High School Student Internship

2. California Labor Law & Unpaid Status Acknowledgment

This internship program is strictly educational, observational, and unpaid. In compliance with the California Labor Code and the United States Department of Labor (DOL) “primary beneficiary” test for unpaid internships:

• No Employment Relationship: Participation in this internship does not create an employer-employee relationship between Cupertino Physical Therapy and the intern.
• No Compensation: The intern and their parent/guardian explicitly acknowledge that the intern is not entitled to wages, benefits, medical insurance, or any form of financial compensation for time spent in this program.
• No Promise of Future Employment: There is no promise, explicit or implied, of future employment or a paid position at the conclusion of the internship program.
• Primary Beneficiary: The intern is the primary beneficiary of this arrangement, gaining educational knowledge and exposure that is directly transferable to educational and professional goals.
• No Displacement: The intern’s tasks are designed purely to support their own learning and will not be utilized to displace, replace, or substitute for the labor of paid clinical or administrative staff.

3. Scope of Authorized Participation

This program is observational and educational. To protect patient safety, maintain compliance with the Physical Therapy Board of California, and limit clinic liability, strict boundaries are enforced.

Interns MAY:

• Observe clinical operations and patient care workflow
• Assist with approved, non-clinical organizational projects
• Participate in educational discussions and mentorship sessions with staff

Interns SHALL NOT:

• Provide, guide, or deliver any medical treatment, therapeutic exercise, physical therapy intervention, or clinical advice
• Lead, instruct, or independently monitor patients performing exercises or utilizing modalities
• Independently interact with patients regarding their medical care, scheduling, or billing
• Touch or operate any medical equipment, modalities, or therapeutic machinery without explicit, supervised instruction
• Be left entirely unsupervised with a patient in any treatment area, private office, or clinical space.

4. Permitted Non-Clinical Responsibilities

Interns may assist with the following limited, non-clinical tasks under direct staff supervision to understand operational workflows:

• Administrative Support: Retrieving and filing non-confidential operational records, preparing generic postcards, greeting cards, or patient thank-you notes.
• Event Coordination: Assisting with setup, light decorations, and material compilation for seasonal community events or educational workshops.
• Clinic Environmental Care: Folding clean linens (towels, pillowcases, gowns) and supporting the general cleanliness and organization of open treatment areas.

5. Attendance, Accountability, and Scheduling

Interns must maintain consistent, punctual attendance. If an intern will be late or absent, they must notify the Clinic Director or designated Internship Coordinator directly at least two (2) hours prior to their scheduled arrival time.

• Expected Hours: Approximately 1–4 hours per week for the duration of the summer program.
• Termination: Cupertino Physical Therapy reserves the right to terminate an intern’s participation at any time, without prior notice, for failure to meet attendance standards, behavioral issues, or clinic operational needs.

6. Professional Dress & Behavioral Standards

Interns represent Cupertino Physical Therapy and must project a professional image appropriate for a healthcare environment.

• Permitted Attire: Clean, professional athletic attire or business casual clothing (e.g., polo shirts, khakis, or solid-color activewear pants). Shoes must be clean, closed-toe, and safe for a clinical floor.
• Prohibited Attire: Denim jeans, sweatpants, gym shorts, excessively revealing clothing, clothing featuring inappropriate graphics/language, open-toed footwear, and strong artificial fragrances.

7. California Medical Privacy & HIPAA Confidentiality Agreement

Because interns will operate within a healthcare setting, they may inadvertently or intentionally hear, see, or expose themselves to Protected Health Information (PHI) and confidential business records. In strict accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA):

• Absolute Confidentiality: Interns must keep all patient information strictly confidential. This includes patient names, diagnoses, medical conditions, treatment protocols, scheduling records, insurance details, and private conversations overheard within the clinic.
• Zero External Sharing: Interns shall never discuss, disclose, or transmit any patient information outside the clinic walls, including to friends, family members, classmates, or educators.
• Systems Restrictions: Interns are strictly prohibited from independently accessing medical records, electronic medical records (EMR) software, or billing systems.
• Patient Privacy Rights: Interns must immediately exit any treatment room or area if a patient requests privacy or expresses discomfort with an observer present.
• Remedies for Breach: Any unauthorized access, disclosure, or breach of patient confidentiality will result in immediate dismissal from the program and may expose the individual to civil or criminal penalties under California law. Confidentiality obligations remain permanently binding after the internship concludes.

8. Electronic Devices & Social Media Policy

To protect patient privacy, preserve intellectual property, and minimize clinical distractions:

• Device Storage: Personal cell phones and electronic devices must be silenced and stored away in designated staff break areas during all operational hours. Devices may only be accessed during approved breaks.
• Media Restrictions: Interns are strictly prohibited from taking photographs, videos, or audio recordings inside the clinic at any time.
• Social Media Prohibitions: Interns shall not post any content online (including on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or personal blogs) regarding specific patient-related experiences, identifying clinic attributes, or staff members without explicit, written executive clearance.

9. Safety and Injury Reporting

Interns must maintain constant environmental awareness, obey all safety protocols, and maintain clinic cleanliness. Any accident, injury, or hazardous exposure occurring on the clinic premises—no matter how minor—must be reported immediately to the supervising clinician or Clinic Director.

10. California Waiver of Liability & Release

As the parent or legal guardian of the minor student, I explicitly acknowledge that presence in a physical therapy clinic involves inherent operational activities, including standing for extended durations, light organizational moving, and exposure to a multi-patient clinical environment.

To the maximum extent permitted under California law, I hereby release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue Cupertino Physical Therapy, its owners, directors, officers, employees, clinicians, and affiliates from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, or causes of action arising out of any loss, damage, personal injury, or illness that may be sustained by my child while participating in the program, except in instances of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Interested in the summer internship? Email cpt95129@gmail.com or call us at (408) 873-8188.

Ask About the Internship