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Student Placement Process

Information about PHSA's role as an Academic Health Science Centre, and resources to support education at PHSA
About
PHSA and its programs are among the largest academic health organizations in Canada. We: 

  • manage select, province-wide specialized healthcare programs and services
  • support a thriving research community
  • lead in student practice education innovation and delivery
  • support 4,000 students a year from all health disciplines in practicum experiences
  • provide quality learning environments and a broad range of learning opportunities

Who completes placements at PHSA? Students in: 

  • medicine
  • nursing 
  • rehabilitation therapies
  • respiratory therapy
  • nutrition
  • pharmacy
  • psychology
  • child life
  • dentistry
  • midwifery
  • social work
  • diagnostic, imaging, and med-lab technologies
  • pastoral care
  • paramedical care
  • other disciplines and programs (e.g. business, communications, IM/IT, unit clerks, human resources, etc.)

Where are students placed?

Care delivery in acute, ambulatory and community settings in:

  • child/youth health
  • women’s health
  • public health
  • cancer care
  • mental health and addictions services
  • forensic services
  • renal and cardiac care
  • emergency services 
  • research programs
  • organizational services such as information systems, decision support, communications, library management, business and human resource management, population and public health.
Affiliations

Why is an Affiliation Agreement required? 

An Education Affiliation Agreement between the education institution and the health authority or agency is required for all practice education placements.

An affiliation agreement:

  • defines the roles and responsibilities of the health authority and education institution in providing practice education
  • addresses the risks in the relationship for organizations as well as their employees, patients, faculty and students.

PHSA and its programs use standardized templates for affiliation agreements governing all student placements in health authorities. 

UCIPP member Affiliation Agreement template

Non-UCIPP Affiliation Agreement template (includes all private and out-of-province institutions)

When Students or Institution Staff are responsible for arranging their own medical/accident insurance, append the Waiver to the above Non-UCIPP Affiliation Agreement Template.

The templates are supported by the BC Health Care Protection Program and the University, College, Institute Protection Program, at the Ministry of Finance. 

How is an Affiliation Agreement set up? 

If the institution does not have an existing Affiliation Agreement with PHSA, a minimum of three months is required to process an Affiliation Agreement before the placement commences.  This process should be coordinated by the educational institution's representative for Affiliation Agreements, in collaboration with the health authority representative.

Who do I contact within PHSA to inquire about or set up an Affiliation Agreement? 

If your institution does not already have a PHSA or program contact, email one of the following: 

Now that we have an Affiliation Agreement, how do I arrange a placement for my students? 

See 'Placement Coordination' above.  

Affiliation Agreements in BC: FAQs

The Affiliation Agreements in BC:  Frequently Asked Questions answers many of the questions raised regarding Affiliation Agreements in BC and the use of the standard template across the province.

Placements

PHSA and program staff work with academic institutions to establish affiliation agreements and match student learning needs to available placements

The education institution must have a current affiliation agreement in place with PHSA.

Placement coordinators use HSPnet to request and confirm student placements in the health agencies, in collaboration with PHSA staff. The Placement Tasks and Resources  document provides information for out of province requests.

Students should communicate their placement interests to the placement coordinator for their educational program.

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SOURCE: Student Placement Process ( )
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