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The policies discussed in this section apply to all SCU clinical students participating in SCU’s owned and operated University Health Center (UHC), Foothill Regional Medical Center (FRMC), and Sports Medicine/Tactical Sports Medicine clinic (TSM/SM), in addition to the policies in Section II ; where there is a conflict, the policies in Section III supersede.
SCU Health includes three SCU-owned and -operated clinics: University Health Center (UHC), Foothill Regional Medical Center (FRMC), and Sports Medicine/Tactical Sports Medicine Clinic (SM/TSM). The main distinction between these clinics is the patient populations they serve. SM/TSM serves primarily athletes and tactical athletes which include first responders such as law enforcement, paramedics, and military. UHC and FRMC primarily serve people with spine-related disorders and other pain conditions as well as people managing chronic disease and people who have an interest in wellness, whole-person health, and prevention. The dichotomy between the clinics is not fixed, nor the variety of conditions seen in each clinic. Providers from each clinic often collaborate with one another as well as with specialists throughout southern California and beyond as is critical for SCU’s model of interprofessional education and practice.
UHC, FRMC, and SM/TSM host student clinical rotations of Ayurveda, acupuncture, chiropractic, and physician assistant clinical clerks - as well as health coaching students from Orange Coast College (OCC), Family Medicine residents from UC-Irvine Medical School, and chiropractic residents from the VA Greater Los Angeles.
SCU Health sponsors integrative grand rounds which occur during weeks 1-14 of each trimester. During each grand rounds session, a team of clinicians presents and discusses an integrative case. Students and employees are invited to attend. Attendance may be mandatory for students enrolled in specific clinical courses.
Additionally, SCU Health sponsors outreach events such as donation-based community events, supports the AIDS Lifecycle, houses a Healthcare Research Division, and manages post-graduate residency programs.
All patient care in SCU Health is documented within Athena starting in Fall 2024. The prior Electronic Health Record (EHR) was Visual Outcomes (VO).
SCU Health leadership includes the following:
https://www.scuhs.edu/team/melissa-nagare/
https://www.scuhs.edu/team/robb-russell/
https://www.scuhs.edu/team/joseph-horrigan/
JanetJimenez@scuhs.edu
https://www.scuhs.edu/faculty/?url=Jeffrey_Godun.html
https://www.scuhs.edu/faculty/?url=Steffany_Moonaz.html
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Joseph Eggleston, MPH, CEFP, CASP - Assistant Vice President of Auxiliary Operations, Privacy Officer, and Insurance Liaison
JosephEggleston@scuhs.edu
Sharonmartinez@scuhs.edu
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Category
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Description
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All SCU Health Faculty, Clinicians, and Residents
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Must have an active, unrestricted license in their program’s profession, be in good standing with the state licensing board, and be eligible for malpractice insurance coverage under SCU’s policy.
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Eastern Medicine Department Faculty Only
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Must be licensed for the previous 5 years.
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Ayurveda Medicine Department Faculty Only
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Must be an Ayurvedic licensed practitioner in India or hold an Ayurvedic practitioner certificate in the US.
Must have a license in a profession that has massage within its scope of practice.
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Clinical Students
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Clinical students are expected to have satisfied all pre-clinical prerequisites and be enrolled in a clinical or clinic observational course.
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Broad summaries of scope of practice and appointment types appear below. None of these summaries or statements are intended as healthcare or legal advice, or to in any way limit or modify legal scope of practice for licensees, or guide third party reimbursement. These simple statements, provided for clerk/clinical student guidance as they enter the SCU Health clinical environment, are intended as teaching examples. Ultimately, each clerk/clinical student must work with their clinical supervisor to ensure that care provided is appropriate; consistent with SCU Health objectives, third-party payor agreements, training, and patient values; and within state scope of practice. When in doubt, clerks/clinical students should direct questions to their supervising clinician or with the clinical site leadership/management.
The UHC has the following equipment available and approved:
- Cold LASER
- Ultrasound
- Electrical stimulation
- Hydrocolators
- Electric percussion tools
- Soft tissue manipulation instruments
- Paraffin bath
- Treadmill
- Stationary Bike
- Balance Boards
- Strength Training Equipment (free weights and bands)
- Proprioceptive/Coordination aids
- REPEX machine
- Triton Traction (lumbar and cervical)
Equipment that is approved and available for use may be used by clinical students in any program for which use of this equipment is within training and scope of practice and service, under direction of a clinical supervisor, and may be in addition to the unique equipment that appears below and which is also available at the site.
For all equipment, questions regarding safe operation should be directed to your supervising clinician or qualified staff on site. In every case, equipment that is not in good repair, not properly serviced, dirty, or unapproved should not be used. Clinical students should immediately inform their supervising clinician and front office staff of any equipment that requires repair, service, or cleaning.
Ayurvedic Medicine: Scope of Practice, Appointment Types, Equipment
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SCU Health Scope of Practice
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In California, the Health Freedom Act allows safe practice of Ayurvedic Medicine, which is currently not subject to license requirements.
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Ayurvedic Health Counselor/Ayurvedic Wellness Educator
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SCU Ayurvedic Counselors/Wellness Educators serve the community in prevention and health promotion through Ayurvedic guidance on diet, lifestyle, rejuvenating herbs and spices, bodywork therapies, and basic yoga practices. In California, bodywork therapy requires a license in a profession with massage in the scope of practice.
From CAAM - Scope of Practice for Ayurvedic Professionals
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Ayurvedic Practitioner
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SCU Ayurvedic Practitioners have clinical training in disease pathology and diagnosis based on Ayurvedic principles. These professionals practice prevention and health promotion as well as restoring balance of body and mind from imbalanced states with a focus on diet, lifestyle, herbs, bodywork therapies, and yoga. In California, bodywork therapy requires a license in a profession with massage in the scope of practice.
From CAAM - Scope of Practice for Ayurvedic Professionals
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Appointment Types
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- Initial Consultation
- Follow-up Consultation
- Abhyanga [Ayurvedic body massage]
- Shirodhara [Head oil drip therapy]
- Ekanga Dhara [Local oil drip therapy]
- Shiro abhyanga [Head massage]
- Nasya [Nasal treatment]
- Greeva Basti [Neck treatment]
- Kati Basti [Back treatment]
- Janu Basti [Knee treatment]
- Nabhi Basti [Navel treatment]
- Choorna Pinda Sweda [Herbal boluses therapy]
- Shali Pinda Sweda [Rice boluses therapy]
- Udvarthana [Herbal powder massage]
- Virechana [Herbs induced purgative therapy]
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Approved and Available Equipment
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- Shirodhara
- Steam tents
- Hot plates
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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine: Scope of Practice, Appointment Types, Equipment
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SCU Health Scope of Practice
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SCU Health abides by the mandated scope of acupuncture in the State of California both in practice and in education.
SCU Health acupuncturists may diagnose or treat any condition as defined by the State of California practice scope, provided such is consistent with site privileges and third-party agreements. SCU teaches and expects its instructors and clinical students to adhere to all ethics and jurisprudence requirements in the state of California. SCU acupuncturists teach and practice the art of stimulating the body’s natural healing ability through acupuncture, eastern massage, and acupressure; moxibustion, cupping, and gua sha; instruction in breathing techniques, exercise, and nutrition; or prescription of heat, cold, magnets, diet, and herb which may include plant/animal/mineral products.
While SCU Health acupuncturists may diagnose or treat any condition as described above SCU Health acupuncturists are expected to be skilled in caring for the body through traditional Chinese concepts and methods; appreciate minimalism in care; understand methods, techniques, and indications of intensive rehab/interventional treatments/surgical procedures; and embrace coordinating efforts with a variety of practitioners as a long-term care coordinator.
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Appointment Types
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- Initial visit (history, examination, diagnosis)
- Established patient exam (history, examination, diagnosis)
- Follow up visits
- Physical Examination
- Herbal Consult
- Auricular treatment
- Ear seeds
- Cosmetic Initial Visit
- Cosmetic Follow Up
- Wellness
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Approved and Available Equipment
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- Plastic cups and pump/glass pump for cupping therapy
- Fire cups
- Gua sha tools
- Moxa rolls
- Filiform needles
- Ear seeds
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Chiropractic: Scope of Practice, Appointment Types, Equipment
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SCU Health Scope of Practice
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SCU Health abides by the mandated scope of chiropractic in the State of California both in practice and in education.
SCU Health chiropractors may diagnose or treat any condition as defined by the State of California practice scope, provided such is consistent with site privileges and third-party agreements. SCU chiropractors may order imaging, labs, and other diagnostic tests when indicated to further a diagnosis and inform treatment decisions. SCU teaches and expects its instructors and clinical students to adhere to all ethics and jurisprudence requirements in the state of California. SCU chiropractors teach and practice manipulation of the spinal column and other joints of the body, as well as mobilization of related muscle and connective tissue. SCU chiropractors may also perform mechanical, hygienic, and sanitary measures including the use of air, cold, diet (including supplements), exercise, rehabilitation, heat, light, massage, physical culture, rest, ultrasound, and physiotherapy techniques as clinically indicated. SCU chiropractors with certificates of additional qualification from established certifying bodies such as the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians and American Chiropractic Board of Radiologists have additional training that qualifies them to perform additional diagnostic and screening procedures appropriate to the credential, such as (non-exhaustively listed) cardiac examinations for pre-participation examinations (PPEs) or evaluation and management of concussions and some forms of traumatic brain injury.
