CQUniversity Unit Profile.

Each quiz will assess your understanding of the content presented within this unit as outlined below. Questions may be drawn from lectures, additional resources provided (e.g. prescribed readings) or tutorial presentations.

• Questions will be drawn from a resource bank, to allow tests to be different for each student.
• Questions may include multiple choice, short answer, or image interpretation format.
• It is recommended that you have a calculator available when sitting a quiz.

Each quiz can be accessed through the assessment tab on Moodle at the assigned time. Each online quiz will automatically close and submit completed student answers once the allocated time has elapsed. 

• Students will have 40 minutes to complete each quiz.
• Open book conditions.

Once started, each quiz cannot be paused or restarted. Only one attempt per quiz is permitted.

• The duration of each quiz is tailored to promote recall of fact, rather than research of answers unknown.
• Students are reminded that IT support from the university Information and Technology Division (TASAC) is only available during AEST business hours.

This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual. Colluding with other students on non-group work tasks is considered academic misconduct, and may lead to action being taken the Deputy Dean of Learning and Teaching HMAS. Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

Students will be required to answer a variety of online questions.

Question responses will be assessed according to the:

• use of appropriate terminology and descriptors as well as grammar and spelling.
• student’s ability to appropriately interpret presented sonographic images and cardiac assessment data.
• student's ability to succinctly respond with accurate answers.

The number of marks allocated for each question will be indicated within the quiz. Question marks are allocated based on the accuracy, depth and breath of required responses. Your score from each individual quiz will contribute 20% to your final grade. Thus, your combined score from the quizzes will contribute to 40% of your final unit grade (2 quizzes x 20% = 40%).

• The specific dates that each quiz opens and closes are outlined in the due description.
• Please note that the quizzes must be completed before the due date listed.
• In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after this date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day.
• Students will receive a mark of zero (or fail) for this assessment, if you have not completed it by the scheduled date and time and do not have an extension.
  

The purpose of this case study submission is to:

• Provide the unit coordinator with an opportunity to critically evaluate and moderate student technical performance on cases that they have performed as part of their clinical workload.
• Facilitate the continued development of student clinical reasoning and to ensure exposure to a variety of clinical cases.
• Encourage student reflection and self-improvement, of both technical and research skills, pathology knowledge and assessment strategies.

The submitted case study should meet the following descriptive criteria:

• Ventricular function assessment including comprehensive systolic and diastolic evaluation
• The case study cannot have normal diastolic function or ejection fraction.

There are two components to this case study submission:

1. Written case study.

2. Accompanying echocardiographic DICOM study.

The student must have completed the majority of the echocardiographic scan submitted (i.e. obtained no less than 60% of the submitted digital clips). Images obtained by the clinical supervisor should be identified in the written case study or on the DICOM digital clips themselves. The student must have performed the submitted case study during the current academic term.

The case study submission should include:

• Referral details provided by requesting Doctor.
• Details of expected findings based on clinical indications.
• Patient care considerations.
• Brief discussion of any previous imaging or medical testing available.
• Variations in scanning protocol used, including justification.
• Identification of study limitations (imaging and/or measurement).
• Detailed description of study findings and pathology identified, including grading of severity in accordance with ASE guidelines.
• Discussion of aetiology and pathophysiology.
• Discussion of appropriate additional investigations indicated (i.e. stress or dobutamine echocardiography, left or right heart catheterisation/angiography, MRI, CTCA etc), including how this could influence patient management. Brief explanation of likely or expected disease progression and patient management (including any follow up consultation or testing details if available at time of case study completion).
• A copy of the anonymised provisional or final echocardiographic report.
• Clear identification of any supervisor assistance provided to complete the examination.

The echocardiographic case study presented must be accompanied by the submission of de-identified digital images in DICOM format.

• All clinical information must be de-identified to protect patient privacy and confidentiality.
• Time and date stamp along with technical information should be retained on the echocardiographic image display.

If all attempts to de-identify the echocardiography images have failed, the student must request permission from the patient to provide their images to CQUniversity for educational purposes.

• The patient must provide written consent by completing the form provided on the unit Moodle site.
• The patient consent form must be submitted with the case study. A detailed marking rubric can be found on the Moodle site. 

This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual. Colluding with other students on non-group work tasks is considered academic misconduct, and may lead to action being taken the Deputy Dean of Learning and Teaching HMAS.

Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment. Both components of the case study submission must be passed, to PASS this assessment task overall.

