Undergraduate - UnitBEH3051 - Paramedic Management of Mental Health

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Offered	Peninsula First semester 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Jade Sheen

Synopsis

This unit continues to develop the role of the paramedic as a clinician who is able to
assess and care for patients with mental health problems in the community. The unit
addresses the epidemiology and history of mental health in Australia, and the features of care systems with particular emphasis on community based care. Acute and chronic
medical mental health problems commonly encountered by paramedics are investigated.
The special needs of Indigenous persons and those from non-English speaking backgrounds are investigated.
The unit is case-based, integrating material from the five themes and the underpinning biomedical, social and clinical sciences, and including clinical skills, laboratory and simulation scenarios to develop essential communication, assessment and management clinical skills, and clinical problem solving and decision making competencies.

Outcomes

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

1. Describe the epidemiology, population health, natural history, pathology and clinical manifestations of mental illness commonly encountered in paramedic practice.
2. Discuss ethical issues associated with the care of individuals with mental illness.
3. Locate and evaluate the evidence-base that informs the paramedic management of acute and chronic mental health conditions across the lifespan.
4. Communicate effectively with people who are experiencing disturbances of thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
5. Demonstrate a mental status assessment as applied to paramedic practice.
6. Interpret and apply legislation and clinical practice guidelines relating to the management of patients with mental health emergencies.
7. Use a model of paramedic clinical competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to the assessment and management of patients with mental health emergencies.
8. Describe the range of therapeutic interventions and techniques used to manage mental health emergencies and identify which are appropriate for use in the community based emergency health setting.
9. Identify the factors that contribute to the mental health of individuals within family units and apply this knowledge to the care of patients as well as families and

carers of individuals with mental health problems.

10. Describe the role of the paramedic and allied health professionals in providing community-based emergency health care aimed at managing mental health emergencies within a given cultural context.
11. Investigate the special needs of Indigenous persons and those from non-English speaking backgrounds during a mental health event.

Assessment

Written report (1000 words): 20%
Written assignment (2000 words): 40%
Examination (2 hour): 40%
Objective Structured Clinical Examination: Pass/Fail

Hurdle requirements: To pass this unit the student must pass the examination AND the objective structured clinical examination. 80% attendance at tutorials is mandatory to pass this unit.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Jade Sheen

Contact hours

6 hours per week involving lectures, tutorials and small group exercises.

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic)