Diagnostic Medical Sonography Application

Release of Liability

Clinical Education is a planned learning experience for the student. Clinical Education rotation schedules are assigned by the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) faculty. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange, and attend assigned clinical sites.
The student is expected to be punctual and in full uniform at all scheduled times regardless of location or personal problems (ex. gas prices, work or family issues, car problems, etc.). There are few acceptable excuses for tardiness at any of the assigned clinical sites. Failure to be on time and/or attend clinical will result in suspension and or dismissal from the DMS program. There is no monetary compensation given by the clinical site or Pennsylvania Institute of Technology.
I understand and agree to abide by the above during my enrollment in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.
Any medication, prescription or otherwise, that may affect a student’s ability to
safely function in a patient care setting must be disclosed. Including medical
marijuana.

These competencies include:

1. Extended walking and standing daily, ability to grasp, push and/or pull, ability to bend, stoop, moving quickly in response to an emergency, using upper body movements, ability to reach, reaching and/or lifting, carrying, and moving equipment.
   1. Students must be physically capable of successfully performing activities in both the practice laboratory and clinical practice area. Sufficient physical health and stamina is essential to carry out all required procedures. It is also necessary for each student to determine their physical capabilities and report to the Sonography department for any physical limitation that would restrict or interfere with satisfactory clinical performances.
   2. Each student must demonstrate fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective patientcare.
2. Other essential competencies identified for Sonography include vision that allows detecting physical changes, hearing that allows responding to physical and verbal clues, a sense of touch that allows for assessment and palpation.
   1. It is necessary to observe, assess, and evaluate patients effectively, for each student to have sufficient use of the following senses: vision (low-lighted rooms), hearing (with a mask on), touch, and smell. Sensitivity must be demonstrated in the classroom, laboratory, and the clinical area.
3. Communication, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills while not physical, these competencies are essential for the Sonography student.
   1. Students must demonstrate the ability to communicate verbal as well as written messages clearly in English and in a timely manner.
   2. Each student must demonstrate the ability to interact with individuals, families, groups, and communities from a variety of emotional, religious, sociocultural/ethnic, and intellectual backgrounds.
   3. It is mandatory that each student demonstrate the sufficient ability to use judgment, critical thinking, and the sufficient power to assimilate, integrate, apply, synthesize, and evaluate information to solve problems.

These competencies include:

1. Extended walking and standing daily, ability to grasp, push and/or pull, ability to bend, stoop, moving quickly in response to an emergency, using upper body movements, ability to reach, reaching and/or lifting, carrying, and moving equipment.
   1. Students must be physically capable of successfully performing activities in both the practice laboratory and clinical practice area. Sufficient physical health and stamina is essential to carry out all required procedures. It is also necessary for each student to determine their physical capabilities and report to the Sonography department for any physical limitation that would restrict or interfere with satisfactory clinical performances.
   2. Each student must demonstrate fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective patientcare.
2. Other essential competencies identified for Sonography include vision that allows detecting physical changes, hearing that allows responding to physical and verbal clues, a sense of touch that allows for assessment and palpation.
   1. It is necessary to observe, assess, and evaluate patients effectively, for each student to have sufficient use of the following senses: vision (low-lighted rooms), hearing (with a mask on), touch, and smell. Sensitivity must be demonstrated in the classroom, laboratory, and the clinical area.
3. Communication, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills while not physical, these competencies are essential for the Sonography student.
   1. Students must demonstrate the ability to communicate verbal as well as written messages clearly in English and in a timely manner.
   2. Each student must demonstrate the ability to interact with individuals, families, groups, and communities from a variety of emotional, religious, sociocultural/ethnic, and intellectual backgrounds.
   3. It is mandatory that each student demonstrate the sufficient ability to use judgment, critical thinking, and the sufficient power to assimilate, integrate, apply, synthesize, and evaluate information to solve problems.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has implemented the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program, a component of the Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) that was signed as law on April 17, 2016. This program provides access to medical marijuana for patients with serious medical conditions as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Currently. the federal government regulates drugs through the Controlled Substances Act, which does not recognize the difference between medical and recreational use of marijuana. Under federal law, marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance, which means that it is considered to have no medical value. Practitioners may not prescribe marijuana for medical use under federal law.

Students entering any Clinical Health Programs are required to have laboratory screenings for drugs and alcohol upon admission to the clinical phase of the program and on a yearly basis while participating in the clinical experience. As per current policy, if the results are positive, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Students using medical marijuana will not be eligible for clinical placement in any P.I.T. clinical program, due to the current discrepancy between state and federal law regarding Drug Free Work Place Act and the MMA. Businesses who are not in compliance with federal law are at risk for criminal or civil charges; and additionally may find issues with eligibility for federal contracts and grants.

Additionally, Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana statute specifically provides that an employer does not have to accommodate an individual in a safety sensitive position if that person is under the influence of medical marijuana. Most positions involving direct patient care will be considered safety sensitive positions.

Students should also understand that under current Pennsylvania State Board law, many health career licensing boards require drug screening at the time of application for licensure. Similarly, most health care employers will perform routine drug screening as a condition for employment, as these positions involve direct patient care, and are considered safety sensitive positions. This discrepancy between federal and state law allows our clinical partners to deny student placement for clinical experiences and the State of Pennsylvania to deny licensure.

In order to be transparent with this entire process, we recognize our responsibility to fully inform students of P.I.T’s procedure regarding the use of medical marijuana. Due to current laws we cannot provide admission to the clinical phase in any of our Clinical Health Programs and students who have been admitted and are later to be found positive for medical marijuana will be removed.