While SCU Health chiropractors may diagnose or treat any condition as described above, SCU Health chiropractors are expected to have a wide-ranging understanding and be particularly skilled in the differential diagnosis and management of patients with spine and musculoskeletal pain, including the ability to detect and manage psychological factors; appreciate minimalism in care; understand methods, techniques, and indications of intensive rehab/interventional treatments/surgical procedures; and embrace coordinating efforts with a variety of practitioners as a long term care coordinator.
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Appointment Types
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- Initial visit (history, examination, diagnosis)
- Established patient reexam (history, examination, diagnosis)
- Follow up visit
- Follow up visit - adjustment only
- Extra-spinal adjustment intake
- Foot Levelers Scan
- Med-X - Initial Visit
- Med-X - Rehab
- Med-X - Follow Up
- DMV Physical
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Approved and Available Equipment
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- Chiropractic tables (Leander, Flexion/Distraction/Thompson Drop/Flat bench)
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Radiology: Scope of Practice, Appointment Types, Equipment
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SCU Health Scope of Practice
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SCU Health provides trained staff and certified facilities to produce and interpret radiographic images of diagnostic quality for a wide range of skeletal conditions, as well as staff trained to interpret CT, Ultrasound and MR images from external sources. These diagnostic procedures align with the scope of the treating disciplines and focus primarily on neuromusculoskeletal imaging.
SCU Health radiology technicians are certified by the state of California to perform a broad range of diagnostic procedures using x-ray. As such, technicians are responsible for providing optimal patient care, understanding a patient’s medical record, corroborating the patient’s clinical history with the requested procedure, preparing the patient for the procedure (including considerations of x-ray safety), and evaluating images for technical quality.
SCU Health radiologists have advanced Diplomate standing in the art and science of interpreting and diagnosing from a range of diagnostic imaging sources.
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SCU Health Radiographic Technology Appointment Types
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- Performance of radiographic studies
- Clinic TB Chest Films
- Interpretation of x-ray, CT, MRI, Diagnostic Ultrasound
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Approved and Available Equipment
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- Agfa Digital Radiography Unit
- Terason Diagnostic Ultrasound Unit
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Sports Medicine/Tactical Sports Medicine: Scope of Practice, Appointment Types, Equipment
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SCU Health Sports Medicine/Tactical Sports Medicine Scope of Practice
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Professionals working in Sports Medicine and Tactical Sports Medicine are bound by the legal scopes of their respective professional licenses (noted above).
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Appointment Types
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- Sports event coverage
- Pre-participation Physical Exams
- Human Performance Fitness - Adult Private Training
- Human Performance Fitness - Adult Training
- Human Performance Training - Senior
- Human Performance Training - Youth/Junior
- Tactical Strength and Conditioning - Private Training
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Approved and Available Equipment
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- Med-X
- AlterG treadmill
- Game Ready cooling unit
- Suction cups
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Diagnostic imaging to be performed within SCU Health can be ordered by SCU Health clinicians as well as outside qualified providers.
When an SCU clinical student believes imaging is indicated, they should explain their justification to the supervising clinician. With supervising clinician approval, a request is submitted through SCU’s electronic health record software. The imaging department then schedules the patient to perform the requested imaging.
Diagnostic imaging requests from external qualified providers are typically submitted by fax or email on SCU Health’s Diagnostic Imaging Order form. Once the form is received, the front office verifies insurance and contacts the patient to schedule the appointment.
Patients must be asked whether they could be pregnant before X-rays are obtained. Patients who could be pregnant should determine this definitively prior to the performance of radiological studies. Efforts should be made to avoid the performance of radiological studies on pregnant patients, particularly during the first trimester. If deemed clinically necessary, radiographs may be taken with informed consent. When a study is deemed necessary, every effort should be made to minimize radiation exposure to the fetus. Signed parental permission (i.e., consent to treat) must be obtained for minors prior to the performance of any radiological studies.
Diagnostic Imaging faculty can assist clinical students and faculty with questions about appropriate plain film and advanced imaging studies for their patients.
All imaging studies taken on University Health Center (UHC) and Foothills Regional Medical Center (FRMC) patients are automatically sent to the SCU Radiology Department for Interpretation unless the provider who orders the film opts out of the process.
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