Master of Medicine - 2018

The course is designed to facilitate the delivery of collaborative and optimal perioperative care to patients presenting with complex, chronic and acute medical conditions requiring surgical intervention by physicians working in the emerging field of perioperative medicine. The course adopts an evidence base and risk-informed approach to the justification of perioperative medical interventions within the modern surgical setting. Additionally, the course aims to develop skills in research and clinical leadership within this emerging medical discipline.

The course is conducted by Monash University's Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine in conjunction with the Alfred Hospital's Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine. The course is recognised by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA).

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. integrate and apply best practice perioperative medical principles across the complexity of patients presenting for surgery
2. work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary perioperative medicine team
3. correlate the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of acute and chronic medical conditions and disorders with patient history and clinical examination to risk-stratify and optimise care of these patients in the perioperative period
4. create and implement evidence-informed perioperative management plans for patients across the disease spectrum, in particular those with acute medical, cardiac, and other organ dysfunction
5. justify and defend a range of clinical interventions within the perioperative setting
6. effectively communicate to the wider clinical community the function and importance of the pre-admission clinic
7. provide leadership within a multidisciplinary perioperative management team
8. communicate and implement principles underpinning quality research in the discipline of perioperative medicine.

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Perioperative medicine studies, Part B. Perioperative organ dysfunction studies, and Part C. Advanced application expertise.

All students complete Part A and B.

Part A. Perioperative medicine studies

In this part, you will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the challenges associated with the delivery of optimal perioperative care to a wide range of patients (e.g. patients with cardiac conditions, patients with chronic medical conditions and those who present following acute trauma). These studies will provide you with the foundations to initiate and implement evidence-informed perioperative management plans, taking into account the ageing process.

Part B. Perioperative organ dysfunction studies

In this part, you will develop specialised knowledge in respect to the perioperative management of patients with a range of organ dysfunction, neurological and neuromuscular disorders, high-risk obstetrics, psychiatric disorders and infectious diseases. These studies will provide you with the foundations to initiate and implement evidence-informed perioperative management plans to patients exhibiting organ dysfunction.

Part C. Advanced application expertise

In this part, you will have the opportunity to advance your expertise in the emerging field of perioperative medicine. You will have the opportunity to choose between a coursework pathway and a research pathway.

The course comprises 72 points structured into three parts: Part A. Perioperative medicine studies (24 points), Part B. Perioperative organ dysfunction studies (24 points) and Part C. Advanced application expertise (24 points).

Note: Credit for the unit POM5001 (Perioperative management of the cardiac patient) will apply to all students who have previously completed the perioperative medicine short course from 2009 to 2013 only. There is no credit for completing the short course from 2014 onwards.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/maps/map-m6027.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements and provide guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Perioperative medicine studies (24 points)

You must complete:

• POM5001 Perioperative management for the cardiac patient
• POM5002 Acute perioperative medicine

Part B. Perioperative organ dysfunction studies (24 points)

You must complete:

• POM5003 Organ dysfunction 1
• POM5004 Organ dysfunction 2

Part C. Advanced application expertise (24 points)

You must complete either a. or b. below.

a. Coursework pathway

You must complete:

• MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology (6 points)
• MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics (6 points)
• MPH5213 Research methods (6 points)

and one unit from the following:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)
• POM5005 Human factors for patient safety (6 points)

b. Research pathway

You must complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project

You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award during your enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Diploma of Medicine after successful completion of POM5001, POM5002, POM5003, and POM5004. If you choose this option you will have a perioperative specialisation noted on your transcript.

If you complete MAP5000 and MAP5010 with an overall grade of 70 Distinction or above you may be eligible to progress to a higher degree by research program.