Overview
This unit provides an insight into the science of cardiac assessment by exploring the role and scope of practice of the cardiac physiologist and echocardiographer within the Australian Health Care System. You will acquire knowledge of the types of cardiac assessment techniques available and the outcomes of those assessments. You will apply your knowledge and skills to demonstrate procedures for the provision of safe patient care, ultrasound scanning coordination, spatial awareness and grey-scale pattern recognition in a simulated clinical environment. The aim of this unit is to provide introductory knowledge and skill that will support your learning throughout the Echocardiography / Cardiac Physiology course.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite Students must be enrolled in CV69 Bachelor of Echocardiography and Cardiac Physiology / Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Emails, unit evaluation
Students felt written assessment task description required more clarity.
Provide additional resources including an assessment video, a new marking rubric, exemplars of previous work, referencing guide and a reworked task description on Moodle site.
Feedback from Emails, unit evaluation
Fantastic experience had by students at Residential School.
Format will be continued in 2019.
- Discuss the provision of cardiac assessment within the context of general diagnostic services in the Australian Health Care System
- Discuss the role and scope of practice of echocardiographers and cardiac physiologists, including professional and legal frameworks
- Apply introductory-level knowledge and skill of cardiac assessment, anatomical planes and patient data using appropriate terminology
- Perform clinical tasks which demonstrate safe practice in a simulated environment.
Linked to National and International Standards
1. ASAR Accreditation Standards for Cardiac Sonography - critical practice Unit 8 - Cardiac, Foundation units of competence - 1- 5.
2. European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging Core Syllabus
3. American Registry for Cardiac Sonography Core Syllabus
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 4 - Examination - 60% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Examination - 60% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
12-Lead ECG: The Art of Interpretation
Second Edition (2015)
Authors: Tomas B Garcia
Jones & Bartlett Learning
Burlington Burlington , MA , USA
ISBN: 9780763773519
Binding: Paperback
Echocardiography: The Normal Examination and Echocardiographic Measurements
Third Edition (2017)
Authors: Bonita Anderson
Echotext Pty Ltd
Australia
ISBN: 9780992322212
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
These PRESCRIBED textbooks will be utilised throughout the CV69 - Bachelor of Echocardiography (Cardiac Physiology)/Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography course, and no doubt continue to assist you after graduation. Please prioritise ordering these textbooks for the commencement of term.
Both texts are available to purchase from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.spermon@cqu.edu.au
j.tarrant@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Chapter
Readings provided on Moodle:
- Health in Australia: A Quick Guide
- Trends in Cardiovascular Disease in Australia and in the World
- The Challenge of Reform in a Fragemented System
- What is Digital Health?
- Australia's Personally Controlled Health Record and Primary Healthcare
Events and Submissions/Topic
Order CQUniversity uniform from the Bookshop for the Residential School in Week 9
Module/Topic
Professionalism in Cardiac Science
Chapter
Readings provided on Moodle:
- ASA Code of Conduct
- ASA Standards of Practice
- COAG Health Council National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers FAQs
Events and Submissions/Topic
Consider joining the Australasian Sonographer's Association (ASA), and the Australasisn Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM)
Module/Topic
Communication in Health
Chapter
Readings provided on Moodle:
- Patient-centred Care
- Patient Expectations and the Paradigm Shift of Care
- Inclusion and Health Literacy
- The Paediatric Patient and the Geriatric Patient
- The Language of Medicine
- Building a Medical Vocabulary
Anderson, B (2017). Echocardiography: The Normal Examination and Echocardiographic Measurements (Third Edition). Abbreviations and Symbols.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The Electrocardiogram (ECG) Part One
Chapter
