M6001 - Master of Advanced Health Care Practice - 2017

The course will equip experienced health care practitioners with the knowledge and skills to meet the challenges that beset the modern health care system. It will provide them with an academic framework within which to develop a range of advanced problem-solving and decision making skills to achieve best practice health outcomes for patients and clients.

Specialisations

Clinical midwifery

This specialisation is designed to prepare experienced registered (in their country of origin) midwives for senior management, education and professional and specialist leadership roles in a range of midwifery settings. Note: This is the only specialisation currently offered to international student visa holders to study on campus in Australia.

Medical imaging

This specialisation is designed for radiographers and nuclear medicine technologists keen to assume advanced practice roles in advanced modality-based imaging, clinical leadership and education. The specialisation will provide opportunities to either complete a research project or study a variety of topics including advanced CT, MRI, image interpretation, patient assessment, hybrid and molecular imaging, data management and health informatics, clinical leadership and education.

Occupational therapy

This specialisation is designed for occupational therapists to deepen their knowledge and practice in advancing human occupation, health and wellbeing, to develop knowledge and skills for leading the management, design and delivery of health and community programs, and to undertake a program of study designed to develop advanced occupational therapy practice roles, such as in hand therapy, using adaptive and assistive technology, or addressing the needs of children with disabilities and their families.

Paediatric physiotherapy

This specialisation is designed for physiotherapists with an interest in developing advanced practice roles within the sub-speciality of paediatrics including neonates, infants and those with particular needs.

Primary health care

This specialisation is designed to those working within inter-professional primary health care teams. The specialisation will enable medical practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals and primary health care administrators and managers to gain an understanding of, and skills in, the delivery of contemporary, sophisticated primary health care. Units will provide an understanding the principles of general practice and primary health care, chronic disease management, evidence-based prevention and health promotion, education in health care practice and a range of special interest units addressing diagnostics, therapeutics and interprofessional health practice. A research project in an area of interest can also be undertaken.

Radiation therapy

This specialisation is designed for radiation therapists keen to assume advanced practice roles in radiation therapy planning and treatment. The specialisation will provide opportunities to either complete a research project or study a variety of topics including patient care and assessment, palliative care, the management of radiation-induced side-effects, international and local radiation therapy service provision, radiation therapy imaging, radiation therapy for breast cancer, clinical leadership and education.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1. practice ethically, respectfully and collaboratively within legislative and professional boundaries at advanced levels of practice
2. demonstrate mastery of a discipline specific body of knowledge and a range of research-informed skills which supports advanced practice
3. design and justify advanced research-informed health care interventions for a range of patients and clients including primary, community and rural health care settings.
4. evaluate the effectiveness of complex health care interventions using quantitative and qualitative research tools
5. apply critical thinking skills to the implementation of appropriate communication strategies both within the workplace and beyond that will influence and support advanced practice
6. demonstrate effective and strategic research, problem-solving, organisational and teamwork skills that reflect advanced practice
7. empower patients, clients and carers to become knowing and willing partners in the health care intervention
8. implement culturally competent clinical practice, leadership, supervision and or management roles with the relevant health care setting
9. initiate new or innovative approaches to the delivery of health care that are research-informed
10. effectively implement and critically evaluate technological advancements in health care to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Students who have studied before but have not been granted block credit may be eligible for credit for prior studies.

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Expanding core discipline skills, Part B. Foundations for advanced health care practice, Part C. Advanced specialist study. All students complete Part B and Part C. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies, but prefer to do the longer form of the course (Parts A-C), you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Expanding core discipline skills

In this part you will have the opportunity to complete scholarly practical studies that develop and expand your expertise within your area of specialist practice. Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised degree in a cognate discipline of four years duration, two years relevant professional experience and registered to practice in the specialisation are eligible to receive credit for this part.

Part B. Foundations for advanced health care practice

This study will provide you with the foundations to lead the management, design and delivery of high quality evidence-based patient/consumer centred care and/or develop health care programs in a clinical context that impact on patient outcomes. It is inter-professional, reflecting and modelling the collaboration required in practice to deliver health care of the highest quality and ensures a heightened awareness of legal, ethical, inter-professional, cultural, managerial and safety issues in health care practice.

Part C. Advanced specialist study

These units will provide you with specialist professional knowledge and advanced skills in research or advanced professional practice in your chosen specialisation. All specialisations offer the choice of either a research focus or a coursework focus within Part C. The research focus provides a pathway to a higher degree by research.

The course comprises 72 points structured into three parts: Part A. Expanding core discipline skills (24 points), Part B. Foundations for advanced health care practice (12 points) and Part C. Advanced specialist study (36 points).

• Students admitted at entry level 1 complete 72 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.
• Students admitted at entry level 2 complete 48 points, comprising Part B and Part C.

Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Expanding core discipline skills (24 points)

Clinical midwifery

Students complete 24 points from:

• MPH5268 Financial issues in health care management (6 points)
• MPH6004 Health leadership and management (6 points)
• NUR5112 Nursing practice in the Australian healthcare context*
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5214 Advanced therapeutic interaction in nursing

* AusAid international students.

