Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit reviews key concepts in primary health care in Australia and other countries using a comparative case based teaching method. Case examples of primary health care initiatives and systems are drawn from a wide range of countries including Australia, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, the United States and United Kingdom. Key documents including the Commonwealth's "Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy: A Discussion Paper from the Australian Government and the WHO's "Primary Health Care: Now More Than Ever" statements will be reviewed and discussed. 9 hours of this course will be co-taught with Masters of Family Medicine candidates. The following topics will also be considered. The history and philosophy of primary care practice, the conceptual framework of primary care practice, the roles and tasks of the primary care practitioner, primary care practice in the community and community health, future directions of primary care practice and the academic in primary care practice. The course is designed for primary health care professionals and other professionals involved in the management, design and delivery of primary health care services.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. To critically analyse the contemporary key international trends and policies and practices in Primary Health Care systems and practice;
2. To critically analyse these policies and practices through exposure to a wide range of Australian and international case studies in primary health care;
3. To critically analyse the roles of key professions in different Primary Health Care systems through benchmarking of the systems;
4. To critically analyse the contribution of Primary Health Care to health service delivery in different health systems.

Assessment

Review of literature (20%)
Case study (20%)
Essay (critical analysis)(60%)

Contact hours

12 hours per week including contact time and private study over the second semester - a total of 156 hours.