Garcia, T (2015). 12-Lead ECG: The Art of Interpretation (Second Edition 2015). Chapters 1-4, pages 5-34.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The Electrocardiogram (ECG) Part Two
Chapter
Garcia, T (2015). 12-Lead ECG: The Art of Interpretation (Second Edition 2015). Chapters 5-8, pages 35-80.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ergonomics and Patient Handling
Chapter
Readings provided on Moodle:
- Guide to Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
- Caring for the Caregiver
- ASA and ASUM Joint Guidelines for Reducing Injuries to Sonographers/Sonologists
- Minimising Sonographer Injuries
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Echocardiography Part One
Chapter
Anderson, B (2017). Echocardiography: The Normal Examination and Echocardiographic Measurements (Third Edition). Chapter 2: pages 34-70.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Echocardiography Part Two
Chapter
Anderson, B (2017). Echocardiography: The Normal Examination and Echocardiographic Measurements (Third Edition). Chapter 2: pages 34-70.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Vital Signs, Infection Control, and Handwashing
Chapter
Readings provided on Moodle:
- Infection Control
- 'My Five Moments of Hand Hygeine'
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School Week 9 Thursday and Friday (16 and 17 May 2019) 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Practical Assessment Task One Due: Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Practical Assessment Task Two Due: Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Cardiac Catheter Laboratory
Chapter
Readings provided on Moodle:
- The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Medicolegal Issues
Chapter
Readings provided on Moodle:
- Legal and Ethical Aspects of Sonography
- Ethical practice in Echocardiography
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Readings and resources to be provided on the unit Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
For information about the examination timetable, visit the MYCQU Student Portal
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
For information about the examination timetable, visit the MYCQU Student Portal
The unit coordinators for ECHO11003 are Ashley Spermon and Jacqui Tarrant. The best way to contact Ashley is a.spermon@cqu.edu.au and Jacqui is j.tarrant@cqu.edu.au. Please put the unit code ECHO11003 in the subject title. Ashley and Jacqui have sonography laboratory commitments and are often away from their desks, therefore, it is often best to email and request a scheduled meeting (over the phone, via Zoom, or in person), if necessary.
The first point of contact is the Q&A forum on the unit Moodle site. This forum is monitored and responses will be posted to all students in a timely manner.
Access to the internet is required to undertake this unit, as unit materials, tutorials, and updates will be provided via Moodle, email, and Zoom. Weekly resources will include access to relevant websites, activities and readings, however you will need to acquire the prescribed textbooks to successfully complete this unit. These textbooks will also be used in the following terms. To give yourself the best chance of success with this unit, please ensure that you undertake all of the readings and activities that are provided for you.
Attendance at the Residential School in Week 9 is Compulsory. You must attend the Residential School at your enrolled campus only. Zoom tutorials (live) will be held fortnightly during the term. Specific times and meeting IDs will be posted on the unit Moodle site. Tutorials are recorded for you for later perusal. Attendance at tutorials is recommended.
As this is a 6 credit point unit, you are expected to spend an average of 12.5 hours each week on study activities for this unit. This time includes reviewing lectures, creating notes to meet learning objectives, researching and working on assessment, and attending the Residential School.
1 Written Assessment
Knowledge of the Australian health care system and the cardiac science field is required to practice as a Cardiac Physiologist or Echocardiographer. To practice within an interprofessional health care team, it is important to be able to communicate your knowledge, skills, and concerns, to collaborate effectively with industry peers to optimise health service delivery. Therefore, as a professional you must be able to understand and discuss cardiovascular disease, describe common cardiac tests, acknowledge professional requirements and manage patient expectations, as well as be aware of emerging industry issues.
