Acute Care

Course aim

The aim of this course is to provide the opportunity for students to develop clinical skills in the acute care setting based on a sound understanding of the patient’s condition and the effect of physiotherapy intervention on this condition.

Course content

Pathophysiology of a variety of patient conditions including: cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarct, cardiac failure, cardiac surgery, cerebral vascular accident, intracranial haemorrhage, acute peripheral neuropathy, acute spinal injury, traumatic head injury, acute and chronic lung disease, orthopaedic trauma, age related disorders. Medical and surgical management including: medical terminology, basic pharmacology, differential diagnosis and investigative procedures, preoperative management, operative procedures for abdominal, thoracic, cardiac, head and neck surgery, orthopaedic and neurosurgical surgery, chest trauma, postoperative disorders, acute stage rehabilitation. Physiotherapy intervention including: assessment, clinical reasoning processes, management planning, treatment techniques, equipment theory and usage, occupational health and safety issues, ethical and medico-legal requirements, discharge and continuing care planning, roles, role of other health professionals, resource allocation and implications, principles of best practice, quality management and outcome measures.

Textbook(s)

Kenyon, J and Kenyon, K 2009, The Physiotherapist's Pocket Book, , 2nd, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh

Prerequisite(s)

Specific program
Program	Subject Area & Catalogue Number	Course Name
IBPZ	REHB 2012	Physiotherapy Clinical Studies 201
IMPE	REHB 5066	Physiotherapy Clinical Studies 201 GE
IBPZ	REHB 2042	Physiotherapy Studies 201
IMPE	REHB 2048	Neurosciences in Physiotherapy

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Component	Duration
INTERNAL, CITY EAST
Lecture	25.5 hours x over 2 weeks
Tutorial	5 hours x over 2 weeks
Practical	11.5 hours x over 2 weeks
Clinical	5 days x 6 hour x 6 weeks
Practical	10 hours x over 6 weeks

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Physiotherapy Practice Report, Skills Assessment, Written test 1, Written test 2

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.250
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 2)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
How to determine the relevant non award tuition fee. (Opens new window)

Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.