Unit rationale, description and aim
To successfully transition from on-campus learning to the clinical practice year students are required to integrate and apply all previously acquired physiotherapy knowledge and skills to comprehensively meet the clinical needs of people in all contexts. In this unit, students will investigate different models and contexts of health care and health related services from local, national and international perspectives and will further develop the professional behaviours and communication skills required across a range of clinical contexts. Students will use clinical reasoning skills to plan delivery and evaluation of evidence-based, culturally sensitive, person-centred physiotherapy for individuals with complex health issues. Students will also develop professional report writing to document their clinical practice. Students will apply these skills as they transition into clinical placement to optimise outcomes for individuals with complex health issues in a variety of practice frameworks.
This unit aims to prepare students for physiotherapy clinical practice. Students will develop skills in professional documentation, report writing and delivering effective handovers. The unit also specifically addresses the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework (HCF, 2014) on equity and human rights in healthcare (HCF15.3)(https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-curriculum-framework). Students will be able to draw on all the skills learnt in this unit as they transition into clinical placement to optimise outcomes for individuals with complex health issues in a variety of practice frameworks.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify and evaluate different models of health c...
Learning Outcome 01
Identify and evaluate the influence of environment...
Learning Outcome 02
Plan, evaluate and document evidenced-based, cultu...
Learning Outcome 03
Reflect critically on professional and personal be...
Learning Outcome 04
Develop strategies for redressing inequity in heal...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
Models of health care provision and the influence upon physiotherapy practice:
- Aboriginal Community-Controlled health care services
- Australian healthcare system (including federal, state and territory)
- Physiotherapy in primary health care
- Physiotherapy in developing countries
- Community-based rehabilitation
Physiotherapy practice for people with complex health care issues. Students will explore complex health care issues relevant to contemporary physiotherapy practice through the use of case scenarios. Within these scenarios students will identify and discuss ethical, legal and professional issues relevant to physiotherapy practice. Examples include:
- Children and adolescents living with disabilities
- Chronic pain management
- Domestic violence
- Frailty
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' health
- Infectious diseases
- Mental Health
- Palliative care
- People with multiple co-morbidities
- Rural and remote practice
- Torture and trauma
Community resources for supporting individuals/groups of people with complex health issues:
- Ageing and community care
- Indigenous health services
- Transitional care services for adolescents and young adults with chronic disease and/or disability
- Digital health care including telehealth
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks for this unit align with the presentation of the content and comprise a practical examination, a group seminar and a written letter of referral.
Assessment task 1, an individual submission of a letter of referral for a client, requires students to provide evidence of professional report writing to document clinical practice and provide succinct information to another health professional regarding the client’s current short and long term goals.
Assessment task 2 requires students to demonstrate clinical reasoning and effectively apply appropriate therapeutic techniques and training of planned rehabilitation for complex cases.
Assessment task 3, a group seminar presentation, requires students to develop an evidence-based individualised comprehensive physiotherapy management plan for a person with complex health care needs.
To pass the unit, students must demonstrate achievement of every unit learning outcome and obtain a minimum mark of 50% in graded units.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1 Letter of Referral for Client: Requi...
Assessment 1 Letter of Referral for Client:
Requires students to provide evidence of professional report writing to document clinical practice and provide succinct information to another health professional regarding the client’s current short and long term goals.
30%
Assessment 2 Practical Examination: Requires stud...
Assessment 2 Practical Examination:
Requires students to demonstrate clinically reasoning and effectively apply appropriate therapeutic techniques and training of planned rehabilitation for complex cases.
40%
Assessment 3 Group Seminar: Requires students to...
Assessment 3 Group Seminar:
Requires students to develop an evidence-based individualised comprehensive physiotherapy management plan for a person with complex health care needs.
30%
(25% Group Mark, 5 % Individual mark)
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of learning through an intensive on campus delivery (2 weeks). For both delivery patterns, learning and teaching strategies include a combination of face-to-face, online, simulation, and other directed independent learning activities. Students will transition from tutor-led to peer and finally self-directed learning. Peer learning is encouraged through seminar presentations of physiotherapy practice for people with complex health care issues during the intensive delivery period. Additionally, students will contribute to a shared online collection of resources encouraging self-directed learning.
Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities, demonstrating respect for the individual as an independent learner.