Course Title: Integrated Clinical Sciences 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Integrated Clinical Sciences 1

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MEDS2125

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015

Course Coordinator: Dein Vindigni

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7311

Course Coordinator Email: dein.vindigni@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

To successfully complete this course, students should have the ability to:

  • know and understand basic and clinical science principles underlying health care;
  • apply their knowledge of diagnostic procedures;
  • apply their knowledge of specified therapeutic procedures;
  • develop a knowledge and understanding of basic health strategies required to produce positive health outcomes;
  • build on a basis for understanding the scientific literature in manual medicine and related fields and demonstrate the ability to put this understanding to effective use;
  • be information literate; locating, evaluating, managing and using a range of information;
  • adopt appropriate behaviours including socially and ethnically sensitive communications skills and empathy;
  • engage personally with a body of knowledge by ongoing learning, reflection and analysis;
  • work independently or as part of a team;
  • demonstrate consistent ethical professional behaviour; and
  • understand the principles involved in due duty of care to patients.

Students are required to have successfully completed the program Bachelor of Applied Science (Complementary Medicine) – Chiropractic Stream or an equivalent program.


Course Description

This course comprises two modules: clinical orthopaedics and clinical neurology. The focus is on common and uncommon patient conditions and presentations and on the traditional medical specialty approach to examination, diagnosis and management. This approach is intended to augment the information presented in specific chiropractic practice courses.

The clinical orthopaedics module includes information on the pathophysiology and pathology of the musculoskeletal system with an emphasis on orthopaedic disorders. The examination findings, treatment and prognosis of these conditions from an orthopaedic specialty and manual medicine viewpoint is presented.
The clinical neurology module provides students with information on the pathophysiology and pathology of the nerve lesions affecting the trunk and upper and lower limbs. The examination findings, treatment from a neurology speciality perspective, and prognosis of these conditions is discussed.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • demonstrate an understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the neurological and musculoskeletal systems of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, the upper and lower limbs, TMJ and a selection of neurological conditions;
  • perform an 8 point case history on a patient presenting with a neurological and/or musculoskeletal complaint;
  • perform an inspection, palpation, range of motion, orthopaedic and/or neurological examination of complaints affecting the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, the upper and lower limbs, and TMJ;
  • detect abnormalities on orthopaedic and/or neurological examination;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the normal and abnormal findings on different body regions relative to the age and stage of neurological and musculoskeletal development;
  • assess the abnormal orthopaedic and/or neurological findings and develop a diagnosis or a number of working hypotheses to account for the findings;
  • decide whether the case is appropriate for chiropractic therapy, or whether the patient needs to be referred to other health professionals; and
  • devise and institute an appropriate course of therapy when indicated.

Within the context of evidence-based care and the legal scope of practice students will gain or improve capabilities for patient-centred care in:

  • knowledge in the basic and clinical sciences;
  • skills in clinical assessment (including chiropractic-specific skills);
  • skills in diagnostic decision-making;
  • skills in clinical management (including chiropractic-specific skills);
  • their ability to demonstrate the duty of care required of a primary contact health care practitioner, including ethical practice management.



Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • attendance at lectures where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
  • private study, working through the course as presented in classes and audiovisual learning materials provided.


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be able to access course information and learning materials through myRMIT Studies and will be provided with copies of additional materials in class. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises written examinations as detailed in Part B.