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Course Outline

PAR201 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Community Paramedicine

Course Coordinator:Rebecca Macdonald (rdonnell@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Paramedicine

2024Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course challenges you to implement appropriate communication strategies while performing a comprehensive patient assessment. A clinical systems approach is used in assessing body systems and regions to find abnormalities in health status. The content links knowledge of clinical sciences, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and statistics to enable you to undertake and communicate a comprehensive health assessment.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online modules are provided each week for the student to work through prior to laboratory sessions 3hrs Week 1 13 times
Laboratory 1 – Schedules laboratory sessions in the paramedicine simulation space 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

Introduction to community paramedicine clinical assessment for Registered Paramedics

  • Introduction to community paramedicne
  • Principles of patient approach & communication
  • Principle of systematic patient assessment, history taking & physical examination
  • Evidence based practice, clinical decision making and health statistics

Extended clinical assessment of:

  • Cardiovascular system
  • Respiratory system
  • The abdomen & gastrointestinal system
  • Neurological system
  • Musculoskeletal system

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Paramedicine Board of Australia
1 Demonstrate a safe & systematic approach to examination and patient assessment Empowered 
1.1.e, 1.2.b, 1.2.d, 2.1.h, 3.1.a, 4.1.d, 5.2.a, 5.3.c
2 Interpret and communicate the key findings of patient assessment Empowered 
3.2.d, 3.2.f, 5.3.a, 5.3.d, 5.3.f, 5.4.c, 5.6.c
3 Synthesise clinical findings and knowledge of anatomy, health statistics and pathophysiology to formulate a clinical impression Knowledgeable 
3.1.a, 3.2.d, 3.2.f, 4.1.d, 5.2.a, 5.3.a, 5.3.b, 5.3.d, 5.3.f, 5.6.c

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Paramedicine Board of Australia
1.1.e Provide relevant information to a patient and demonstrate appropriate methods to obtain informed consent.
1.2.b Display appropriate professional behaviour in patient interactions.
1.2.d Identify and respect appropriate boundaries between patients and health professionals.
2.1.h Make provisions to engage third parties, including interpreters, to facilitate effective communication with patients whose first language is not English, whenever possible.
3.1.a Operate within a framework of making informed, evidence-based, reasonable and professional judgements about their practice, with acting in the best interests of their patients as their primary concern.
3.2.d Recognise that clinical judgements involve consideration of conflicting information and evidence.
3.2.f Identify the time criticality of treatment, referral, handover and where appropriate, transport.
4.1.d Ensure when patients are required to be moved it is in a considered and safe manner.
5.2.a Identify factors or conditions that may affect the patient behaviour and/or capacity to undergo the procedure.
5.3.c Understand the theoretical basis of and the variety of approaches to assessment and intervention.
5.3.a Understand the structure, function and pathophysiology of the human body, relevant to their practice, together with knowledge of health, human growth and development, disease, disorder and dysfunction.
5.3.d Demonstrate an applied knowledge of human anatomy and physiology sufficient to understand the nature and effects of injury or illness and to conduct assessment and observation in order to establish patient management strategies.
5.3.f Understand the clinical sciences underpinning paramedic practice, including physiological, pharmacological, behavioural and functional.
5.4.c Arrive at a reasonable working diagnosis.
5.6.c Utilise knowledge, reasoning and problem-solving skills to determine appropriate judgements and actions.
5.3.b Understand the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

HLT100 (or LFS112 and LFS122) and PAR103 and enrolled in Program SC395 or SC306

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Formative feedback is provided to students during each tutorial regarding the attainment of the required clinical skills and knowledge. The first online quiz is due in week four and provides an early summative indication of knowledge acquisition.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Practical / Laboratory Skills Individual 30% 
15 min
 Week 7 In Class
All 2 Practical / Laboratory Skills Individual 30% 
15 min
 Week 13 In Class
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 40% 
2 hours
 Exam Period Exam Venue
All - Assessment Task 1:Clinical Examination 1
Goal: 
In a simulated environment, you will demonstrate the clinical examination of a patient and application of technical skills.
Product: Practical / Laboratory Skills
Format: 
The student is required to conduct a clinical examination of a peer simulating an adult patient.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Use of disciplinary theory and practice
 1 2
2 
Ability to perform the clinical assessment elements
 1 2
3 
Content knowledge of the prescribed clinical assessments
 1 2
All - Assessment Task 2:Clinical Examination 2
Goal: 
In a simulated environment, you will demonstrate the clinical examination of a patient and application of technical skills.
Product: Practical / Laboratory Skills
Format: 
The student is required to conduct a clinical examination of a peer simulating an adult patient.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Use of disciplinary theory and practice
 1 2
2 
Content knowledge of the prescribed clinical assessments
 1 2
3 
Ability to perform the clinical assessment elements
 1
All - Assessment Task 3:Knowledge Review: Final Examination
Goal: 
To demonstrate disciplinary knowledge of clinical examination and health statistics.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Format: 
Multiple choice questions and/or short answer
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Ability to describe the process of history taking, clinical examination and clinical decision making
 2 3
2 
Ability to relate the key findings to disease or injury
 2 3
3 
Ability to interpret the key findings of patient assessment to formulate a clinical impression
 2 3

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Period and Topic Activities 
Module 1 Community Paramedicine
 
Online presentation , laboratory
 
Module 2: Cardiovascular system examination
 
Online presentation , laboratory
 
Module 3: Respiratory system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory
 
Module 4: The abdomen & gastrointestinal system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory
 
Module 5: Clinical decision making theory - Evidence based practice
 
Online presentation
 
Module 6: Clinical decision making theory - Health statistics
 
Online presentation
 
Module 7: Musculoskeletal system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory
 
Module 8: Neurological system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Nicholas Joseph Talley,Simon O'Connor 0 Talley & O'Connor's Clinical Examination 9th Ed. n/a

Specific requirements

Students are required to wear appropriate clothing to tutorials that allow tutorial partners to participate in clinical examinations of each other.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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