Medical imaging

Students complete any four of the following in consultation with the course coordinator:

• RAD4500 Multislice CT and evidence based practice (6 points)
• RAD4502 Principles of general radiography image interpretation (6 points)
• SRH5000 Health and health care practices for communities (6 points)
• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners (6 points)
• RAD4503 MRI Physics, instrumentation and safety (6 points)
• RAD4504 Musculo-skeletal MRI (6 points)
• RAD4505 MRI Head, spine, abdomen and pelvis (6 points)
• RAD4506 MRI Advanced imaging techniques (6 points)

Occupational therapy/Paediatric physiotherapy

Students complete 24 points from:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5844 Health promotion and education
• PTY5103 Principles of paediatric physiotherapy (6 points)*
• SRH5000 Health and health care practices for communities (6 points)
• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research
• SRH5016 Interprofessional practice in communities (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners (6 points)

* Only available to specialists in paediatric physiotherapy.

Primary health care

Students complete:

• MFM5000 Principles of general practice
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research

Radiation therapy

Students complete:

• RTP4101 Professional issues in radiation therapy 1 (6 points)
• RTP4102 Professional issues in radiation therapy 2 (6 points)
• RTP4103 Specialised techniques in radiation therapy (6 points)

and one of:

• SRH5000 Health and health care practices for communities (6 points)
• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5016 Interprofessional practice in communities (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners (6 points)

Part B. Foundations for advanced health care practice (12 points)

All students complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research

Part C. Advanced specialist study (36 points)

Students complete either a. the research stream or b. the coursework stream as detailed below.

a. Research

Research stream students enrol in the following units but the focus of their work will be on research topics relevant to their specialisation. Students can complete a 36-point minor thesis or a 24-point project.

Minor thesis students complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5001 Advanced health practice research project
• MAP5002 Minor thesis

Research project students complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research or 12 points of electives specific to their specialisation

b. Coursework

Coursework stream students complete 36 points of units specific to their specialisation as detailed below.

Clinical midwifery

Students complete:

• GHS5850 Nursing leadership and management
• MID5005 Advanced midwifery practice
• NUR5204 Education for health care practice

Medical imaging

• RAD5105 Pathology for advanced medical imaging practice (6 points)
• RAD5106 Medical imaging data management and health informatics (6 points)
• RAD5107 Hybrid and molecular imaging (6 points)

and 18 points from the following:

• RAD5108 Advanced general radiography image interpretation 1
• RAD5109 Advanced general radiography image interpretation 2 (6 points)
• RAD5110 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 1
• RAD5111 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 2 (6 points)
• RAD5xxx Advanced MRI and clinical decision-making 1 (available from 2018)
• RAD5xxx Advanced MRI and clinical decision-making 2 (6 points) available from 2018
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)
• MPH5286 Applying and practicing the principles of patient safety and quality improvement (6 points)
• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development

Occupational therapy

Students complete:

• OCC5161 Human occupation and health (6 points)

and 30 points from the following:

• OCC5111 Advanced hand therapy theory, principles, and practice (6 points)
• OCC5121 Advanced adaptive and assistive technology (6 points)
• OCC5131 Advanced assessment of children: Methods, policy, ethics and issues (6 points)
• OCC5141 Occupational therapy for children with a disability and their families (6 points)
• SRH5000 Health and health care practice for communities (6 points)
• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5016 Interprofessional health practice (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners (6 points)
• up to 12 points of other relevant health-related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

Paediatric physiotherapy

Students complete:

• PTY5105 Advanced paediatric clinical skills and project

and four of the following (24 points):

• OCC5131 Advanced assessment of children: methods, policy, ethics and issues (6 points), or OCC5141 Occupational therapy for young children with a disability and their families (6 points)
• PTY5100 Enhancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy (6 points)
• PTY5101 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Cerebral palsy (6 points)
• PTY5102 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Neonates and infants (6 points)
• PTY5104 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Complex and chronic conditions (6 points)
• up to 6 points of other relevant health-related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

Primary health care

Students complete:

• MFM5000 Principles of general practice and primary care (if not completed in Part A) or 12 points of elective studies chosen from the elective list below

In addition students complete either a. or b. below (24 points):

a. The following four units:

• PHC5301 Preventative health and management of chronic disease (6 points)
• PHC5302 Common problems in primary care (6 points)
• PHC5303 Challenging issues in primary care (6 points)
• PHC5304 Primary care across the lifespan (6 points

b. Two units (12 points) chosen from:

• PHC5301 Preventative health and management of chronic disease (6 points)
• PHC5302 Common problems in primary care (6 points)
• PHC5303 Challenging issues in primary care (6 points)
• PHC5304 Primary care across the lifespan (6 points)

and 12 points of units chosen from the following elective list:

• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics (6 points)
• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5844 Health promotion and education
• SRH5000 Health and health care practices for communities (6 points)
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research
• SRH5016 Interprofessional rural health practice (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners

Radiation therapy

Students complete:

• RTP5102 Current issues in radiation therapy service delivery

and 24 points from one of the following themes below:

Health systems management:

• ECC5970 Introduction to health economics (6 points)
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5268 Financial issues in healthcare management (6 points)
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics (6 points)
• SRH5016 Interprofessional health practice (6 points)

Leadership and quality improvement:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• NUR5203 Interprofessional health practice (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)
• MPH5286 Applying and practicing the principles of patient safety and quality improvement (6 points)

Education practice:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development

Radiation therapy practice:

• RTP5101 Patient care and assessment in RT
• NUR5214 Advanced therapeutic interaction in nursing
• NUR5203 Palliative care practice
• RTP5103 Contemporary approaches to radiation therapy of the breast
• RTP5104 Advanced imaging for radiation therapy

Depending on unit availability students can also design their own course plan from these units.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided they have satisfied the requirements indicated for that award during their enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Certificate in Advanced Health Care Practice after successful completion of 24 points of study at Monash with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above.

Students can choose to complete a research stream that will provide a pathway to a higher degree by research.