PDTY4005Clinical and Professional Practice (Honours)

Course handbook

Description

This subject will introduce practical principles of professional, ethical and legal issues associated with working as a podiatrist, focusing on the workplace, administrative policies and procedures as required for registration with the state Registration Board. Students then undertake a clinical block in a public sector placement designed to further consolidate podiatric assessment, communication and management skills. The student will be involved in treating pathologies in general health and the high risk patient encompassing all aspects of podiatry. The placement includes sessions under the supervision of a podiatrist endorsed for scheduled medicines.

Availability

Not currently offered.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the pharmacology and the therapeutic indications of drugs endorsed for use by the Podiatry Board of Australia

2. Be cognisant of the rights and responsibilities under law and ethical issues associated with the practice of podiatry and formulate appropriate podiatric prescriptions within the relevant micro-legal frameworks, generate medication orders, prescriptions, patient information, and oral and written communications to health practitioners engaged in patient management.

3. Develop a client management plan that monitors, assesses and evaluates the efficacy of the intervention with particular reference to adverse reactions.

4. Employ professional communication skills and behaviours in clinical settings.

5. Implement acquired skills in the practice of podiatry in a variety of clinical settings in an independent manner.

6. Manage caseloads by demonstrating safe skills, efficiencies and competencies necessary in the management of patients with foot pathologies over a short/long term basis.

7. Apply and appraise skills, knowledge and contextual information in the assessment, diagnosis and management within diverse cohorts and the multidisciplinary team.

8. Understand, apply and document principles of business and administrative management, fair trading, contracts of employment, tax legislation, medical records, referral reports and patient instructions, health and safety, and medicolegal insurance, specifically as it relates to the practice of podiatry.

9. Develop knowledge and skills in specific reporting requirements for the funding of specialist groups, particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs, and relationships with professional associations and bodies to the benefit of the individual and the professional community.

10. Reflect and appraise their clinical and professional experience.

Content

Clinical Block Placement Component 

In the Clinical Block placement the focus will be on consolidation of appropriate assessment, diagnostic and management skills of the scope of podiatric practice including complex cases, including the high risk foot, and prescribing of scheduled medicines. The activities will be divided into two areas: 

(a) Preparation, presentations and feedback. This will be presented in workshop format to provide: 

i) The relevant information to students about their responsibilities and the requirements on external clinical placements covering: 

• Pre-clinical documentation requirements 
• iIfection control 
• Professional behaviour 
• Communication skills 
• Needs for different groups and treatment programs 
• Negotiated learning objectives 

ii) Presentations and Feedback at the end of the placement 

• Case Study presentations 
• Feedback 

(b) External Clinical Placement 

The student will participate in 10 weeks of external block placement. The placement will be directed at consolidating assessment, diagnosis and management skills in high risk and general patients. The aim of these placements is to increase efficiency and competency in podiatry care in a real-life clinical setting with a diverse cohorts of patients. Of particular importance will be student involvement in a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care. The sessions will include supervision by endorsed prescribers. 

Professional Practice Studies Component 

Professional Practice component includes the following topics 

(a) Types of Podiatry Practice, Private practice; Business plans, Employment/Contracting, Taxation, Practice management 

• Public health practice 
• Podiatric research 
• Podiatric surgery 
• Working overseas
• Podiatry suppliers 

(b) Medicolegal Requirements and Responsibilities and Professional Associations 

• Professional Registration 
• Government departments; Department of Veteran Affairs, NSW Podiatry Council 
• Health and safety - infection control 
• Insurance; Professional indemnity, Workcover, Property 
• Australian podiatry Association / Australian podiatry Council 

(c) Ethical and Socio-demographic Issues related to Podiatry Practice 

• Complaints handling 
• Socio-Demographic and socio-economic considerations for healthcare 
• Multi-disciplinary healthcare 
• Evidence based practice 
• Interpersonal and inter-professional communication 

(d) Job Applications 

• Cover letters 
• Answering selection criteria 
• Writing resumes 
• Self-promotion

Requisite

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

Students must have successfully completed PDTY3028 and PDTY3029 and PDTY3030 and PDTY4017 and PDTY4007 and PDTY4018 and PDTY4021.

Assessment items

Written Assignment: Negotiated learning contract
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Case Study / Problem Based Learning: Case Study based on Clinical Practice

Written Assignment: Clinical Reflection

Viva Voce: Portfolio and Viva Voce

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

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.