Course Title: Differential Diagnosis in Western Medicine

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Differential Diagnosis in Western Medicine

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MEDS2049

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

MEDS2049

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

MEDS2049

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Internet

 Sem 1 2021

MEDS2129

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2016

Course Coordinator: Kylie Spencer

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: kylie.spencer@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

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.


Course Description

This course provides an introduction to clinical decision making and western medical diagnosis. You will focus on clinically related knowledge and the presentations of common clinical conditions. Western medical terminology included in the course will contribute to your achievement in communication capabilities that are important in communication across disciplines in clinical practice. The learning outcomes associated with this course will enable you to identify the important issues underlying a patient’s clinical presentation including the risk factors for important/prevalent diseases, the impact of social and lifestyle choices, preventative measures and indications for referral.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP278 (Chinese Medicine)

  • PLO 1 Provide specialised health care within a patient centred evidence based framework
  • PLO 2 Gather clinical information to make accurate differential diagnosis, assessment and management plans to carry out effective treatment
  • PLO 3 Practise as a competent health care professional in a safe ethical and legally responsible manner
  • PLO 4 Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in the provision of specialised health care
  • PLO 5 Communicate effectively in a range of forms (written, online, oral) and with diverse audiences (patients, community/public, agencies and health professionals)
  • PLO 6 Work independently and in teams specifically to lead and contribute to inter professional care partnerships

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP280 (Chiropractic)

  • PLO 1 Provide specialised health care within a patient centred evidence based framework
  • PLO 2 Gather clinical information to make accurate differential diagnosis, assessment and management plans to carry out effective treatment
  • PLO 3 Practice as a competent health care professional in a safe ethical and legally responsible manner
  • PLO 4 Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in the provision of specialised health care
  • PLO 5 Communicate effectively in a range of forms (written, online, oral) and with diverse audiences (patients, community/public, agencies and health professionals)

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP279 (Osteopathy)

  • PLO 1 Provide patient-centred care as a competent, safe primary healthcare professional
  • PLO 2 Provide osteopathic, musculo-skeletal healthcare within a patient-centred, evidence-based framework
  • PLO 3 Gather and interpret health information, and employ clinical reasoning to develop differential diagnoses, to inform assessment and management
  • PLO 4 Effectively communicate with a wide audience (i.e. patients, carers, healthcare professionals and agencies), with respect and sensitivity to socio-cultural diversity, using a variety of media
  • PLO 6 Work autonomously and collaboratively, to lead and/or contribute to inter-professional healthcare partnerships

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP032 (Nursing)

 Provision and Coordination of Care

  • PLO 6: Plans nursing care in consultation with individuals / groups, significant others and the interdisciplinary health care team
  • PLO 7: Provides comprehensive, safe and effective evidence based nursing care to achieve identified individual / group outcomes
  • PLO 8: Evaluates progress towards expected individual / group health outcomes in consultation with individuals / groups, significant others and interdisciplinary team

(Reference : Australian Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse)

 


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Devise a list of epidemiological risk factors, the impact of social and lifestyle choices, and preventative measures for important/prevalent disease processes. 
  2. Integrate elements of a patients clinical history including medications, physical examination findings and prior medical history to construct a well informed view of a patient. 
  3. Evaluate your working diagnosis using epidemiological data of potential differential diagnoses for common and important western medicine patient presentations.  
  4. Critically reflect on the role of an Allied Health practitioner in identifying diseases that lie outside their scope of practice and the necessity and priority of appropriate referrals.  
  5. Demonstrate clinical reasoning to arrive at a justifiable diagnosis 
  6. Advocate for patients by communicating pertinent details of the patient's history in language appropriate for western medical referrals.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Tasks Task 1: Scenario Quizzes
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 2: Team Work Case Study
Weighting 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 3: Viva
Weighting 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3  4, 5 & 6

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 Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.