The staff is dedicated to the clinical development of third-year students. Each student intern is assigned to an experienced chiropractor for mentoring and guidance in complete case management for an assigned portion of the 9,000 to 10,000 student patient visits per year. Student interns learn all aspects of basic patient case management, including how to conduct an effective patient interview, perform general and regional examinations, the essentials of appropriate medicolegal charting, and the design and implementation of a treatment plan. Cutting edge treatments such as musculoskeletal rehabilitation, proprioceptive rehabilitation, and spinal stabilization are also studied and practiced. There are weekly lectures and SHC labs, as well as supervised care of student patients.
Students routinely perform examinations on simulated patients and diagnose the conditions portrayed.
The SHC staff works with individual interns and small groups to ensure that student interns have an opportunity to observe and emulate the typical patient management skills which are standard for the most experienced and successful chiropractic physicians. Third year students also take academic course work in patient and practice management, clinical pathology, neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment, clinical nutrition, and advanced courses in adjustive techniques and radiographics. They learn about such professional issues as confidentiality, liability and other legal questions faced by the profession, and the mechanics of referral to other health-care specialists when appropriate. Integrated health-care principles are examined in a practical setting. Interns receive education and guidance in professional office and business issues, charges and billing, and establishing their first practice.