CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC20012 Primary Healthcare 1
Primary Healthcare 1
All details in this unit profile for PMSC20012 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit provides you with the knowledge and management strategies for functioning as a paramedic with a primary healthcare focus. This unit lays out the foundations of recognition and management of patients with common chronic and low acuity disease states through a detailed examination of the pathophysiology, epidemiology, history and assessment findings. You will be able to formulate a clinical diagnosis by incorporating presentation, history, assessment, diagnostic studies and other findings using an analytic approach and then utilise evidenced-based medicine for the management of a patient's condition. Additionally, the unit introduces you to palliative care and the paramedic practitioner's role in its delivery.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 12
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.25

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

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 - 2022

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 12-credit Postgraduate 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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
2. Presentation
Weighting: 30%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 Self -refection

Feedback

This term I implemented the use of eReadling Lists across all of my postgraduate units. I found it to be a fantastic resource for the students. It was easy to access and simple to use.

Recommendation

We will continue to use eReading lists as a resource in the future offerings of this unit.

Feedback from Informal student feedback

Feedback

The student appreciated the phone calls they received throughout the term from the unit coordinator. It helped them to stay on task with the unit’s content and the assessments.

Recommendation

Continue to provide opportunities for detailed discussions with the students in relation to the unit’s content and assessments.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Differentiate between common chronic and low acuity disease states based on pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors, signs and symptoms
  2. Integrate diagnostic findings with patient presentation, history and assessment to formulate a working diagnosis
  3. Employ an analytic approach using evidence-based medicine and guidelines for the management of primary care conditions
  4. Describe the primary care paramedic's role in the delivery of palliative care.

A Graduate Diploma is now the standard requirement for many state ambulance services for advanced positions in the paramedic field. An emphasis has been placed on preferred candidates exceeding this requirement with a Masters degree for many new positions such as the Paramedic Practitioner.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Presentation - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - 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
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Presentation - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Natalee Williams-Claassen Unit Coordinator
n.williams-claassen@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Disease states of the eyes, ears, nose and throat

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Disease states of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Disease states of the central nervous system and mental health

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Disease states of the gastrointestinal and urinary systems

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Communicable diseases, infections and allergies

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Diabetes and Skin disorders

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Case Report Due: Week 6 Thursday (21 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Disease states of the musculoskeletal system

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 02 May 2022

Module/Topic

Wounds

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 09 May 2022

Module/Topic

Palliative Care

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Presentation Due: Week 9 Thursday (12 May 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 16 May 2022

Module/Topic

Palliative Care

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 23 May 2022

Module/Topic

Catch up week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 30 May 2022

Module/Topic

Pain Management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Essay Due: Week 12 Thursday (2 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Case Report

Task Description

In this assessment, you are required to discuss a patient with a common chronic or low acuity disease state that you have attended and treated as a paramedic.

The case report must include the following:

• A description of the patient's initial presentation, key history, and physical assessment findings

Discussion on further diagnostic tests that could have been utilised in the formulation of a diagnosis for this patient as a paramedic with a primary healthcare focus, justified with supporting evidence.

• The possible differential diagnoses for this patient’s condition.

• Discussion on each of these possible diagnoses’ pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors, and signs and symptoms.

• Formulate the most likely working diagnosis for this patient, justified with supporting evidence.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Thursday (21 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Friday (6 May 2022)


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The case report will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit’s Moodle page. The following criteria are key points to be included:

• The written assessment should be presented in an essay format

• The written assessment must address each of the main topic tasks as detailed in the task description

• Avoid superficial points or comments and be clear and concise

• As this is a written assessment, you must include in-text referencing and a reference list.

There is a minimum word count requirement of 3000 words and a maximum of 3500 words.

The case report is worth 40% of your overall unit mark.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Differentiate between common chronic and low acuity disease states based on pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors, signs and symptoms
  • Integrate diagnostic findings with patient presentation, history and assessment to formulate a working diagnosis


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Presentation

Assessment Title
Presentation

Task Description

In this assessment, you are required to create a PowerPoint presentation of a clinical case that you have treated and transported as a paramedic. This patient would have a working diagnosis of common chronic or low acuity disease.

Your presentation must include the following:

• A brief introduction to the case

• The patient’s initial presentation, key history, and physical assessment findings

• A working diagnosis with supporting evidence

• Reflection on the management that was provided on scene and en route to the hospital

• Discussion on a revised assessment plan, including further diagnostic tests, that could have been utilised in the formulation of a diagnosis for this patient as a paramedic with a primary healthcare focus

• Discussion on the management plan for this patient as a primary care paramedic, justified by the inclusion of evidence-based medicine and primary care management guidelines.

All medical practices discussed must employ an analytic approach and be justified with supporting evidence.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Thursday (12 May 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Friday (27 May 2022)


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The presentation will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit’s Moodle page. The following criteria are key points to be included:

•The presentation should be in a PowerPoint format

•Recorded narration is required and you can use the Notes section to detail your thinking

•The presentation must address each of the main topic tasks as detailed in the task description

•Avoid superficial points or comments

•As this is a presentation, you should include images where appropriate, but these must be referenced.

The presentation has no specified length in regards to the number of slides used but the recorded presentation should be approximately twenty (20) minutes in length.

This presentation is worth 30% of your overall unit mark.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Integrate diagnostic findings with patient presentation, history and assessment to formulate a working diagnosis
  • Employ an analytic approach using evidence-based medicine and guidelines for the management of primary care conditions


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Essay

Task Description

Preamble

“Ambulance services globally are progressively embracing new paradigms of care, including palliative care, with the view of improved holistic support for patients at home. In Australia for instance, NSW Ambulance has engaged collaboratively with other health services to develop palliative care plans that inform the attending paramedic of resuscitation plans, treatment for specific symptoms (including out-of-paramedic scope), guidance for where the patient may be admitted, if required, and contact details of other services involved in the patient's care. Additionally, paramedics are already well placed as a mobile healthcare workforce to respond to patients requiring unscheduled care.” (Long 2019)

Task Description

Discuss the present and possible future role of a paramedic with a primary healthcare focus in the delivery of community-based services for patients with life-limiting illnesses.

Your discussion must consider the following:

· Direct care of palliative care or end-of-life patients.

· Possible collaboration with other healthcare providers (multidisciplinary teams, specialists and community support services involvement, referral, etc.)

· Ethical Considerations

· Advanced healthcare planning and directives

· End of life communication.

Reference

Long, D 2019, ‘Paramedic delivery of community-based palliative care: An overlooked resource?’, Progress in Palliative Care, vol 27, no. 6, pp. 289-290, viewed 30 November 2021, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09699260.2019.1672414


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Thursday (2 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (17 June 2022)


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The essay will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit’s Moodle page. The following criteria are key points to be included:

• The written assessment should be presented in an essay format

• The written assessment must address each of the main topic tasks as detailed in the task description

• Avoid superficial points or comments and be clear and concise

• As this is a written assessment, you must include in-text referencing and a reference list.

There is a minimum word count of 3000 words and a maximum word count of 3500 words.

This written assessment is worth 30% of your overall unit mark.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the primary care paramedic's role in the delivery of palliative care.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

Academic Integrity Statement

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?