Overview
This unit provides you with the communication skills, networking and inter-professional strategies for functioning as a paramedic with a primary healthcare focus. This unit lays out how the Paramedic Practitioner will function within a multi-disciplinary healthcare system and be an advocate for patient care. It introduces you to the psycho-social underpinnings for referral and patient education and its impact on the patients' well-being. You will learn how to maintain continuity of care for patients in the out-of-hospital setting through the use of the referral process, communication strategies and comprehensive documentation. Additionally, this unit introduces you to community engagement and health promotion with a focus on primary healthcare and meeting the needs of your community.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: PMSC28003 Evidence Based Practice 2 or MEDS21006 Medical Science Research Project 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 - 2023
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 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
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 Self-Reflection - Unit Coordinator
Marking rubrics need updating.
Update the marking rubrics for all three assessments and develop a checklist for Assessment 3, similar to the checklist developed for Assessment 1, to further support the students during the development of their assessment pieces.
- Demonstrate effective communication strategies within therapeutic relationships
- Prepare comprehensive documentation and determine the appropriate referral to allow for continuity of care
- Determine the barriers, psycho-social factors and cultural healthcare disparities that can impact a patient's well being
- Assess the need for patient education, health promotion and community engagement projects
- Research and develop a community engagement project proposal and plan.
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 Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Presentation - 30% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 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 | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.williams-claassen@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
The barriers, psycho-social factors and cultural healthcare disparities that can impact on a patient's well-being
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction to Needs Analysis/Assessment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Development of Community Needs Analysis
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Development of Community Needs Analysis
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Communication Strategies
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Break Week
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Communication Strategies, Documentation, and Referral Pathways
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Documentation and Referral Pathways
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Proposal Development
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Proposal Development
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Proposal Development
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Proposal Development
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Proposal Development and Submission
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation
Needs Analysis is the process of identifying and evaluating needs in a community or other defined populations of people. The information gained through a needs analysis can help build consensus around an issue, identify priority action areas, and guide intervention planning and implementation efforts.
In this assessment, you will need to create a presentation. The presentation will be a summary of a concept document for a Community Needs Analysis Project that you would like to undertake in your community. It must also incorporate one or more of the following research interest areas: the barriers, psychosocial factors, and /or cultural healthcare disparities that can impact a patient’s well-being.
Your Presentation must include a section for each of the following:
· Community Background
· Literature review regarding the key research interest area that you feel needs investigation
· Purpose of the Needs Analysis
· Target Population and gaining a sample
· Data Collection Method
· Data Analysis Method
· Community Feedback plan.
The concept document for a Community Needs Analysis Project, from which the presentation will be produced, will be developed during your first few weeks of coursework for PMSC20014. Please refer to the Unit's schedule.
Week 5 Thursday (6 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (28 Apr 2023)
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. An alternative may be approved after consultation with the Unit Coordinator.
- Recorded narration is required and you can use the Notes section to detail your thinking
- The presentation must address each of the dot points as detailed in the task description
- As this is a presentation, you can include images where appropriate, but these must be referenced.
• You must include in-text referencing (which can be included in the notes section per slide) and a reference list.
The presentation has no specified length with regard to the number of slides used but the recorded presentation should be 30 minutes.
This presentation is worth 30% of your overall unit mark.
- Determine the barriers, psycho-social factors and cultural healthcare disparities that can impact a patient's well being
- Assess the need for patient education, health promotion and community engagement projects
- Research and develop a community engagement project proposal and plan.
2 Written Assessment
“Effective patient-clinician communication is the exchange of information between a patient and their healthcare provider and includes communications with the family and carer. It involves two-way communication (spoken, written and non-verbal) that engages patients in decision-making and care planning. It is tailored, open, honest, and respectful and there is an opportunity for clarification and feedback.” (ACSQHC, 2016)
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2016 Patient-clinician communication in hospitals - Communicating for safety at transitions of care, viewed 27 January 2023, https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/Information-sheet-for-healthcare-providers-Improving-patient-clinician-communication.pdf
Discuss the application of effective communication strategies in therapeutic relationships and during transitions of care as a paramedic with a primary healthcare focus.
Your discussion must include the following:
· The communication skills required of the paramedic with a primary healthcare focus
· The communication strategies needed, as well as the possible tools/interventions that could be utilised in the prehospital environment for low acuity/chronic condition patients
· Multidisciplinary team communication
· Transitions of Care, including the use of comprehensive documentation and information to allow for effective continuity of care in the referral of patients.
Week 8 Thursday (4 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (19 May 2023)
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 essay is worth 30% of your overall unit mark.
- Demonstrate effective communication strategies within therapeutic relationships
- Prepare comprehensive documentation and determine the appropriate referral to allow for continuity of care
3 Written Assessment
You will be required to research and develop a project proposal and plan for your Community Project.
Your project proposal document must include the following information:
· Purpose of the community project
· Identification of the target population, the priorities and boundaries of the project, and its desired outcomes to address the research interest area/s as theorised in the Needs Analysis (Assessment 1)
· Community context and conditions which may impact the outcome of the project
· Development of strategies/activities/interventions to be used within the project
· Resources required (including examples of education and promotional resources)
· Identification of necessary partnerships
· Timeline
· Community Feedback plan
· Plan for the Evaluation of the completed project
· References.
The proposal will be developed during Weeks 8-12 of the coursework and builds upon the foundation provided in Assessment 1. Please refer to the Unit's schedule.
Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (16 June 2023)
The written assessment 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.
While there is no maximum word limit for your proposal, there is a minimum word count of 3500 words.
This written assessment is worth 40% of your overall unit mark.
- Determine the barriers, psycho-social factors and cultural healthcare disparities that can impact a patient's well being
- Assess the need for patient education, health promotion and community engagement projects
- Research and develop a community engagement project proposal and plan.
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?
