Unit Outline
CAA322
Advanced Cardiology in Paramedicine
Semester 2, 2026
Frank McDonald
School of Paramedicine and Public Safety
Health (Portfolio)
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Frank McDonald
Email: francis.mcdonald@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This unit builds on paramedic clinical practice to develop your knowledge in the areas of coronary care, electrophysiology, pharmacology, and the management of a range of acute and chronic conditions, for both adult and paediatric patients. Scope of paramedic practice and clinical currency themes will also be explored and integrated throughout the unit.
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
Justify provisional diagnosis of patients using interpretation of 12 and 15 lead tracings in paramedic practice settings.
2
Formulate culturally safe and person-centered management plans using evidence-based principles for patients experiencing a range of acute and chronic cardiac conditions.
3
Critique contemporary treatment regimens using an understanding of pathophysiology and evidence for patients experiencing a range of cardiac related presentations in an out of hospital settings
4
Apply structured cardiac assessment methodology to guide clinical decision making.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
CAA201 and CAA202 (53C) OR CAA220 (53X) and CXA291
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
CAA311 Paramedic Practice 8
Alterations as a result of student feedback
N/A
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Tutorial
Online (synchronous) tutorial
1
Weekly
Independent Learning
Online (asynchronous) tutorial
4
Weekly
Practical
Practical (on campus)
4
Study Period 6 times
Other
Individual study; self-directed study
4
Weekly
Online
Tutorial (Online)
Online (synchronous) tutorial
1
Weekly
Workshop (Online)
Online Workshop
8
Study Period 2 times
Independent Learning
Online (asynchronous) material
4
Weekly
Individual Study
Self-directed Study
4
Weekly
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 or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, 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.
 
 
 
 
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:
Presentation
Week 6
30 %
LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Critical Analysis of Current Practice
Week 10
30 %
LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Final oral examination
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Presentation
Task Description:
A recorded presentation consisting of an annotation of ECG analysis and interpretations, provisional diagnosis and management justification.
Task Length:
6-minute Presentation
Due Date:
Week 6
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explain the physiological basis for the observed ECG changes
LO1
2
Provide a clear and logical rationale for the provisional diagnosis based on ECG findings
LO1
3
Uses structured cardiac assessment methodology to guide clinical decision making and validate findings using a systematic approach.
LO4
4
Use an understanding of pathophysiology to evaluate the potential effectiveness and limitations of contemporary out-of-hospital treatment regimens for cardiac conditions.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Critical Analysis of Current Practice
Task Description:
The purpose of this critical analysis of a case study is to evaluate an area of current clinical practice, to assess and critique its effectiveness, limitations and strength of underpinning evidence. This paper will require you to undertake a review of contemporary scholarly literature to support your critical analysis. The case study for the critical analysis will be made available on MyLO.
Task Length:
1500 words
Due Date:
Week 10
Weight:
30 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explore the provision of evidence-based care for a cardiovascular related presentation in an out of hospital setting
LO3
2
Uses an understanding of pathophysiology to critique treatment regimens in cardiac related presentations
LO3
3
Formulates person -centred management plans involving pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for persons presenting with cardiac related presentations
LO2
 
Assessment Task 3: Final oral examination
Task Description:
Final oral examination involving online patient assessment and management.
Task Length:
Up to 25 minutes
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Demonstrates effective communication of ECG interpretation and provisional diagnosis to other healthcare professionals
LO1
2
Uses structured cardiac assessment methodology to guide clinical decision making.
LO4
3
Negotiates the shared decision-making process to develop management plans for persons presenting with acute or chronic cardiac conditions.
LO2
4
Uses evidence based principles for patient management
LO2
 
 
 
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.
Academic progress review
The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.
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.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see
Important Guidelines & Support.
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 will need access to the following text:
Huszar’s ECG and 12-Lead Interpretation. 6th edition. Keith Wesley. Elsevier, 2021. ISBN: 9780323711951
 
 
Recommended reading materials
All recommended readings are included in the reading list on MyLO.
 
Other required resources
You will need a computer capable of accessing the required learning materials, including a webcam. To access MyLO from your own computer you will need the appropriate software, and hardware to run that software.
You will also be encouraged to access online learning sites that offer guidance on mastering 12-lead ECG interpretation including:

1.https://litfl.com/ecg-library/basics/
2.https://litfl.com/ecg-library/
3.https://www.ecglibrary.com/ecghome.php
4.https://resus.com.au/ecg/ecg-library/
5.https://www.ozemedicine.com/wiki/doku.php?id=ecg_easy
6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430685/?term=ECG+