The purpose of this handbook is to provide information for student clinicians and supervisors about clinical policies and procedures.  It also includes standardized forms adopted by the faculty and general considerations important to those providing clinical services in the Marshall University Speech and Hearing Center.

The objectives of the clinical program in the Department of Communication Disorders at Marshall University are:

1. To produce graduates who are able to apply their knowledge of normal and disordered communication in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with communication disorders.
2. To produce graduates who have the clinical skills necessary to apply that knowledge effectively in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders.
3. To produce graduates who are able to fulfill their  responsibilities as speech-language pathologists according to accepted ethical and professional standards.
4. To provide clinical services to communicatively handicapped children and adults.

Click here to read the Code of Ethics published by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Grievances regarding any aspect of the program must be addressed according to the procedures outlined in the Student Handbook (Grievance Procedures for Students section).  The purpose of this process, as stated in the handbook, is:

The intent of this procedure is to provide a simple and easily understood process for solving problems at the lowest possible administrative level, as fairly and as expeditiously as possible.

According to the handbook, grievances are initiated with the Student Legal Aid Program Advisor and are defined as:

A formal statement from a student expressing a circumstance which he/she feels resulted in unjust or injurious treatment from a functioning unit and/or staff/faculty employed within said unit of Marshall University.

If a grievance remains unresolved for students at the university level, they may forward their complaint to the Council on Academic Accreditation of ASHA.  These CAA Complaint Procedures are described fully on the ASHA web site.  The CAA may be contacted by writing:

Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
American Speech Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Blvd.
Rockville, MD  20850
301.897.5700

The Marshall University Department of Communication Disorders and the Speech and Hearing Center do not discriminate on the basis on race, sex, religion, age, or sexual orientation.

• The conduct of all clinicians in the Waiting Room should reflect the ethical standards of professionalism and client confidentiality.  Absolutely no discussion of clients (either present or absent) should take place in the Waiting Room.
• Information regarding clients is not to be discussed with anyone who is not on the faculty or clinical staff.  Information is exchanged with other professionals only with written permission of the client or the parent.  Clinicians may not discuss clients by name without explicit permission of their supervisor.  Discussion of class notes or particular disorders should not take place in the Waiting Room.
• Any family conferences must be conducted in an appropriate setting (i.e., therapy room or supervisor’s office), not in the Waiting Room or hallway.  Clinicians may briefly discuss such things as homework assignments with parents in the Waiting Room.
• Address clinicians, faculty, and staff members using appropriate titles (i.e., Ms., Mr., Dr., etc.).
• There are two types of clinic files.  These client records are the (1) active in diagnostic/therapy files and (2) inactive files.  Active files are located in the clinic office; inactive files are in the clinic office and in long-term storage within the department.  Active and inactive client files are filed in alphabetical order and may be checked out from the Graduate Assistant on duty in the clinic office.  A schedule of times when graduate assistants are available in the clinic office is posted on the bulletin board outside of the clinic office.  While a file is in your possession it must be kept in a red folder.  Files must be returned to the Graduate Assistant on duty in the clinic office at the specified times.  
• Client files may not be removed from the clinic.  Information in client files may not be photocopied.  If you retain rough drafts of reports and/or plans, you are required to remove the names and other identifying information throughout all pages retained.  Always remember your client’s right to absolute confidentiality.
• No files regarding clients (permanent or lesson plan folders) should be left unattended.
• Anyone engaging in clinical activities (observation, therapy, diagnostic evaluation, and screening) should present a professional appearance.  If you have specific questions about dress, consult your supervisor or the Clinic Director.  Students in the Waiting Room during clinic hours are to be dressed in acceptable professional attire.
• The Waiting Room and the viewing area of the Observation Rooms may not be used as a lunchroom. 

1. We have video/audio systems in all the therapy rooms.  Supervisors monitor sessions from their offices or from the monitor room.  Make sure that all clients are made aware that they may be observed by supervisors and/or other clinicians (MUSHC-18A).   
2. Make sure that your camera is on.
3. While supervisors primarily utilize the above mentioned monitoring system, there are times when a supervisor will want to directly observe sessions by sitting in the therapy room while the session is conducted.  Again, the purpose of these direct observations is to observe the clinician, and the clinical process should proceed when the supervisor enters the room.  It is certainly appropriate for the clinician to pause and introduce the client to the supervisor, but the session should resume unless the supervisor indicates otherwise.

Clinicians are required to adhere to the attendance policy (MUSHC-2) signed at the beginning of the semester.  If for any reason, you cannot keep a clinical appointment for a therapy session, these steps must be followed:
 
1. Call the Clinic Director and obtain permission to be excused from your clinical assignment.  Excused absences are defined in the Marshall University catalog.  Documentation may be required in the case of an absence from a clinical assignment.
2. Enlist another clinician to fulfill your obligation.  Keep the phone numbers of all other graduate clinicians at home. 
3. Call the Clinic Director and your supervisor(s) at the clinic and notify them of the arrangements you have made.  Specify the manner in which the lesson plans will be conveyed to the clinic.  It is your responsibility to make sure that the lesson plans are available for substitute clinicians.
4. If no acceptable arrangements can be made, the Clinic Director may request you cancel your client’s appointment.  NO CANCELLATIONS OF SESSIONS MAY BE MADE WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE CLINIC DIRECTOR.

If, for any reason, you are unable to meet your off-campus clinical assignment(s), you must fulfill your obligation as follows:
 
1. Call the Clinic Director and obtain permission to be excused from your clinical assignment.  Excused absences are defined in the Marshall University catalog.  Documentation may be required in the case of an absence from a clinical assignment.
2. Follow the absence procedures specified by the off campus supervisor.

Substitute Responsibilities

If you substitute for another clinician in the MUSHC your responsibilities are as follows:
 
1. Record the client’s attendance on their current attendance record in their lesson plan folder.  You may wish to copy this attendance sheet in order to have record of your hours.
2. Prepare the SOAP notes for the session for which you substituted.
3. Return the lesson plan folder to the clinician if you are only substituting for one session.  However, if you are substituting for more than one session, return the lesson plan folder to the supervisor before the next session.
4. It is advisable for clinicians to obtain the supervisor's signature verifying clinical clock hours (on the MUSHC-12R) after you have completed coverage for that client.

Forms referenced in this section may be located by clicking here.