Course Title: Clinical Medicine 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Clinical Medicine 1

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MEDS2072

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013

Course Coordinator: Dr Sharyn Burke

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6647

Course Coordinator Email: sharyn.burke@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 202.4.19


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Assumed Knowledge

General anatomy, normal radiographic anatomy and radiographic positioning.
Physiology, pathology (both general and systemic) and microbiology.
Case history taking.
Physical examination.


Course Description

This course develops a problem-based approach to the understanding of the standard medical approach to diagnosis of conditions that commonly present to primary-contact health care practitioners. In addition indicators of conditions that require referral are covered. This course also provides support for the student’s developing patient care responsibilities in the student teaching clinics.

Capability Level 3: This level requires the application and integration of previous levels with the concurrent courseware into expanded clinical problems.

The Course consists of four modules: 

Orthopaedics 
Neurology 
Rheumatology 
Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (primarily musculoskeletal)

Orthopaedics
This module covers the pathophysiology and pathology of the musculoskeletal system with emphasis on orthopaedic disorders. The examination findings, treatment from an orthopaedic specialty and manual medicine viewpoint and prognosis of these conditions is presented.

Neurology
This module covers the pathophysiology of nerve lesions and the presentations of patients with these lesions. The examination findings, treatment from a neurological specialty viewpoint and prognosis of these conditions is presented.

Rheumatology
This modules exposes students to the necessary clinical knowledge needed to competently assess and make clinical decisions in relation to the health care of patients, presenting with the manifestations of rheumatic disease. Students will be able to evaluate diagnostic data to determine indications and contraindications to osteopathic care and the need to refer when necessary.

Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (primarily musculoskeletal)
This module of the course provides an overview of the key radiographic and certain clinical features of each major category of disease including trauma, arthritides, infection, vascular, endocrine, tumour and tumour-like disorders (not necessarily in that order).
Emphasis is placed upon the radiographic presentation of a disorder. Clinical aspects of disorders may be included to encourage integration of new material with previously learned information.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

To be able to diagnose neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions from a medical perspective and to recognise when there is a need for referral.

Capabilities contributed to:

  • Diagnose the patient’s clinical presentation [FC1].
  • Perform osteopathic manipulative therapeutic procedures effectively, where appropriate [FC2].
  • Apply management strategies in order to produce positive outcomes for patients [FC3].
  • Have a basis for understanding the scientific literature in manual medicine and related fields and the ability to put this understanding into effective use [KC1].
  • Information: locating, critically evaluating, managing and using a range of information [KC2].
  • Knowledge of when to refer the patient for other medical intervention [KC3].
  • Adopt appropriate behaviours in dealing with patients’ concerns, including socially and ethnically sensitive communication skills and empathy [PC1].
  • Engage personally with a body of knowledge by ongoing learning, reflection and analysis and to implement best practice evidence-base practice where the evidence exists [PC2].
  • Working independently or as part of the team in a multi-disciplinary setting [PC3].
  • Make sound judgements, evidenced-based where possible in order to show duty of care to patients [VC2].



Overview of Learning Activities

A range of activities are scheduled for this course including:

Lectures
Tutorials
Group Activities
Presentations
On-line learning.

Your active participation in each session is encouraged. Appropriate preparation prior to each session is strongly recommended.


Overview of Learning Resources

Library texts and Journals
On-Line medical resources


Overview of Assessment

Attendance Requirements

As group activities and presentations are considered in evaluating overall performance in this course, students are expected to attend 90% of lectures and tutorials. An attendance roll will be kept.

Theoretical Assessment

Examinations - written and viva voce

Ongoing written assessments and tests

Note
All components of this course may be integrated into the assessment process. Examinations may cover any material in this course.