Structure of Clinic Observation:
There are three primary routes for students to gain clinic observation hours:
- Classroom Clinical Observation (T1–T2)
- T1: Students will register for ACL3031 Clinic Observation Course (45 Hours)
- T2: Students will register for ACL3032 Clinic Observation Course (45 Hours).
- Clinic Theater (T1–T4)
- Clinic Observation (T3-T4)
- T3: Students will register for three shifts under course ACL3033 Clinic Observation Course (30 Hours). ALL hours need to be completed in NWHSU on-site, or external community clinic settings. Students must complete 100% of hours.
- T4: Students will register for three shifts under course ACL3034 Clinic Observation Course (30 Hours). ALL hours need to be completed in NWHSU on-site, or external community clinic settings. Students must complete 100% of hours.
Classroom Clinic Observation:
One hundred percent (100%) of T1 & T2 clinic observation is structured as classroom clinic observation with ACM instructors treating patients, as other students observe in a classroom setting. These classroom clinic observation sessions are integrated into the curriculum as regularly scheduled classes, and enrollment is completed at the Registrar’s office.
- With the exception of holidays and required university events, attending each classroom observation for the entire trimester should provide 45 hours of clinical observation. Each class is scheduled for 15 weeks as a three-hour class. Only ONE 4-hour shift with an excused absence per T1 rotation may be made up in one of the Northwestern on-site teaching clinics. Only ONE 4-hour class with an excused absence per T-2 rotation may be made up in one of the Northwestern on-site teaching clinics OR in an external community clinic.
Attendance, Forms and Passing the classroom observation class:
Attendance is mandatory, and the instructor will record attendance. The attendance records are reviewed at the end of each trimester by the ACM Clinic Coordinator to ensure compliance with ACM attendance policy.
ACM attendance policy for Observation courses requires that a student attend 100% of the total number of scheduled hours to receive full credit for that course. If a student does not attend the mandatory 100% of scheduled hours, the student will not pass the class and will receive an “Incomplete.” Credit for the class will not be allowed until the “Incomplete” is satisfied. “Incompletes” must be satisfied within the term.
Clinic Observation:
Beginning in T3 and through T4 clinic observation takes place in either NWHSU on-site clinics, or offsite ACM community clinics. See “Scheduling Observation” for instructions on registering for specific sites. If a student wants to intern at Aliveness, Courage Kenny, Cerenity Senior Care Center, Salvation Army, or Pillsbury Hours, they must complete a minimum of 4 hours of observation at that site. Up to three clinic observations can be completed at each site. A list of current off-site community clinics can be found in the Appendix B.
Where can you do your Observation Hours?
- On-site Northwestern University Clinics
- Northwestern University Health Services (UHS) / DeRusha Clinic (DRC) -- these are the same clinic, sometimes called different names.
- Northwestern Bloomington Natural Health Clinic (NHC-B)
- Student intern shifts
- Shadowing / observing professional ACM providers
- Human Performance Center (HPC)
- Off-site community clinics (not hospitals) listed in Appendix B.
- Clinical Theatres- Be sure to sign in and out
Two shifts (8 hours total) of observation in UHS / DRC and two shifts (8 hours total) in NHC-B must be completed before beginning T5.
IMPORTANT: If you are observing at an off-site clinic or NHCB make sure you send an e-mail or call the supervisor/Practitioner that you are going to be observing at least 24 hours in advance. This gives them time to notify you if the patient has already declined to be observed by a student, or if there is any other information you should know about the case.
Clinic Theater:
Clinical Theater is offered occasionally throughout each trimester for the opportunity to observe a variety of ACM faculty in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Offered in the evenings, it presents another route to obtain observation credits outside of the scheduled classroom or clinic Observation. This schedule is coordinated by the front desk staff at NHC-B, and posted at the beginning of the trimester so students can determine whether clinical theater is a viable option for completing observation hours for the term. Sign up with NHC-B staff to attend clinical theater.
IMPORTANT: If you are cancelling attendance at a Clinical Theater shift, contact the NHC-B front desk staff. If the Theater shift has low attendance, it may be cancelled and both the patient and the supervisor will need to be notified.
Remember: Registering for T5 clinic internship requires completion of 150 observation hours.