Undergraduate - UnitBEH3011 - Paramedic management of medical conditions

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Offered	Peninsula First semester 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Bill Lord

Synopsis

This unit continues to develop the role of the paramedic as a clinician by extending clinical examination and decision making skills that were introduced in previous clinical units. The unit explores commonly encountered acute and chronic health emergencies, with a focus on pain management. Using a combination of case-based learning, clinical laboratory work and simulation, this unit will develop the essential clinical skills, clinical problem solving and decision-making competencies in managing common health emergencies. The unit will be supplemented by the
clinical placement unit BEH3031 where students will integrate theory with practice.

Outcomes

By the completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

1. Locate and evaluate evidence that informs the paramedic management of acute and chronic medical conditions across the lifespan;
2. Describe the epidemiology, population health, and pathology related to acute and chronic emergency medical conditions commonly encountered in paramedic practice;
3. Describe the clinical manifestations of the selected medical conditions commonly

encountered in paramedic practice;

4. Demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to the assessment and management of patients with selected acute and chronic medical emergencies across the lifespan;
5. Describe the physiology of pain and the concept of pain relief as a basic human right;
6. Select and use appropriate pain assessment tools for patients across the lifespan and those with communication difficulties or cognitive impairment;
7. Describe organisational and personal factors affecting the assessment and management of individuals experiencing pain and generate strategies to manage the influence of these factors on clinical practice;
8. Demonstrate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions used by paramedics to manage pain;
9. Relate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic agents used by paramedics for the management of common medical emergencies;
10. Predict the range of potential behaviours of self, patients, their carers and bystanders in situations of acute medical emergencies in a sociological and culturally sensitive context;
11. Describe the special features and trends in health systems relating to prevention of medical emergencies and the management of patients with medical conditions;
12. Describe the roles of paramedics and allied health professionals in providing community based emergency health care aimed at preventing and managing medical emergencies.

Assessment

Mid-semester test (1 hour): 15%
Written examination (3 hours): 45%
Written assignment (2000 words): 40%
Scenario-based clinical examination: pass/fail (hurdle)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Bill Lord

Contact hours

6 hours per week involving lectures, tutorials, simulation, clinical laboratory and small group exercises. This unit will be taught over 9 weeks to allow for the clinical placements associated with the co-requisite unit BEH3031.

Prerequisites

BEH2012 and BEH2022

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic)