Commandant
2100 Second St. S.W.
United States Coast Guard
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Staff Symbol: G-KOM-2
Phone: 202-267-0894
COMDTINST 6400.1A
8 NOV 1994
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 6400.1A
Subj: STUDENT EXTERNSHIP PROGRAMS (SEP)
1.
PURPOSE. This instruction establishes policy regarding operation of SEP in Coast Guard
health care facilities.
2.
ACTION. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistics
commands, and commanding officers of headquarters units shall ensure compliance with the
provisions of this instruction.
3.
DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Commandant Instruction 6400.1 is cancelled.
4.
BACKGROUND. The Coast Guard formally began student externship affiliations in 1973
with the Dental Externship Program. Since that time, many dental, medical, pharmacy, dental
hygiene, and other student externs have utilized Coast Guard health care facilities as an
educational resource. Legal authorization for this program is 5 USC 5351, which refers to
externs as "student-employees."
5.
DISCUSSION. Student externs are usually upper level students from various health care
disciplines who are completing a curriculum requirement for graduation by providing
supervised care in a clinical environment. The lengths of externships vary, but are usually 4-6
weeks. Coast Guard, health care facilities can provide valuable clinical experience for these
students because of patient volumes, and the lack of administrative requirements associated
with practice management.
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