Overview
Accurate analysis and assessment of complex cardiovascular disease and their pathological processes is a core part of all echocardiographic examinations. In preparation for clinical placement you will attain the knowledge and skills needed to analyse complex cardiovascular disease. This will include consideration of the echocardiographic generated images and assessment measures, haemodynamic calculations, pressures and valve prosthetics. You will apply knowledge to practical echocardiographic tasks in the laboratory setting, and utilise simulated clinical scenarios and case studies to analyse diagnostic data to provide differential diagnoses within an ethical framework of best practice and patient safety. You will demonstrate the professional knowledge, attitude and skills required to perform a complete echocardiographic study within a time frame related to clinical expectations. This unit prepares you for the clinical environment using the Assessment of Readiness for Clinical tool (ARC) in conjunction with other assessment tasks. Attendance at practical activities is a requirement of this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite MPAT12001 Medical PathophysiologyAND ECHO12003 Principles of Cardiac Assessment AND ECHO12005 Cardiac Clinical Unit 2
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 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 evaluations
Laboratory sessions were well organised.
Sessions within the laboratory were developed to complement and reinforce theoretical delivery. This format will be continued in 2019, along with the addition of routine blood pressure and ECG performance to hone practical skills necessary for clinical placement. Staff will continue to incorporate cases studies into QLab sessions, reinforcing key pathological concepts being taught.
Feedback from Emails, unit evaluations
Content was well structured, and tutorials were interactive.
Content was broken down into small lectures to facilitate the absorption of complex pathological topics. Tutorial presentations were frequently based on case studies, to foster the development of clinical reasoning, and to demonstrate the practical relevance of theory being taught. This approach will again be adopted in 2019.
Feedback from Emails, unit evaluations
Group work assessment tasks were challenging, and students found it hard to negotiate with peers who did not provide an equitable contribution.
The assessment resources will be revised to include further guidance to students regarding workload distribution and responsibilities. Moving forward, greater emphasis will be placed on a member's contribution in the SPA assessment.
- Differentiate between the aetiology, pathophysiology and echocardiographic assessment process associated with a variety of cardiovascular disease processes
- Perform and interpret the outcomes of advanced haemodynamic calculations applied to 2D, colour and spectral Doppler derived echocardiographic measures
- Differentiate between mechanical and bioprosthetic valve functionality
- Analyse case-based clinical information to formulate differential diagnoses and plan patient management
- Perform an echocardiographic examination efficiently and effectively
- Display professional behaviour, teamwork and communication skills consistent with safe practice
- Apply constructive feedback to professional practice improvement.
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 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
1 - In-class Test(s) - 40% | |||||||
2 - Practical Assessment - 0% | |||||||
3 - Performance - 0% | |||||||
4 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 0% | |||||||
5 - Examination - 60% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
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 - In-class Test(s) - 40% | ||||||||||
2 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||||||||
3 - Performance - 0% | ||||||||||
4 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 0% | ||||||||||
5 - Examination - 60% |
Textbooks
A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease
Edition: 1st (2014)
Authors: Bonita Anderson
MGA Graphics
BRISBANE BRISBANE , QUEENSLAND , AUSTRALIA
ISBN: 9780992322205
Binding: Hardcover
Echocardiography: The Normal Examination and Echocardiographic Measurements
Edition: Third (2017)
Authors: Bonita Anderson
Echotext Pty Ltd
Brisbane Brisbane , Queensland , Australia
ISBN: 9780992322212
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Bonita Anderson's textbooks are only available in hardcopy. Purchases can be made from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au
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.
k.sturwohld@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Aortic valve disease and diseases of the aorta
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mitral valve disease and mitral valve stenosis
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 8, pages 215-254
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mitral regurgitation
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 8, pages 215-254
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Tricuspid and pulmonary valve disease
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 9, pages 255-292
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Prosthetic heart valves
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 10, pages 293-323
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Strain, Contrast, 3D Echocardiography
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cardiomyopathies
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 6, pages 145-176
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pericardial heart disease
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 12, pages 343-371
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Tamponade and pericardial constriction
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 12, pages 343-371
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Infective endocarditis and cardiac masses
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 13, pages 373-405
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Systemic diseases with cardiac manifestations and miscellaneous topics
Chapter
Anderson, B. (2017). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. Chapter 14, pages 407-429
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Revision and exam preparation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator for ECHO13006 is Kate Sturwohld. In the first instance, students are requested to utilise the Moodle Q&A forum for content related questions. As there are multiple content experts teaching into this unit, this enables the most appropriate staff member to respond to your forum post. If the query is of a personal nature, please email k.sturwohld@cqu.edu.au, or phone my office number (02) 9324 5071.
