BND2072 - Introduction to health care systems

Leader: Ms Vicki Barrington (Nutrition & Dietetics)

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit introduces students to the organization of the Australian healthcare system. Topics include: professional responsibilities of the Dietitian and their role in the healthcare team in differing institutional, community and rural settings. Issues of health policy, health economics and cost-effectiveness will be examined in relation to preventative healthcare. Ethical issues surrounding confidentiality, patients' rights and professional standards in nutrition issues will be covered. Critical pathways of referral will be examined and the monitoring of patient care with respect to medical records will be described. Statistical management benchmarks of hospital data will be examined.

Objectives

On completion of this unit the student will be able to:

1. describe the key elements of the Australian Healthcare system including the organization, funding and delivery of health care in all settings;
2. critically describe the role and responsibility of the health professional in relation to professional and ethical conduct and the legal framework for practice;
3. demonstrate critical reflection about your own professional practice and attitudes to the provision of equitable, high quality health care for all;
4. assess the impact of the political and social context in which health care is provided and the impact of each on equitable access to and experience of care;
5. evaluate the continuum of health care delivery with emphasis on the role of the dietetic professional within each element of the health care system;
6. describe health policy impacting on vulnerable groups (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, elderly, disabled and paediatric populations) and their access to health care;
7. adopt reflective and critical thinking and problem solving skills to a range of contemporary nutritional issues in the Australian health care system; and
8. define effective teamwork function using paediatric and rural settings as exemplars.

Assessment

Examination: 40%
Assignments and Case studies: 60%

Contact hours

2 hours per week lectures and 2 hours per week tutorials

Prerequisites

Completion of Year 2, semester 1 Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics