Patton State Hospital is a major forensic mental hospital operated by the California Department of Mental Health. It is located in San Bernardino, California, a community of approximately 181,000 people. The hospital was first opened in August 1, 1893. In 1927 it was renamed Patton State Hospital after a member of the first Board of Managers, Harry Patton of Santa Barbara.


Dietetic Internship - GENERAL INFORMATION

Patton State Hospital Dietetic Internship Program is currently granted an accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association.

The program is full-time and 10-months (43 weeks) in duration starting in August. There are six (6) intern positions available next year. Work schedule generally consists of 40 hours/week (5 days, 8 hours/day) with additional time required for completion of projects and assignments. A one-week vacation is provided during the winter holiday season in addition to all the state approved holidays.

Upon successful completion of the program, the intern will be eligible for the Registration Examination. This is the final step towards becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD) and an active member of the American Dietetic Association.

PROGRAM MISSION

The mission of the Patton State Hospital Dietetic Internship Program is to prepare entry-level dietitians for service to the community and society as a whole. The program is committed to educating interns in developing skills to promote health and prevent diseases utilizing evidence based practice. The program will provide various supervised practice settings to interns to help empower optimum nutrition to every persons served.

PROGRAM GOALS AND OUTCOME MEASURE

The program will prepare competent, entry-level dietitians for employment in local community.

Outcome Measures:

1. Eighty percent (80 %) of the graduates will pass the registration examination on the first try.
2. At least 33% of the graduates will be employed in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
3. At least one new graduate will be employed at Patton State Hospital every year.
4. After a year of employment, 85% of the graduates will rate equal in performance to graduate dietitians from other dietetic internship program

The program will provide exposure to variety of settings for supervised practice.

Outcome Measures:

1. The program will utilize at least seven rotation sites for supervised practice for every intern.
2. Ninety percent (90%) of program evaluations completed by interns will state that the program provided experience in a variety of settings.
3. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the interns who start the internship will complete the program within allotted time.

The program will maintain effective and efficient communication between the internship program, the sponsoring organization administration, the affiliates, and the local dietetic association.

Outcome Measures:

1. Advisory Committee (comprised of program director, site coordinators, administrator, and others as appropriate) Meeting will be held every year.
2. Site coordinators will provide site orientation to interns prior to starting the rotation.
3. Program director and interns will participate in local dietetic association.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Interns will demonstrate effective communication skills.
2. Interns will demonstrate their ability to use efficiently and effectively the techniques and tools for managing foodservice systems.
3. Interns will provide comprehensive evidence based nutrition care through accurate and complete assessment and follow-up.
4. Interns will gain knowledge and skills in business plan and leadership to successfully manage financial, human, and physical resources.
5. Interns will be able to utilize a broad knowledge of food and food related issues (including social, public policy, health and disease) to promote optimal intake and healthy life styles for wellness in the community.
6. Interns will model professional behaviors, including ethical practice, participation in professional activities, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

1. Satisfactory completion of required supervised practice hours. Satisfactory completion includes level of performance, competence, completion of all assigned activities, and the actual number of required supervised practice hours. Hours must be completed on a full-time basis. Employment outside of this program is not permitted during internship.
2. Attend all assigned orientation classes, didactic classes, workshops, seminars, meetings, and field trips.
3. Satisfactory completion of all assigned assignments and projects.
4. Compliance with the Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice for the Profession of Dietetics, Patton State Hospital Administrative Directives, Policies & Procedures of the Nutrition Services, and Policies & Procedures of the Affiliates.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

*Completion of Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education of the American Dietetic Association approved didactic program and a baccalaureate degree
*Verification Statement from the Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics
*Official transcripts of all college course work and/or graduate studies (minimum GPA 2.8 for cumulative and core courses required). Foreign students must have visa valid for internship year and the curriculum catalog sent with the transcripts.
*Recency of education
*Three (3) letters of recommendation (1 each from school instructor, work supervisor, and personal friend [not family or relative])
*Handwritten letter of application (approximately 500 words) on personal philosophy, career goals, strengths, skills or interest, hobbies, and extracurricular activities.
*Non-refundable application fee of $35.00 payable to Patton State Hospital
*Participates in D&D Digital Systems Computer Matching
*Personal interview at Patton State Hospital for selected finalists

Recreational Therapy Internship

The Recreational Therapy Internship at Patton State Hospital meets the standards of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification (CBRPC). The Internship is 15 weeks in duration. We accept interns throughout the year with all start dates being the first Monday of the month.

Patton State Hospital employs approximately 35 recreation therapists who work alongside art, dance, and music therapists in the Rehabilitation Therapy Service. Interns will work under a certified recreation therapist who is a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team. Interns will receive training and experience in the following areas:

Completing assessments

Treatment Planning

Documentation of Progress

Implementation of Therapeutic Recreation Programming

Interns will also receive in-house training in the treatment of mental illness in a forensic setting. The intern will be required to present a research project to the Rehabilitation Therapy Professional Group at the end of the internship.

See their contact: Internships / Training

This informaion is reposted with thanks to Patton State Hospital.