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Hi all,

Had a call from a person doing an allied health assistant course (in podiatry) who wanted to know if I would take her on for a placement. This placement consists apparently of 72 hours, "observing and treating" in my practice. I just wonder how we stand with insurance issues etc, I have no info from the TAFE/college or wherever she goes. And what happens with the patient fee -does the Pt get the consult cheaper for a less qualifed practitioner??
One things for sure, I KNOW that my Pts will not be happy ....................they grumble enough about new grads not being "qualified"!!!!

 

Jos

Any AHA in podiatry should be practicing within guideline. The Vic Pod Board is developing a framework for assistants around supervision and accountability etc. But the A.Pod.C. has more specific dos and don'ts in their policies

AHAs have been in the physio and OT profession for about 20 years, and are mainly employed in public institutions, where insurance issues are more global, but the tafe should have insurance and be able to answer your questions.

At present private pods who use assistants (less qualified than AHAs) tend to roll them out in nursing homes etc, and in the public sector they provide a nail care service to those that would be otherwise ineligible for a service.

If you don't think you could make use of an assistant, to help with instrument sterilisation, helping patients to and from reception, applying emollients etc. say no

this is the kangan tafe link
http://www.kangan.edu.au/courses/course-info/index.php?fldCourseID=1611

and the swinburne link
http://courses.swinburne.edu.au/Courses/ViewCourse.aspx?id=22437

 

Thanks, I did say no. I just don't have the time to supervise someone for 72 hours, when their place of study provides no guidelines for supervision at all.
One thing that concerns me, is that the student had to find her own placement for 72 hours before the end of this year. She said that she had rung a few clinics but no luck..................well no wonder when there is no info at all from Swinburne regarding what is expected etc. Needless to say, I wished her luck in her quest!!

 

Hi we had a placement, the uni did ask if we would be involved.
The student did find there own placement but it was only 1 day.
The student had no interest as his extensive placement was in physio and he already had a position offered.
thought it still taught another person out there what pods do:D