You are to create a Peer Information Sheet (A4 format) for the benefit of health professionals from other fields. The Information Sheet will consist of four sections with approximately 250 words per section. Consider using tables and dot points to present information clearly and concisely. The four sections to be discussed are:
Section 1 – Review of disease
· Discuss the epidemiology (incidence, distribution, determinants, control) of cardiovascular disease worldwide, and in Australia
· Define risk factors that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease
· Provide an example of common cardiac disease in Australia
Section 2 – Test information
· List common diagnostic procedures that are used to evaluate cardiac disease
· From your list of examples, select one procedure to discuss further, and detail why this test is performed, how it is performed, and what the results can indicate
· Provide an example of an authoritative source where patients and/or health professionals can source further information on this procedure
Section 3 – Professional and patient expectations
· Identify key staff behaviours that are likely to influence patient perception of care provided (consider professional conduct, accreditation, as well as legal issues)
· Discuss how patients can play an active role in their health care, and how health care workers can support patients in this
Section 4 – Emerging issues
· Define “digital health” in Australia, describing main features, users, and privacy
· Describe how the Australian digital health strategy will improve healthcare delivery
· Provide one example of one limitation of the national digital health strategy
You are required to complete the task using lecture material, tutorials, and relevant material provided on the unit Moodle site. In addition to the unit materials provided, you must research current literature in order to develop your response.
Your response to each section must be supported by references. It is expected that you research your response, using references that have and have not been supplied to you. A minimum of five recent (within the last five years) academic references from peer-reviewed journals is recommended.
A reference list must be provided. Use Vancouver referencing style, with one reference list at the end. For more information, refer to the unit Moodle page and the CQU website (search for CQUniversity Referencing Guides). Submissions are to be uploaded through Turnitin, to be reviewed for plagiarism. University policy will be applied if breached. Please submit .doc and .docx files only.
Week 8 Friday (10 May 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (24 May 2019)
The student will be assessed on their ability to:
· Research, analyse, and discuss cardiovascular epidemiology, diagnostic procedures, role of law and professionalism in managing patient expectations, and emerging issues of digital health in Australia
· Logically organise and accurately present information
· Reference consistently and accurately using Vancouver referencing style
- Discuss the provision of cardiac assessment within the context of general diagnostic services in the Australian Health Care System
- Discuss the role and scope of practice of echocardiographers and cardiac physiologists, including professional and legal frameworks
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Practical Assessment
This is a Pass/Fail assessment.
The understanding and application of professional skills and behaviour is required to practice as an Echocardiographer.
You will demonstrate knowledge of ultrasound scanning and the ability to manipulate the ultrasound transducer. You will correctly position the transducer with correct rotation in the parasternal long axis or apical four chamber, as instructed by the tutor. You will correctly identify the sector orientation (e.g. anterior, posterior, inferior, superior, left, right). You will correctly move the transducer in two different directions (e.g. medially, laterally, superiorly, inferiorly), as instructed by the tutor.
The practical assessment will be conducted at the Residential School in Week 9.You will use knowledge from previous weeks as well as skills learned at the Residential School to perform the task under the supervision of a Tutor. Results will be uploaded to the Moodle site by Week 11.
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (24 May 2019)
The student will be assessed on their ability to:
- obtain on-axis orthogonal views
- identify sector orientation
- manipulate the transducer
- use appropriate terminology
- demonstrate professional behaviour and safe practice
- Apply introductory-level knowledge and skill of cardiac assessment, anatomical planes and patient data using appropriate terminology
- Perform clinical tasks which demonstrate safe practice in a simulated environment.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Practical Assessment
This is a Pass/Fail assessment.
The understanding and application of professional skills and behaviour is required to practice as an Echocardiographer.
You will demonstrate knowledge of infection control and the ability to effectively perform hand hygeine. You will correctly perform routine hand washing using soap and water.
The practical assessment will be conducted at the Residential School in Week 9.You will use knowledge from previous weeks as well as skills learned at the Residential School to perform the task under the supervision of a Tutor. Results will be uploaded to the Moodle site by Week 11.
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (24 May 2019)
The student will be assessed on their ability to:
- apply knowledge of infection control practices
- perform routine hand washing using soap and water
- use appropriate terminology
-
demonstrate professional behaviour and safe practice
- Apply introductory-level knowledge and skill of cardiac assessment, anatomical planes and patient data using appropriate terminology
- Perform clinical tasks which demonstrate safe practice in a simulated environment.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
Examination
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
