PARA9003 Advanced Primary Health Care for Paramedics 1

2017

4.5

1 x 120-minute seminar weekly
1 x 1-day intensive workshop once-only

Admission into MPARA-Master of Paramedic Science

Assignments; Practical work

Paramedics who work with an extended scope of practice in community settings or in the industrial sector in remote areas must develop a range of skills and strategies to provide effective health care. This topic builds on the skills and knowledge of the previous year’s learning to equip the student with the knowledge, skills and aptitude to work with an extended scope of practice and a variety of settings. Primary health care strategies form a large part of the topic to assist students to acquire strategies to provide complex and comprehensive care and effective health counselling. The second major component of the topic will investigate the out-of-hospital management of a range of illness and injuries, which do not necessarily need emergency department presentation.

This topic aims to investigate the application of an advanced scope of practice within the setting of the student’s own practice. It will focus on health promotion and primary health care strategies, which form a substantial component of the extended scope of practice role. Students will examine concepts and practices of health counselling, chronic illness surveillance and the provision of care in the out-of-hospital or remote setting. Students will develop skills and knowledge in the application of a range of advanced interventions applicable to their workplace. The topic will specifically focus on the range of minor illnesses or minor injuries which may be safely managed within the community or workplace and the identification of cases which should be referred for further health care.

On completion of this topic students will be expected to be able to:

• Critically evaluate strategies for effective health promotion and patient education, specifically in relation to:
  a. preventative health education
  b. aboriginal health
  c. drug and alcohol abuse

• Implement strategies for chronic condition surveillance, monitoring & management

• Demonstrate the ability to implement advanced skills in patient care management relevant to the student’s practice setting

• Formulate care pathways and demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to manage:
  a. wounds
  b. soft tissue injuries
  c. simple fracture stabilisation
  d. musculoskeletal pain

• Critically evaluate management of minor illnesses, specifically including:
  a. Infectious disease
  b. Ear, nose and throat disorders
  c. Cellulitis
  d. Skin disorders
  e. Insertion and/or maintenance of a variety of catheters

• Determine the clinical presentation criteria which would necessitate the referral of the patient to other health care services, including emergency transfer to hospital