Unit Outline
CAA602
Advanced Management of Acute Cases in Paramedicine
Semester 1, 2024
Chris Mullen
School of Paramedicine
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Chris Mullen
Email: chris.mullen@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
CAA602 is the first of two clinically focused units in paramedicine. This unit provides the advanced applied knowledge and skills to identify, assess and manage acute medical emergencies encountered in the out-of-hospital setting. The epidemiological and pathophysiological aspects as well as contemporary management issues of the major body systems will be covered. Emphasis is on extensive physical patient assessment, pathophysiology and out of hospital management of individuals in the area of your chosen specialisation. You will further develop clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, incorporation of advanced pharmacology and medication management and application of contemporary advanced paramedicine roles.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Discuss and demonstrate advanced assessment, clinical decision making and emergency management of patients presenting with a range of out-of-hospital emergency presentations
2.
Demonstrate advanced clinical skills required by out-of-hospital critical care paramedics to manage high-acuity and emergent patient presentations
3.
Apply knowledge of patient assessment and underlying pathophysiology to develop and justify differential diagnoses for some common high-acuity and emergency patient presentations
4.
Apply evidence-based principles to inform clinical examination, clinical decision making and application of management plans relevant to high-acuity and emergent patient presentations
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
CAA500 AND CSA500
Alterations as a result of student feedback
No alterations have been made as a result of student feedback.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Online
Independent Learning
Self-directed learning. Online learning materials and discussions. Asynchronous learning
6
Weekly
Workshop (On Campus)
2-day intensive workshop 8hrs per day
16
Once only
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
In this unit, your active engagement will be monitored in the following way: 
  • Active participation in discussion forums, 
  • Participation in the practical session (Hobart) 
  • Completion of all assessment tasks 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Online evidence-based discussion posts
Week 3
40 %
LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Quizzes
Week 8
20 %
LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Clinical Skills Portfolio
Week 12
0 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 4:
Examination Online Invigilated
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Online evidence-based discussion posts
Task Description:
Comprising each student’s choice of their best online evidence-based discussion posts one chosen from each on-line module from one of the boxes marked “Portfolio Discussion” (in red).

The discussion item can be either a new thread or a response to another student/s post.

Discussions will be graded on accuracy, currency, evidence-based research, understanding, analysis, argument and referencing per the supplied rubric in Assessment Section of MyLO.

Item 1 – Week 3,
Item 2 – Week 4,
Item 3 – Week 5,
Item 4 – Week 9,
Item 5 – Week 12

Task Length:
5 x 300 words
Due Date:
Week 3
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Context synopsis including presentation, interventions and outcomes
LO1, LO3
2
Critical Analysis of the context and decision-making, supported by current EBP
LO1, LO3, LO4
3
Appropriate choice of research outputs and evaluation of information
LO4
4
Use of appropriate professional, academic and referencing conventions
LO4
 
Assessment Task 2: Quizzes
Task Description:
Four quizzes will consist of 10 multi choice questions (MCQ) randomised from a central question bank.

Each quiz is worth 5% for a maximum of 20% of overall unit marks.

The quizzes will be presented during the semester and require students to understand the content of all previous modules.

Further details regarding this assessment are available on MYLO under Assessment section.


Quiz #1 –Week 8,
Quiz #2 – Week 13

Task Length:
 
Due Date:
Week 8
 
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Correct answers to MCQs with one attempt only
LO1, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Clinical Skills Portfolio
Task Description:
Assessment Task 2 requires completion of a Clinical Skills Portfolio (a hard copy will be supplied to students at the start of the Intensive.

The Portfolio will provide a record of:
• Complete attendance of Skills Intensive
• Sign-off for all group practical sessions during Intensive
• Sign-off for individual practical skills during Intensive

Completed Portfolio will be presented to UTAS staff on last day of Intensive. The Master sign-off sheet is to be copied and posted to Assessments.

Task Length:
 
Due Date:
Week 12
Weight:
0 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Clinical skills will be signed off during the clinical skills intensive and may be performed either on simulation manikins or on cadavers
LO1, LO2
2
Skills assessed on a five-point Bondy scale - Dependent, Marginal, Assisted, Supervised, Independent
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment Task 4: Examination Online Invigilated
Task Description:
Online Invigilated exam in examination period

IMPORTANT: All communication regarding your exam, including the exam venue nomination form, will be sent to your UTAS email address. Failure to check your UTAS email address will not constitute grounds for special consideration in sitting your exam or for gaining a deferred exam, unless you can demonstrate that you have not been able to access emails due to operational deployments or other significant events. We recommend that you access your UTAS email address at least once per week to ensure you do not miss important emails.

Note: Exams for this unit are not managed by the university exams office. All inquiries regarding exams for this unit should be directed to paramedic.pathways@utas.edu.au

Task Length:
3 Hours
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Correct discussion of advanced assessment, clinical decision making and emergency management of patients presenting with a range of out-of-hospital emergency presentations
LO1
2
Correct application of knowledge of patient assessment and underlying pathophysiology to develop and justify differential diagnoses for some common high-acuity and emergency patient presentations
LO3
3
Correct application of evidence-based principles to inform clinical examination, clinical decision making and application of management plans relevant to high-acuity and emergent patient presentations
LO4
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
You require the following text: 
 Tintinalli J, Stapczynski J, Ma O, Yealy D, Meckler G, Cline D. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, Eighth Edition. 8 ed. Tintinalli J, editor. USA: McGraw-Hill Education; 2016 
 
Recommended reading materials
Recommended readings will be listed in each module’s activities on MyLO. However, as a guide, students should ensure they have access to a wide range of electronic resources and electronic journals.  Students are strongly encouraged to make use of electronic resources supplied by the requisite text publishers, as these will be referred to in the weekly content. 
 
Other required resources
As all course content will be delivered using the MyLO interface, all students will need a MyLO account with student access to CAA602. When accessing scientific articles through websites such as www.pubmed.com please ensure you go through the UTAS library link (http://www.utas.edu.au/library) as this will grant you access to all material that UTAS subscribes to.