Unit Outline
CAM619
Medicine in Extreme Environments
Semester 1, 2024
Brenton Systermans
Tasmanian School of Medicine
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Brenton Systermans
Email: Brenton.Systermans@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 

This unit is concerned with the practice of health-care in extreme environments. It starts with generic considerations before moving on to examine the following extreme environments in detail: cold, high altitude, desert, maritime, underwater, aviation, and space. The challenges of working each environment are considered, followed by an examination of the physiological changes that occur, and finally the patho-physiology and clinical presentations encountered.
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.
Describe the characteristics of an extreme environment from a social, psychological, and medical perspective and challenges associated with living in working in such environments
2.
Describe the processes of acclimatisation and adaptation to extreme environments, where this is physiologically feasible
3.
Describe common patho-physiological processes and clinical conditions associated with extreme environments
4.
Apply strategies for prevention of medical problems in extreme environments
5.
Provide emergency treatment of medical problems associated with extreme environments
Alterations as a result of student feedback
The content of the unit is updated prior to each semester. 
Assessments are altered and updated following each semester
 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Online
Individual Study
8 hours weekly for 5 weeks
8
Once only (5 times)
Individual Study
10 hours weekly for 7 weeks
10
Once only (7 times)
Tutorial (Online)
2 hours weekly for 5 weeks
2
Once only (5 times)
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.
 
As this is an online unit it is expected you will engage in all online tutorial those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline and, that you regularly take part in discussion on the MyLO discussion board. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. It is also expected that you thoroughly read each module including any self-directed learning and that you complete each assignment by its due date.
 
 

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:
Contribution to on-line discussion
See the MyLO site for the due date
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:
Written Assignment
See the MyLO site for the due date
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Written Assignment
See the MyLO site for the due date
50 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Contribution to on-line discussion
Task Description:
Three written responses to discussion questions related to remote medicine

Task Length:
1500 words total
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply knowledge of remote medicine in discussion of module-based topics
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
 
Assessment Task 2: Written Assignment
Task Description:
Written assignment, providing an evidence-based analysis of a provided topic

Task Length:
2000 words
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
 

1
Organisation and presentation of material, use of logical structure, flow of ideas, spelling and grammar, and follows prescribed referencing and style guide
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Apply knowledge of remote medicine to the provided topic
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3
Develop well supported arguments that address the provided topic
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Written Assignment
Task Description:
Written assignment providing a comprehensive plan to respond to a provided scenario

Task Length:
4000 words
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Organisation and presentation of material, use of logical structure, flow of ideas, spelling and grammar, and follows prescribed referencing and style guide
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Describe medical capability and other factors required for a planned response to scenario
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
 
 
 

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.