Musculoskeletal Interventions 3 (8981.1)

Required texts

Bacchus, C. 2019. Joint structure and function. A manual of peripheral joint anatomy, kinematics, assessment and treatment for the physiotherapist.

Recommended texts:

Brukner, P., and K. Kahn. 2002. Clinical Sports Medicine, 2^nd ed. Sydney: McGraw-Hill. UC library call no. RC1210.B78 2006

Dutton, M. 2008. Orthopaedic examination, evaluation and intervention (2^nd Eds.). New York: McGraw-Hill. UC library call no. RD734.D88 2008

Magee, D.J. 2002. Orthopaedic Physical Assessment. 4^th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders. UC library call no.  RD734.M34 2002

Whitmore, S., K. Gladney, and A. Driver. 2004. The Lower Quadrant, A Workbook of Manual Therapy Techniques. Whitmore Physiotherapy Consulting Inc. UC library call no. RZ342.9.W44 2005

Whitmore, S., K. Gladney, and A. Driver. 2004. The Upper Quadrant, A Workbook of Manual Therapy Techniques. Whitmore Physiotherapy Consulting Inc. UC library call no.  RZ342.9.W45 2006

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

To pass this unit a student must attempt 9 out of 10 Post Tutorial Quizzes and perform at a satisfactory level in both the VIVA exam and the WIL (Clinical Placement). A score less than "P" in either the VIVA exam or the WIL (Clinical Placement) will be regarded as unsatisfactory and will result in a FAIL for the unit.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Moderation of Assessment

The University of Canberra’s policies on moderation apply to all physiotherapy units. The standard of assessment in this unit will be equivalent wherever and however the unit is delivered. Assessment will be moderated to ensure that judgments of students’ performance are consistent, transparent, reliable and valid. The moderation policy can be provided by the Unit Convenor upon request. In the case of clinical placements, fieldwork, or other forms of practicums, moderation processes will be outlined on Canvas.

Participation requirements

This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the Australian Physiotherapy Council professional learning outcomes for this Unit. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendance is expected at all lectures, and 100% participation is required in all tutorials, practicals, presentations and work integrated (clinical) placements.

The successful completion of the clinical placement is a mandatory element of the Unit and the assessment of the Unit. Clinical placements will be around the ACT as well as regional NSW, Vic, Tas and NT. All students can expect to go out of Canberra for some of their placements.

It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical, by telephone or email.

Absence from a Clinical Placement

Absence from external placement activities must be reported to the clinical educator on site and clinical coordinator at UC. Failure to attend placements may result in failure of the associated assessment piece. Consideration will be given for illness, however evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.

Required IT skills

Students should be conversant with searching for relevant articles via electronic means, the use of Canvas, and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

In-unit costs

Cost associated with a clinical placement:

• Travel to practical and work integrated learning (clinical education) locations
• Accommodation costs at interstate placements
• uniform related costs and uniform maintenance

Some sites, such as Canberra Hospital, require students to pay $20 cash as a deposit to obtain a (compulsory) ID card. This money is fully refundable on return of the ID on the last day of placement.

Work placement, internships or practicums

Visiting clinical sites and work integrated learning is an essential part of the University of Canberra physiotherapy programs. This experience enables knowledge to be embedded in a clinical context with the assistance of trained clinical supervisors, and cannot be attained in any other setting. The control of access to work-integrated learning facilities derives from contractual arrangements with ACT Health, NSW Health and other hospitals, centres and practices. University of Canberra is obliged to accept the rules and regulations that govern who they will accept into those premises.   

It is beyond University of Canberra's control to influence the health facilities to change their acceptability requirements.

1. UC pre-placement requirements – e.g. vaccines, manual handling, police checks etc.

As part of this unit, students are required to undertake professional placement. Students must complete their pre-placement requirements before being able to undertake professional placement. Pre-placement requirements are to be uploaded to InPlace. After these requirements are completed (uploaded to InPlace and verified (green status)), students will be allocated to their Professional Placements as required by their course of study.  Pre-placement requirements are located at: www.canberra.edu.au/placement. Further information can be found in the WIL guidelines found on that page.

Pre-placement requirements are due on: 31-01-2019

Student who have not met pre-placement requirements by the specified due date will not be allocated a placement. This will result in a fail grade for the unit.

2. Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements (e.g. ACT Health & NSW e-learning modules etc.)

Some practice placement industry partners require students to complete further mandatory pre-placement requirements such as learning packages, prior to the commencing placement. Students will receive specific instructions on what Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements are required to be completed and how to upload certificates of completion.  A due date will be set by the industry partner. Students are to complete the Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements and submit completion evidence as per the instructions of the specific industry partner by the due date.

Failure to complete mandatory industry partner pre-placement requirements by the due date will result in the practice placement being cancelled. This will result in a fail grade for the unit.

Police Checks and access to Work-integrated learning (Clinical) Placements

All of the external agencies require a police check prior to permitting a student to undertake work integrated learning (clinical) placement; and the results of the police check may be used as a basis to refuse access to a clinical placement at the external agency. This decision is solely at the discretion of the external agency.