Weekly tutorials will be held during the term. Specific times and meeting IDs will be posted on the Moodle site.
To give yourself the best chance of success with the unit, please ensure that you undertake all the additional readings and activities that are provided to you.
Skills labs for this unit are mandatory. The Lab Induction is compulsory and failure to attend will result in a 'lapse in professionalism'. Labs missed for a valid reason require supporting documentation, and students are advised to contact the unit coordinator to organise time to make up for the missed scanning time during practice sessions. Any lab missed without valid reason or supporting documentation will warrant a 'lapse in professionalism'. Please pay close attention to the lab schedule for this unit. Students are required to adhere to the Course Dress code when using the ultrasound simulation labs and a zero-tolerance policy will be followed - both of these aspects are covered by the Professional Behaviour assessment and failure to comply will result in 'lapse in professionalism'. Important: You MUST be available all of week 12 for re-sits or to be a patient for the practical re-sits. Re-sits for all practical assessments will take place in week 12.
1 In-class Test(s)
This test will review the application of haemodynamic concepts taught in lectures and tutorial delivery and practised in the simulated laboratory setting. The test will require you to perform mathematical calculations, and interpret patient data.
Questions similar in style to those found on the in-class test are provided in the haemodynamic workbook available under week one on the Moodle site. Question examples will also be discussed during the tutorial and laboratory sessions to help you prepare for this assessment task.
Week 7 Monday (29 Apr 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 9 Monday (13 May 2019)
A clinical case scenario will be provided. You will be assessed on your ability to:
- interrogate measurements supplied
- perform haemodynamic calculations
- demonstrate clinical reasoning
Individual mark allocations will be shown on the in-class test provided.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
- Perform and interpret the outcomes of advanced haemodynamic calculations applied to 2D, colour and spectral Doppler derived echocardiographic measures
- Analyse case-based clinical information to formulate differential diagnoses and plan patient management
2 Practical Assessment
This is a PASS/FAIL assessment. Professional and technical scanning requirements are discussed in the unit lab manual, lab sessions, lectures and tutorials. These requirements incorporate:
Professional (pre-scan, during and post-scan) requirements :
Apply correct patient care techniques and effective communication to obtain relevant patient history, informed consent, and to direct 'patients' accordingly.
Apply Professionalism in dealing with equipment and the scanning setting.
Technical (scanning) requirements for echocardiographic study:
Demonstrate appropriate echocardiographic scanning technique, image optimisation, and acquisition, in a reasonable time period to an 'advanced beginner level' of competency. A scanning time limit of 1 hour will be applied to image acquisition.
Perform a series of offline measurements using the Qlab workstations. A 30 min time limit will be applied to measurement acquisition.
Students will be assessed using the 'Assessment of Readiness for Clinical' (ARC) tool, which is available on the unit Moodle site, and students are advised to carefully review this document.
To pass this assessment, both the professional and technical components must be graded as a 'pass'.
The components are graded separately, so that if one is passed and the other is not, only the failed component must be repeated to pass. If you fail only the professional component, the full practical scanning assessment will be repeated, but you will only be marked on the professional component. There is only ONE opportunity to re-sit either component of the assessment item.
Week 10 Tuesday (21 May 2019) 3:00 pm AEST
Students will be advised of individual times for practical assessment prior to examination. No marks or feedback will be given at the time of assessment.
Week 12 Monday (3 June 2019)
Moderation of assessment marks needs to take place prior to students being advised practical assessment results. Students will be advised as soon as possible of their practical assessment results, along with resit assessment details which will be held on Tuesday 4th June / Week 12.
The assessment criteria to achieve a 'PASS' overall - is as follows:
Achieve 70% of available marks in the professional component AND all bold points
Achieve 70% of available marks in the technical component
ARC tools are posted on the unit Moodle site.
Re-evaluation options:
In the event that you do not achieve a minimum 70% or higher, or fail one of the bolded items in the professional component of the ARC tool, you will be given ONE opportunity to re-sit the technical and/or professional components in week 12.
If you failed only the professional component, the full practical scanning assessment will be repeated, but you will only be marked on the professional component.
Please be aware that assessments will be video recorded for moderation purposes. The videos will not be released to students for review.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Perform and interpret the outcomes of advanced haemodynamic calculations applied to 2D, colour and spectral Doppler derived echocardiographic measures
- Perform an echocardiographic examination efficiently and effectively
3 Performance
The purpose of this assessment is to prepare you for professional behaviour, attendance and the documentation responsibilities on clinical placement. When working clinically, patients and physicians rely on quick, efficient and complete documentation to issue treatment.
This assessment will require you to complete the documentation set forth in the ECHO13006 Lab Manual.
This includes:
- A signed Lab Agreement and Consent Form - Sonographic Examination for Teaching Purposes to be uploaded in Week 1
- A completed and signed Professional Behaviour Assessment Rubric Form to be uploaded in Week 12
- A completed LAB Attendance Page to be scanned and uploaded in Week 12
Please note behavioural expectations for this, and all other, skills based units in this course. These are clearly outlined in the Lab Agreement available HERE, and the Professional Behaviour Assessment available HERE.
Absenteeism / What you need to know if you are off sick:
Skills labs for this unit are mandatory. You must notify staff and the unit coordinator before the start of compulsory labs if you are not able to attend - failure to notify staff (email, phone) before the start of a missed lab will result in a LiP point except in extraordinary circumstances. In the workplace, it is imperative that colleagues and patients who are depending on you are aware of whether you are attending your shift or not. Labs missed for a valid reason require supporting documentation, and students are advised to contact the unit coordinator to organise time to make up for the missed scanning time during practice sessions as soon as possible after missing the lab. Any lab missed without valid reason and supporting documentation, and/or prior approval will warrant a LiP point.
Sick Certificates:
Medical or health-related certificates must be in the approved formats articulated in the CQUniversity Assessment Policy and Procedure (HE Coursework), section 4.53.
Please note, 4.53(f), A required medical or health-related certificate 'in the approved form' meets all the following criteria: Contains sufficient evidence to enable an informed decision regarding the application. Non-specific statements that are not acceptable include but are not limited to the following: "the student is not fit for duty" and "the student is suffering from a medical condition or illness". A statement that "the patient is, in my opinion, suffering from a medical condition, the exact nature of which I cannot divulge for reasons of patient privacy" would be acceptable.
You must notify staff before beginning scanning on any day (compulsory labs, manned practice, unmanned practice, and practical skills assessments) if you are injured or ill. In the event that your condition could harm or negatively impact either yourself or those around you (e.g. put you at risk of exacerbating an injury, or pass on viral or bacterial infections to other students and staff), you will be sent home and, in the event of it being a compulsory lab or practical skills assessment, will need to provide acceptable medical documentation for your absence, as described above.
Students who are sick and/or injured and cannot attend a practical skills assessment on the scheduled day must notify the unit coordinator (email, phone) and local campus staff (in person, phone, email) before the start of their assessment.
The practical skills assessment will be postponed to another day.
You must upload all of the required documentation for this assessment by the due date and time to obtain a 'PASS'. If you are absent for a lab, please indicate the reason for this yourself on your formative feedback form and attendance record - a tutor's signature is not required.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
You will be required to upload your signed Lab Agreement and Consent Form in week 1. You will be required to upload your Scan Lab Attendance Page, and a completed and signed Professional Behaviour Assessment Rubric form by week 12.
A PASS/FAIL grade will appear in grade books within 7 working days after due date.
- PASS/FAIL assessment.
- To obtain a 'PASS', all documentation must be completed correctly and submitted on or before the corresponding due date and time.
- No more than THREE lapses in professionalism are permitted to pass this unit.
- All documents must be legible and uploaded in PDF format only.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Display professional behaviour, teamwork and communication skills consistent with safe practice
4 Reflective Practice Assignment
The purpose of this assessment is to develop self-reflection skills by setting weekly goals and following up on progress.
This assessment will require you to complete 8 Formative Feedback Forms and one Mock Skills Feedback form to be uploaded in Week 12.
Formative Feedback Forms must be completed BEFORE leaving at the end of each lab (as you would be required to complete documentation for each patient's scan before the end of a clinical shift), and to have it signed off by your instructor.
You must upload all of the required documentation for this assessment by the due date and time to obtain a 'PASS'.
If you are absent for a lab, please indicate the reason for this yourself on your formative feedback form - a tutor's signature is not required. Please note details under Assessment 5 (Professional Behaviour Assessment) which outlines the procedures for lab absences.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
You will be required to upload all 8 of your Formative Feedback Forms and the Mock Skills feedback form by week 12 Friday 4:00 pm AEST)
A PASS/FAIL grade will appear in grade books within 7 working days after due date.
- PASS/FAIL assessment
- To obtain a 'PASS', all documentation must be completed correctly and submitted on or before the corresponding due date and time.
- All documents must be legible and uploaded in PDF format only.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Apply constructive feedback to professional practice improvement.
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.