ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Middletown, New York PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT (845) 341-4280 DEVELOPING A CLINICAL EDUCATION LEARNING CONTRACT As described by Jill Newman Henry, RPT, MH Ed. from the University of Georgia, A contract is an agreement between two people which specifies the obligation of each toward achieving an agreed-upon goal or outcome. In clinical education, a contract between student and instructor outlines the specific activities each will do to resolve a problem or reach a goal. The contract should be developed by both parties, agreed upon by both and the outcome evaluated by both. A third person may be useful in the development and evaluation phases to serve as "negotiator" or "arbitrator", i.e., to have an unbiased viewpoint towards the terms of the contract. We encourage early documentation via the Learning Contract as soon as a problem or problems are recognized regarding student knowledge, skills, attitude/behavior. We encourage you to contact the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE) to assist you in writing the Learning Contract. You may write a Learning Contract to document many problems or even one problem to aid in student remediation. This packet contains a blank Learning Contract and a sample. LEARNING CONTRACT STUDENT: ______________________________________________________ FACILITY:________________________________________________ AREAS OF STRENGTH: STUDENT PLANS FOR CLINIC PLANS FOR AREAS OF NEED: EXPECTED OUTCOMES: ACHIEVING GOALS: ASSISTING STUDENT: (Over) STUDENT PLANS FOR CLINIC PLANS FOR AREAS OF NEED: EXPECTED OUTCOMES: ACHIEVING GOALS: ASSISTING STUDENT: DATE DISCUSSED:____________________________________________ RE-ASSESSMENT DATE:_________________________________________ STUDENT SIGNATURE:________________________________________ INSTRUCTOR SIGNATURE:______________________________________ ********************************************************************************* RE-ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE CI COMMENTS: CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR SIGNATURE / DATE STUDENT COMMENTS: STUDENT SIGNATURE / DATE LEARNING CONTRACT -SAMPLE STUDENT: Dana Jones FACILITY: ABCD Hospital AREAS OF STRENGTH: -Knowledge of Anatomy -Application of modalities and use of strengthening equipment -Communication with PT regarding changes in patient status STUDENT PLANS FOR CLINIC PLANS FOR AREAS OF NEED: EXPECTED OUTCOMES: ACHIEVING GOALS: ASSISTING STUDENT: Function more independently of Effectively treat assigned pt. load Review chart and patient/client info Provide Dana with schedule in therapist independently, completing entire tx; for use in: planning effective tx for morning to help student prepare for and be able to observe/monitor more all assigned patients & to aid in reviewing charts and determining than one pt. tx at a time carrying out independent tx (from treatments beginning to end Improve chart information retrieval Extract sufficient information from See above pt=s/client=s chart to prepare for effective patient treatment Continue to show more initiative Be an effective part of the team Maintain flow of patient/client tx by know where you can assist and what looking for areas to assist without needs to be done without having to requiring prompting be told Take personal responsibility for Have improved knowledge of Request opportunities which will Provide varied opportunities to enhancing learning experiences and physical therapy theory provide experiences to learn, such as expand knowledge when Dana understanding physical therapy demonstrated by answering during unscheduled time-practice expresses interest: teach new theory questions appropriately techniques on staff for additional techniques when requested as time experience and situation permits Improve problem solving skills Make suggestion on how to Have specific plan of care to suggest improve, modify, progress patient=s to PT for tx modification (be tx prepared to suggest alternative tx) AREAS OF NEED: Improve professional communication Complete assignments as requested and on time : Improve professional communication Complete assignments as requested and on time EXPECTED OUTCOMES: Communicate with clear, concise instructions; avoiding discussion of personal situations All assignments will be submitted on time STUDENT PLANS FOR ACHIEVING GOALS: Limit personal information during conversation with pt/client; provide objective info to encourage and reassure and be more assertive with young pt/client population Submit assignments on time CLINIC PLANS FOR ASSISTING STUDENT: DATE DISCUSSED: March 1, 2xxx RE-ASSESSMENT DATE: March 22, 2xxx STUDENT SIGNATURE:________________________________________ INSTRUCTOR SIGNATURE:______________________________________ ********************************************************************************* RE-ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE CI COMMENTS: Dana has show improvements in all areas described above; seems to have more focus; is more confident in patient interactions; offers good suggestions for changes in pt. treatment (for treatment to be more challenging); and is able to carry out treatment independently. Homework assignment was turned in on time. With Dana=s continuing efforts throughout the remainder of the affiliation, I anticipate a successful outcome. March 22, 2xxx CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR SIGNATURE / DATE STUDENT COMMENTS: I was afraid to overstep my boundaries, but now I know what is expected and how to better fit in. March 22, 2xxx STUDENT SIGNATURE / DATE