PDTY3029Podiatric Practice 2

Course handbook

Description

This course will further develop students’ assessment skills encouraging the student to make the appropriate selection of techniques (biomechanical assessments) and to introduce the student to the diagnosis and management of a variety of simple foot pathologies. In this course, the second of the four clinical practice courses, students will participate in assessments of patients under supervision and continue with the management of foot pathologies. Clinical activities will be divided into four areas: General Medicine Clinic, Biomechanical Assessment Clinic, Clinical Therapies and External Clinical Placement.

Availability

Not currently offered.

Replacing course(s)

This course replaces the following course(s): PDTY3203. Students who have successfully completed PDTY3203 are not eligible to enrol in PDTY3029.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate skills in safe work practices including infection control and work health and safety in a clinical setting.

2. Implement documentation skills, in accordance with the problem-oriented medical record (POMR) system, in a clinical setting.

3. Demonstrate appropriate professional communication skills in a clinical setting including referrals, letter writing, goal orientated management plans and patient education.

4. Apply theoretical knowledge of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal systems to common foot pathologies in a clinical setting.

5. Develop and demonstrate specialist diagnostic skills to identify pathology in the foot and lower extremity including vascular, neurological, biomechanical and gait assessment.

6. Develop and apply management skills necessary for the treatment of patients with common foot and lower extremity pathology.

7. Demonstrate skills in the manufacture of custom made functional orthotic devices including neutral casting, positive cast manufacture, grinding and safety competencies.

Content

1. Clinic

In these clinics, the student will further develop patient assessment, diagnosis, management, and clinical reasoning skills. The patients who attend these clinics will be new and ongoing patients who have basic foot problems, problems associated with an existing medical condition, and mechanical/functional problems. Appropriate assessments and management strategies will be carried out including manufacture of orthoses. The students will be supervised by registered practitioners.

2. Clinical Therapies

Students will continue to develop clinical therapies skills, focusing on the manufacture, clinical decision making and issues associated with cast, functional devices for patients. Students will engage in management and safety of a orthoses workshop. Content will include:

• Review of foot posture and foot function
• Review of neutral casting and preparation of the positive cast
• Discussion of positive casts
• Cast evaluation
• Manufacture of clinical devices – intrinsic and extrinsic posting, shell grinding
• Introduction to issuing and fitting orthotic devices
• Prefab and off the shelf devices
• Ethical and professional considerations with orthoses
• Assessment of footwear – footwear type, footwear assessment, shoe fitting

3. Clinical Tutorial

Most clinical information will be presented during these sessions. Basic clinical skills and case presentation skills will be further practiced within the group. Content includes:

• Principles of new and review consultation
• Rationale for assessment selection
• Goal oriented management plans
• Health outcome concepts
• Education concepts and skills for general foot pathologies
• Footwear education concepts and skills
• Referral and response letter writing

4. External Clinical Placement

There will be a placement for 5 days of clinical activities in an external clinical site.  The focus of this placement will be on developing assessment, diagnostic, management, and patient interaction skills in a real world clinical setting. 

Requisite

Students must be active in program [50021] Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine or [50022] Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine (Honours).

Students must have successfully completed PDTY3028.

Assessment items

Presentation: Case Study Presentation

Practical Demonstration: Orthotic Manufacture and Practical Examination

Formal Examination: Final Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Participation: Participation in Practical Sessions
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Professional Task: Clinical Placement
Compulsory Requirement: Demonstrate competency - Must demonstrate competency in all required professional skills.

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.