Impact of student practicums on sonography clinics & hospital departments in British Columbia: A research project

As part of the education to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technologist, students must complete a mandatory 4-term practicum at designated sites. Educational institutions that offer DMS Programs work together with practicum sites to identify available student placement spots. Sites can choose to refuse to participate or limit the number of students that they take on. However refusal is detrimental to both the educational programs and the students who rely on these sites for their clinical education. This study uses a cost-benefit analysis to explore the outcomes of hosting students for clinical placements in the DMS departments of hospitals and private clinics throughout British Columbia. Using an online survey of clinical placement coordinators from all the BC health districts, it was learned that the overall burden to hosting clinical placements on number of patients seen in a day, or on the preceptors time, was minimal. And in many cases a financial benefit is present. While some sites do suffer a relatively small financial burden, the researcher speculates that this is caused by variation in site policies. Based on the findings this researcher recommends that further study be done into the policies around student clinicals in order to better understand and boost the financial outcome for all sites.