Students unable to gain access to a work-integrated (clinical) placement at agencies approved by the University are unable to complete the mandatory requirements of the Unit. In this case the student will receive a NC (fail) grade and will not be eligible for a refund of any fees.

If the successful completion of a Unit is a mandatory requirement for the completion of a Course, an inability to complete the Unit means the student is unable to complete the requirements of the Course.

Students should note that the external agency reserves the right to withdraw access to a clinical placement at any time prior to or during a placement at the sole discretion of the agency. In these circumstances the same implications noted above will apply.

Students also need to note that they bear the full risk in relation to loss of access to clinical placements and the University will not be liable if an agency withdraws access to a clinical placement because of the actions or omissions of a student.

Privacy and confidentiality

 As part of its partnership arrangements with Health Agencies, the Faculty of Health at the University of Canberra is aware of the issue of confidentiality of information gained from authentic field experiences. Students are expected to analyse their experiences from the field as part of their academic study. In order to support learning while protecting confidentiality of information, a privacy procedure has been developed. Please access at the WIL Canvas site.

Working with Vulnerable People  

Clinical placements, visits to children's facilities, children's sports, residential aged care and other aged care facilities, require the student to be carrying on their person a current and valid "Working with Vulnerable People Card". This can be obtained from Canberra Connect shopfronts. You can commence the application online, but must attend the shopfront to complete it. For students, this is free.

https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1804

Additional information

Mandatory notification and physiotherapy student registration

Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, physiotherapy practitioners (registered physiotherapists) and education providers have an obligation to report ‘notifiable conduct', to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia in order to prevent the public being placed at risk of harm.

Education providers are also required, under s.143 of the National Law, to make mandatory notifications in relation to students, if the provider reasonably believes:

1. a student enrolled with the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm;
2.  a student for whom the provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

Practitioners are required to make a mandatory notification in relation to a student if the practitioner reasonably believes that a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

All concerns raised within the Discipline of Physiotherapy or by clinical supervisors or preceptors will be reviewed by the Head of Discipline and the Course Convener before any reporting action is taken.

These professional obligations are taken seriously by staff and the University.

Students should be aware of their obligations under student registration. For further information, please refer to the following websites:

1. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority

2. Physiotherapy Board of Australia, Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Health and Safety

The following applies to all tutorial classes and practicums:

Pre-­existing conditions

Students are advised that the same warnings given to patients apply to students undertaking this course e.g. where a pre-existing condition(s) may be affected by any activity in the unit, the student is responsible to advise the unit convenor or relevant teaching staff. Please also note the inherent requirements for physiotherapy.

Manual handling

Physiotherapy work requires manual handling. You will be taught the correct way to perform manual handling and should use the principles at all times to prevent injury to yourself or your client. If you have any injury that may affect your capacity to perform manual handling skills you are required to notify the unit convener at the commencement of the semester. If you obtain a new injury during the semester that may affect your capacity to perform manual handling skills you are required to notify the unit convener prior to the next practical class. In the event of an injury being sustained during the practice of skills in class you are required to notify the unit convener within 24 hours of the event and complete a UC incident form.

Respect and consent

Students will be required to play the part of a patient and a therapist during practical classes. This may involve partially disrobing as appropriate. All professional courtesy and respect is to be provided. This includes consent, draping, and safety.

The student who is role-playing the patient should be given the full respect and courtesy that a patient would. This includes giving warnings, obtaining informed consent before a manual technique is performed, covering body areas that do not need to be exposed for the practice of the technique, and not making any inappropriate verbal comments.

As a ‘patient', you will be expected to partially disrobe to allow the ‘therapist' to see relevant body regions. Please ensure you are wearing appropriate clothing for the level of dress required during practical classes. Appropriate clothing reinforces a professional environment that fosters mutual respect, confidence and learning.

Recording devices

Mobile phones must be switched to silent mode prior to the commencement of class. No cameras or videos are to be used in practical classes without the specific permission of other students and the unit convener. Any person taking a picture of another student without permission will be requested to leave the class and the images will be confiscated and deleted. They will then be asked to meet with the Head of Discipline.

Mobile phones must be switched to silent mode or left in lockers while on placement. No cameras or videos are to be used on wards.  Any person taking a picture of another student, a patient, a staff member, a member of the public, patient notes or other patient related material without permission will be requested to leave the placement and the images will be confiscated and deleted. They will also be suspended from placement and asked to meet with the ADE.

Counselling

In the course of studying physiotherapy students may be exposed to clinical cases and situations that may be stressful. At UC a free Counselling Service is available for all students. All sessions are confidential. The UC Counselling Service is located in the UC Health and Counselling Centre on Level B in Building 1. For more information please go to http://www.canberra.edu.au/health-counselling

• Physio Non Standard Period 2, 2019, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (191763)
• Trimester 2, 2018, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (180881)
• Flexible Period 6, 2017, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (164583)
• Flexible Period 6, 2016, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (155921)
• Semester 2, 2015, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (147076)