Word count: 1500-2000 words. Word count does not include headings or references but does include diagram explanations and labelling.

Referencing: Vancouver. Minimum 3 peer reviewed journal articles must be cited. Literature titles must be current (<5 years of age), excepting seminal works.

Written case study and accompanying echocardiographic DICOM images will be critiqued using a marking rubric available on Moodle. This rubric will evaluate:

•   The diagnostic quality of the examination performed, in particular, the scan technique and protocol adopted by   the student.
•   Image optimisation and image selection representative of pathology.
•   Measurement technique.
•   Discussion of clinical presentation, aetiology, pathophysiology, echocardiographic findings, patient management   and likely follow-up.
•   Student's reflective analysis identifying components of the scan that could have been improved.
•   Ability to construct a scholarly report that is succinct and demonstrates appropriate application of scientific and   language conventions.
•   Referencing.

Case studies submitted without accompanying echcoardiographic DICOM images will not be marked, and will automatically be awarded a FAIL grade.

Submissions not up to standard, will be returned to the student with appropriate feedback. Only one opportunity for resubmission will be provided if the first submission is deemed a FAIL.

• From the time of feedback provision, failing students will be provided with 2 weeks to resubmit case study.
• Failed students may be asked to resubmit further imaging exemplars and/or an amended written submission, dependent upon deficits identified in the first submission.
• Should the imaging component need to be re-submitted, the second submission does not need to be from the same patient.

This online test will assess your understanding of the content presented within this unit. Questions may be drawn from content presented in lectures, additional resources provided (e.g. prescribed readings) and tutorial presentations.

• This online test carries a 60% weighting toward final unit grade
• Perusal time and online test duration will be 130 minutes in total.
• Open book conditions.
• It is recommended that you have a calculator available when sitting the online test.

Once started, the online test cannot be paused or restarted. Only one attempt is permitted.

•  The online test will automatically close and submit completed student answers once the allocated time has elapsed.
•  The duration of this test is tailored to promote recall of fact, rather than research of answers unknown.

Students will be required to answer a variety of online questions. Questions:

•   may include multiple choice, short answer, essay style or image interpretation format.
•   will be drawn from a resource bank, to allow tests to be different for each student.

Students will be required to be familiar with both normal and pathological echocardiographic and anatomical images. Students are reminded that IT support from the university Information and Technology Division (TASAC) is only available during AEST business hours.

It is recommended that the online test is completed during business hours. In the absence of an approved extension, this assessment cannot be completed at a later time. Students will receive a mark of zero (or fail) for this assessment, if you have not completed it by the scheduled date and time and do not have an extension. This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual. Colluding with other students on non-group work tasks is considered academic misconduct and may lead to action being taken the Deputy Dean of Learning and Teaching HMAS.

Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

Students will be required to answer a variety of online questions.

Questions:

• Will be drawn from a resource bank
• may include short answer, essay style, multiple choice or film viewing questions
• will require students to be familiar with both normal and pathological echocardigraphic and anatomical images

Question responses will be assessed according to the:

•  use of appropriate terminology and descriptors as well as grammar and spelling.
•  student’s ability to appropriately interpret presented sonographic images and cardiac assessment data.
•  student's ability to succinctly respond with accurate answers.

The number of marks allocated for each question will be indicated within the online test. Question marks are allocated based on the accuracy, depth and breath of required responses.

Clinical placement occurs in the professional workplace. As a clinical student it is important that you demonstrate behaviours and attributes of a healthcare professional and present a positive image to the clinical facility's staff and clients.

This assessment considers your ability to communicate professionally with a diverse cultural audience of patients, staff and the general public, demonstrate professional respect for all, and function as a reliable, well organised member of the health team.

•   Your clinical supervisor, or delegate, will be working in the echocardiography lab with you, directly observing your day-to-day performance.
•   These observations and collected feedback relate to your demonstrated knowledge, skills and behaviours over a span of time, not limited to a particular scan type or patient case.

The observations and feedback are then used to complete the Global Assessment of Professional Attributes (GAPA) form provided, with your clinical supervisor grading your performance, and identifying areas of strength and weakness.
The GAPA form can be downloaded from the Moodle site. 

There are three main sections to the GAPA form:

Section 1: Initiative and Communication

Section 2: Responsibility and Demeanour

Section 3: Overall Technical Knowledge and Skill.

