Course Title: Diagnostic Imaging 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Diagnostic Imaging 1

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MEDS2123

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

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

Course Coordinator: Dr Tom Molyneux

Course Coordinator Phone: 9925 7399

Course Coordinator Email: tom.molyneux@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 202.4.13

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment via email.


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

To successfully complete this course, students should have the ability to:

  • know and understand basic and clinical science principles underlying health care;
  • apply their knowledge of diagnostic procedures;
  • apply their knowledge of specified therapeutic procedures;
  • develop a knowledge and understanding of basic health strategies required to produce positive health outcomes;
  • build on a basis for understanding the scientific literature in manual medicine and related fields and demonstrate the ability to put this understanding to effective use;
  • be information literate; locating, evaluating, managing and using a range of information;
  • adopt appropriate behaviours including socially and ethnically sensitive communications skills and empathy;
  • engage personally with a body of knowledge by ongoing learning, reflection and analysis;
  • work independently or as part of a team;
  • demonstrate consistent ethical professional behaviour; and
  • understand the principles involved in due duty of care to patients.

Students are required to have successfully completed the program Bachelor of Health Science (Chiropractic) or an equivalent program.


Course Description

This course comprises two modules:
Musculoskeletal Radiology 1 and Special Imaging.

  • Musculoskeletal Radiology 1 systematically presents the key radiographic and clinical features of the more common pathologies in the categories of arthritide, infection, vascular, trauma, endocrine, tumour and tumour-like disorders.
  • Imaging modalities other than plain film will be introduced in the Special Imaging module.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • identify abnormal radiographic anatomy;
  • apply the basic principles of radiographic interpretation and any principles specific to a disorder to the identification of any of the disorders listed in the syllabus;
  • identify, describe and discuss the radiographic features of any of the disorders listed in the syllabus;
  • provide differential diagnoses for a particular radiographic presentation;
  • identify those disorders most commonly associated with any given radiographic appearance;
  • use appropriate descriptive terminology when referring to radiographic findings;
  • determine any further radiographic study, laboratory investigation or other follow-up that may be required to further evaluate a known or suspected disorder;
  • describe the fundamental features of advanced imaging modalities including tomography, computerised tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine (bone scans), ultrasound;
  • describe the cost-benefit impact of plain films and each of the advanced imaging modalities as they apply to musculoskeletal imaging.

Within the context of evidence-based care and the legal scope of practice students will gain or improve capabilities for patient-centred care in:

  • skills in clinical assessment (including chiropractic-specific skills);
  • skills in diagnostic decision-making;
  • skills in clinical management (including chiropractic-specific skills);
  • skills in the steps of problem-solving (identification of a problem, gathering/analyzing/synthesizing information, implementation of a solution, and assessment of its effectiveness) at the levels of the patient, practitioner, profession, and society;
  • effective communication skills, utilizing a variey of media in clinical, professional, political, academic and public settings;
  • their ability to demonstrate the duty of care required of a primary contact health care practitioner, including ethical practice management;
  • their ability to uphold the professional code of conduct in all relationships maintained by the chiropractor; and
  • their ability to contribute to the sustainability of the health care system through responsible use of health care resources, community education, and the employment of health promotion and preventive strategies.



Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • lectures where syllabus topics will be presented, explained, and illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
  • practical sessions for radiological film review and discussion to give further practice in the application of theory and procedures, and to give feedback on student progress and understanding; and
  • private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and out-of-session radiological film review including on-line material to gain practice at diagnostic image interpretation.


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be able to access course information and learning materials through the student portal myRMIT. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.

Library
As a student enrolled in a course at RMIT University you can access the extensive services, facilities and study space provided by the Library. You can access books, journals and other course related materials, such as DVDs, past exams, newspapers and e-books. Through our document delivery service you can also request items from any library in the world.
Computers for study are available at every Library site, where you can access the Internet, the myRMIT or Library e-resources. If you have a laptop you can access the RMIT wireless network in the Library.
Library staff can show you how to find information for your assignments or you can work through web-based tutorials or use our online Ask a Librarian service.
The Library is continually expanding our electronic collections to make it easier for you to get the information you need when you need it. All RMIT students have unlimited access to quality electronic resources such as, e-books, e-journals and newspapers.
You can find more information on Library resources and services at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library

Online Learning tools and content
As a student in this course, you have access to online learning tools and content for your course from the student portal, myRMIT.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises written and practical examinations. An overall mark of 50% or higher is required to complete this course. Attendance and participation at practical sessions will be used to provide feedback to students on their progress in the course during the semester.