Course Title: Differential Diagnosis and Management for Chiropractors 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Differential Diagnosis and Management for Chiropractors 1

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

REHA2205

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

Course Coordinator: Dr Rick Ames

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7394

Course Coordinator Email:rick.ames@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the following courses before you commence this course:

  • REHA2203 Chiropractic 6 Theory
  • MEDS2147 Medical Examination 2

Alternatively you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course. Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. For further information go to: www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit/he

Note it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enroll in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.
For your information the RMIT Course Requisites policy can be found at: www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=twx09y07zi1c


Course Description

This course will provide an opportunity for you to consider the clinical presentations of common important visceral and multisystem disorders to enable you to form differential diagnosis for clinical presentations in the chiropractic clinical setting. You will be expected to be able to form a differential diagnosis and a working diagnosis from various presentations and identify the need to refer on if required.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes
This course contributes to the development of the Program Learning Outcomes in the following way:

  • PLO1 provide specialised health care within a patient-centred, evidence-based framework;
  • PLO2 gather clinical information to make accurate differential diagnoses, assessment and management plans and carry out effective treatment;
  • PLO3 practice as a competent health care professional in a safe, ethical and legally responsible manner;
  • PLO4 demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in the provision of specialized health care;
  • PLO5 communicate effectively in a range of forms (written, online, oral) and with diverse audiences (patients, community/public, agencies and health professionals);


Course Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course you will be expected to:

  • demonstrate a knowledge of system pathology and assessment findings of common visceral and multisystem disorders that may present to the chiropractic clinical setting.
  • identify management options available for visceral and multisystem presentations to the chiropractic clinic.
  • be able to develop a working diagnosis and a differential diagnosis for patients presenting with these conditions.
  • be knowledgeable of the risk factors associated with these disease processes
  • demonstrate an awareness of when to treat and when appropriate referral to another health professional is required.


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will use a range of learning activities including lectures, practicals and self-directed learning. Throughout the course you will work both individually and in groups to solve problems involving core aspects covered in the course.

Lectures are the principal mode of information delivery and will present you with the key concepts and theories relevant to the understanding of the core concepts.

There will also be the opportunity to discuss the practicals in relation to the underlying core principles.

Self-directed learning is encouraged and will enable you to better develop independent learning and support the material covered in the practical sessions.


Overview of Learning Resources

Lectures and on-line material: The lectures and reading material provided are intended to be supported by the recommended readings. However, they do not substitute for wider reading but provide an opportunity to focus on specific details, complex areas and life examples.

The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources. All material to be chosen will be digitally available to you.

Advice will be provided on which sections are relevant for each topic. Advice will also be given about additional and/or alternate reading resources.

Practice learning activities will be provided in a variety of ways including simulated learning activities and the Chiropractic clinic.

RMIT will provide you with additional resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment associated with this course will comprise a formative and summative assessment and incorporate a variety of assessment modes. You will be expected to participate in formative theoretical and practical assessments to challenge your knowledge acquisition in relation to all of the identified objectives. Assessment completed in the first half of the semester will provide feedback on your progress. Ongoing feedback on your skills will be provided from peers and staff. Your summative assessment will also take the form of theoretical and practical assessments to demonstrate your knowledge of the course content and identify the evidence base for your clinical learning. You will be expected to participate in discussion formats, examinations, assignments and clinical practice laboratories. Assessments may also include use of online technology in the form of a critically reflective online journal or blog. Assessments are designed to require you to demonstrate a critical analysis of the core principles presented in the course.

For information on grades used in RMIT courses see: www.rmit.edu.au/students/grading/highered

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

This course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced, at: www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment