Leader: Ms Andrea Wyatt

Offered

Peninsula First semester 2008 (Day)
Peninsula Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The focus of this unit is to provide the theoretical underpinnings required to develop in the student an appropriate level of knowledge, understanding and skill related to the provision of MICA Paramedic care to the adult population in the circumstances of common and less common medical emergencies. This unit is underpinned by a MICA Paramedic clinical approach, clinical problem solving and clinical decision making model.

Clinical sciences content is integrated with clinical management protocols developed from evidence based practice principles and the clinical approach used to manage the adult medical emergencies.

The unit considers in detail the MICA Paramedic management of common medical emergencies. Emphasis is placed on respiratory anatomy and physiology to enable understanding of the MICA Paramedic assessment and management of the patient experiencing acute respiratory distress. Similarly, anatomy and physiology of relevant body systems is covered to enable understanding of the MICA Paramedic assessment and management of diabetic emergencies, acute abdominal emergencies, anaphylaxis, seizures, drug overdose and poisoning.

This unit also identifies the specific MICA Paramedic interventions for psychiatric emergencies and abnormal behaviour. The student's previous clinical experience is used as the basis for identifying key differences in the advanced life support measures appropriate to these conditions.

To aid learning and understanding this unit includes tutorials, case histories and clinical scenarios to allow the application of theoretical knowledge to the MICA Paramedic clinical environment.

The clinical placement will provide the student with a range of experiences and activities in the relatively controlled environment of a hospital emergency department prior to applying these to the emergency situations faced by the MICA Paramedic in the field.

These experiences are designed to help the student develop an understanding of the responsibilities and inter-relationships of the staff involved in patient management in the emergency department. Students will be exposed to a diverse range of medical conditions to assist in the identification of the common clinical presentations, the essential steps in the pre-hospital management of these patients and their continuing in-hospital care.

Students will also be able to observe the consultative processes between senior medical staff and MICA Paramedics in the field. The clinical placement will provide an opportunity to revise normal adult physiological values and promote an understanding of the significance of figures in abnormal ranges for the patient with diverse range of medical conditions. Students will also be exposed to the assessment and clinical care of patients with abnormal behaviour.

Where applicable and appropriate, the student will be supervised in assisting with the general management of patients in these critical care units and gain experience in a range of practical procedures that include:
Physiological observation of the patient with a range of emergency medical conditions;
Respiratory monitoring including pulse oximetry;
Biochemical analysis including blood glucose and arterial blood gases;
Insertion and suction of nasogastric tuble; and
Intra-venous fluid management.

This unit will be offered in a multimodal form using a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, clinical scenarios and self-directed learning materials. WebCT will be used to supplement face-to-face sessions and support on-line discussion groups to facilitate MUCAPS staff and student interaction in informal tutorials.

Objectives

By the completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an ability through self appraisal, feedback and supervised clinical experience, to continue with the process of developing as an interactional professional within the context of managing patients with emergency medical conditions;
2. Understand the application of evidence-based practice to the MICA Paramedic management of emergency medical conditions;
3. Discuss the anatomical and physiological basis of common emergency medical conditions;
4. Recall the pharmacology of relevant drugs included in the adult medical emergency Clinical Practice guidelines;
5. Relate the pathophysiology of common emergency medical conditions to their management;
6. Demonstrate the required clinical skills to be able to implement the adult medical emergency Clinical Practice Guidelines and recognise, assess and manage patients with abnormal behaviour;
7. Demonstrate the ability to integrate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to the management of the adult patient with an emergency medical condition in 'real time' work simulation using the MICA Paramedic clinical problem solving and clinical decision making model;
8. Describe the benefits of pre-hospital adult medical emergency life support and the related role of the MICA Paramedic;
9. Discuss the epidemiology of emergency medical conditions;
10. Describe the ongoing management of patients with common emergency medical conditions hospital emergency departments;
11. Discuss how a MICA Paramedic might relate to and co-ordinate with hospital emergency departments.

Assessment

Examinations 75%, Adult Medical Emergency Simulation 25%, Professional Development Pass/Fail

Contact hours

104 hrs comprising lectures, tutorials, practical sessions and clinical scenarios, self-directed learning materials and WebCT, 20 hrs supervised hospital clinical practice.