The GAPA 'Overall technical knowledge and skill behavioural attributes' critiques need to be evaluated within the context of the practical competency level that the students must attain at the end of unit enrolment.

For ECHO28002 this is a competency level of ‘beginner’. At beginner competency level, a cardiac sonographer requires frequent direction (some 60% or less of the time).

Your assessor is also encouraged to provide comments to expand on the scoring feedback.

•   For any behaviour that you score well on at the mid-placement assessment, it is expected that you will continue to meet that level of performance or surpass it for the rest of the placement.
•   At the midpoint GAPA, the student should be given sufficient formative feedback to improve their behavioural performance as required.
•   Any significant issues should be brought to the attention of the unit coordinator following the midpoint GAPA (or earlier if required).

If minimum scores in the mid-placement GAPA are not met, you will be regarded as a 'Student at Risk' of failing this unit overall.

• The unit coordinator will contact you to advise you of the risk of failing this unit and provide formative feedback via email.
• You must respond to this email to show you understand the implications of this information.
• You will be required to reflect on your performance and the feedback provided, and to develop an action plan to address any areas of performance that are not yet at the target level for this placement and use the remaining weeks to achieve those targets.
• Review of your progress will be completed a short time after the mid placement GAPA, or at any time as requested by your supervisor or unit coordinator.

Note: If behavioural attributes within any section of the GAPA are deemed a 'patient safety risk', student enrolment within this unit may be cancelled after just one GAPA.

For each section of the GAPA form, your assessor will score your clinical performance based on how frequently and to what extent you demonstrate each of the listed behaviours. The clinical supervisor will allocate a score of 0,1 or 2.

•   A score of 0 indicates that the student does not demonstrate this behavioural attribute or demonstrates it in an unacceptable manner.
•   A score of 1 indicates that the student demonstrates this behaviour attribute but needs some improvement.
•   A score of 2 indicates that the student consistently demonstrates this behaviour attribute (>70% of the time) to a high level.

For each of the behavioural attributes listed, the supervisor must score the student based on their day-in, day-out performance in the department. If the student’s behaviour has significantly changed during the assessment period, supervisors should score behaviour based on the most recent two weeks and provide an explanatory comment on the GAPA form.

The end-of-unit GAPA assessment is summative. It is designed to evaluate student learning and professional behaviour at the conclusion of an instructional period.

Unsatisfactory scores obtained at the second GAPA attempt, will result in a FAIL grade for unit overall.

This assessment is marked out of 56.

To PASS, the student must receive an overall score of 34 marks or more, from a potential of 56 marks, and additionally is not permitted any scores of 0.

Students must maintain access to suitable clinical experience for the duration of the course enrolment. In accordance with the Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) Program Accreditation Guidelines, it is recommended that students be engaged in cardiac ultrasound practice for a minimum of three days/week over a two-year period, fulltime equivalent, in an Australian or New Zealand clinical setting (minus standard leave privileges).

Clinical experience is the component of sonographer education that allows students to put theoretical knowledge into practice within the patient care environment. It includes, but is not limited to, the hospital setting, and may include general practice, remote and rural health clinics, and community care environments.

A clinical attendance log book submission can be requested at any point during course enrolment, at the discretion of the university course coordinator. 

This assessment task requires the submission of a Clinical Attendance Log Book, detailing clinical attendance since course enrolment.

•   All hours spent in attendance within the echocardiography laboratory (either observing, participating, or performing related activities) must be documented.
•   These hours must be signed off on and approved by your ASAR registered clinical supervisor or appropriately qualified medical practitioner, verifying the accuracy of entries.
•   A student is required complete a total of 2200 hours of clinical attendance prior to graduation and ASAR registration as a qualified sonographer.
•   It is recommended that a student complete a minimum of 270 hours of clinical attendance per term of course enrolment.

A template for the Clinical Attendance Log Book is supplied in a word document format on the Moodle site. Students were supplied this same Clinical Attendance Log Book at the time of course enrolment.

The word document is designed to facilitate easy electronic submission at various checkpoints throughout unit and course enrolment. The clinical supervisor's digital signature can be used to verify authenticity of entries on the word document.

Alternatively, the word document can be printed, manually completed and scanned to a digital file format for submission.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment.

To be awarded a PASS, all documentation must be completed and submitted by the corresponding due date and time.

The Clinical Attendance Log Book will be reviewed to ensure that:

•  hours of attendance have been documented appropriately
•  leave from clinical practice has been documented appropriately