many academics and clinicians are of the view that on-campus UHCs offer superior education, more equitable teaching, and opportunities for authentic assessment practices than offered in other settings. 5 However, conclusive evidence of the comparisons between the learners' experiences and the educational outcomes achieved is not yet available. It is therefore critical to demonstrate what it is that students learn best through these student-led clinics in on-campus UHCs compared to other types of clinics they attend as part of the clinical curriculum at each university.…”

“…[9][10][11][12] The number and type of cases seen by Australian chiropractic and osteopathic students learning through student-led clinics in UHCs and other clinical settings can be expected to directly influence the development of their related competencies. Yet we know only a little about the educational outcomes of clinical education offerings in UHCs 5 or any other setting in any formal sense.…”

Student and new graduate perception of hospital versus institutional clinic for clinical educational experience

“…[1][2][3] The institution maintains the governance, financial, and legal responsibility of the facility and operations of these clinics. 4 There are a number of issues that have been identified with these institutional clinics. For instance, there exists a limitation of the number of real patients seen by chiropractic students, with a limited case mix within these institution-based clinics.…”