Externship compliance requirements are primarily established by the student’s academic institution and the host clinical site. In addition to those requirements, VSP mandates that all externship activities for clinical work where claims are submitted to VSP for services provided to VSP members must occur under the direct supervision of a VSP credentialed doctor in compliance with the following standards:

• The supervising doctor must remain on-site and accessible throughout the patient encounter.
• The supervising doctor must review all clinical findings and deliver the assessment and treatment plan to the patient.
• Documentation must reflect that the supervising doctor reviewed and approved the extern’s work during the encounter with the patient, including signing/countersigning the patient’s medical record.

VSP recognizes and supports the educational value of externships and student teaching within your practice. These requirements are intended to ensure patient safety, regulatory compliance, and the highest standards of care.