Clinical Observations

We serve children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of communication disorders and differences in our Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic. We encourage you to take advantage of observing a diverse group of sessions. The Clinical faculty is enthusiastic in having students expand their understanding of the professions and the work we do through guided clinical observations.
Here are the steps.

Before you observe in any clinic, you must complete HIPAA training and sign a confidentiality form. HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law regarding confidentiality of client/patient information. HIPAA training for the SLHS Department is available on the UA electronic course management site EDGE Learning through UAccess.

  • Go to UAccess and login with your UANetID
  • Select "EDGE Learning" 
  • In the box next to Learning Catalog at the top of your screen, type in HIPAA Annual Certification and select 
  • Click on REGISTRATION, and then COMPLETE REGISTRATION 
  • Select "Launch" and complete the training by viewing 100% of the module and answering any questions you encounter 

Sign up for observations at this link:

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SLHSAudiologyClinic@emailarizona.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/ 

  • You will sign up for a specific time, either 8:15 or 12:45, with a particular audiologist in a particular clinic room.  Please make note of that information – it will be on your email reminder.  At the appointed time, go to that room to check in with the audiologist or the graduate student working with them.  They should know you are coming. If you are late and the session has already started, you will not be allowed in the room. 
  • Observations are scheduled for four hours; however, you can leave earlier if you need to. Let the clinical instructor know how long you plan on staying that morning or afternoon.
  • Appointments in the on-campus clinic are most often for adults needing evaluation and services related to hearing aids and cochlear implants.  
  • In order to ensure that there are ample opportunities for those interested, please do not sign up for more than one session every two weeks.   
  • Patients in the audiology clinic are scheduled for appointments of varying lengths, between 15 to 30 minutes all the way up to 2 hours. Your observation experience will probably have a variety of appointments. Plan to be observing side by side with the graduate student and clinician.  Any questions you have will likely be answered between appointments.

Sign up for observations at this link:  

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SLHSSpeechLanguagePathologyClinic@emailarizona.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/ 

  • We want students to receive a varied observation experience. Please sign up for no more than 3 sessions with the same client.
  • Sessions typically start on the hour or half hour and last for 60 minutes.  You must stay for the full observation in order to receive one-hour of observation time.  
  • If a client cancels and you have not been notified, please sign up for a new time. 
  • If you have to cancel, please email the clinical professor responsible for the session.   
  • Please note that because of limited treatment rooms in the downstairs pediatric clinic, some of our younger clients are seen on the fourth floor.  
  • Arrive 10 minutes before the session  
  • When observing pediatric clients, proceed to the observation room (do NOT enter the treatment room) and introduce yourself to the clinical instructor (if present) and other observers (these are typically caregivers). When observing adult clients, please wait in the 4th floor waiting area for the instructor.
  • The clinical instructor may not always be present.  In this case, COMPLETE AN OBSERVATION REFLECTION DOCUMENTATION FORM LOCATED BELOW OR IN THE OBSERVATION ROOM and seek out the clinical instructor at a later date.  

Bring three things to a session: 

  • A copy of your HIPAA completion certificate. The clinical faculty will not sign your observation log without this. 

  • Your Guided Observation Summary Form for signature  

  • The Observation Reflection Documentation Form (to be completed if the clinical instructor is not in the therapy room with you) 

     

Please dress appropriately for a professional environment. Here is the Clinic Dress and Demeanor Code:

Maintain a professional attitude and behavior at all times.  No food or cell phone use during the sessions.  Avoid discussion about protected health information with the caregiver.  If you are asked a clinical question by the family or others, please direct them to the supervising clinician.  

Obtain a signature from the clinical instructor on your Guided Observation Summary form.

Keep your clinical observation log in a safe place so you will be able to provide it to your graduate institution. If you would like a copy of the log saved by the University of Arizona, please send it to SLH' Undergraduate Advisor.