OPN462 Specialist Clinic 10

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit continues the clinical practice of specialist areas within optometry: contact lens practice, binocular vision, paediatric optometry and vision rehabilitation. Through further clinical practice in these areas, students will increase their knowledge and skill base in specialized clinical practice to allow a transition to independent practice.

This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Design and implement problem-specific eye examinations in areas of specialist optometric practice at a level consistent with entry level practice;
2. Apply knowledge gained in the areas of contact lens fitting and consultation techniques, paediatric optometry (including colour vision and myopia control), binocular vision anomalies, and the rehabilitation of patients with low vision;
3. Formulate, review and revise treatment and management plans for patients under care in specialized areas of practice;
4. Differentially diagnose binocular vision and colour vision anomalies, contact lens related problems, and ocular pathologies related to low vision;
5. Apply effective written and oral communication skills in dealing with patients and other health professionals.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is taught in a similar manner to other clinical units, in that students examine patients presenting for eye examinations. You will undertake clinical practice in contact lens clinic, binocular vision clinic, paediatric optometry (including colour vision), myopia control clinic and the vision rehabilitation clinic under supervision of qualified and registered optometrists. Clinical practice in these areas will be supported by tutorials with emphasis placed on case management and problem solving, differential diagnoses, with reference to current and developing clinical management strategies in these areas of practice.

You will be expected to demonstrate readiness to take on the role of a primary care independent practitioner, by assuming the primary role in determining the care given to your patients within the clinic.

Learning in this unit completes students' graduate development in these specialist areas of clinical practice towards the Optometry Australia entry-level competency standards for Optometry (2014) in the competency units 2. Communication and patient history 3. Patient Examination, 4. Diagnosis and management and 5 Health Information Management and the appropriate competency performance criteria and indicators within the competency framework.

Expected Clinical Conduct:
Clinical attendance is mandatory for all students and compulsory clinic sessions may be scheduled during the mid-year break (June-July) or the summer semester (November-January).

Clinical hours are documented to demonstrate fulfilment of Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand course accreditation requirements. Absence from a scheduled clinic session due to illness requires a medical certificate sighted by the unit coordinator and clinic coordinator. In addition, any clinical hours missed must be completed in the next scheduled semester break clinic (in addition to any mandatory clinics scheduled during the mid-year break or summer semester).
In some exceptional circumstances, prior approval may be obtained from the unit and course coordinator to alter a student's individual clinical timetable. However, supporting evidence is required to justify the need for any timetable alterations.
Students are required to comply with the policies and procedures of the QUT Optometry Clinic at all times. Failure to comply with relevant policies and procedures may lead to exclusion from the QUT Health Clinics and inability to complete the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Patient encounters are assessed in a summative way throughout the unit to provide feedback regarding the development of clinical skills. Assessment of patient consultations may include an oral examination component. Feedback will be provided throughout the clinical sessions on progress and development of your clinical practice.

Assessment

Overview

Patient encounters are assessed in a summative way throughout the unit to provide feedback regarding the development of clinical skills. Assessment of patient consultations may include an oral examination component. Feedback will be provided throughout the clinical sessions on progress and development of your clinical practice.

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Clinical Performance

Assessment of patient encounters:
A number of patient encounters will be assessed throughout the semester, concentrating on ability to solve clinical problems through a problem oriented clinical routine, and the ability to communicate effectively with a patient. Greater emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic and management skills in this later clinical practice unit, with the expectation that you will take on the primary role.

Assessment: End of semester examination

This is an end of semester written examination, where you will be required to respond to case based scenario questions relating to low vision, paediatrics, binocular vision and colour vision. This will require demonstration of the synthesis of learning material across the course in solving clinical problems.

Assessment: Oral Examination

These examinations will focus upon your knowledge of different aspects of contact lens practice. The viva examinations will focus on the overall management of the contact lens patient, from presenting signs and symptoms, to diagnostic options, and management plan.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Blue Card

A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit will involve practice of clinical techniques on fellow students and on people from the general public who present as patients to the QUT Optometry Clinic. High standards of hygiene and safe practices are required. You are required to be proficient in cardio- pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid. You will be informed of relevant Standard Operating Procedures of the School of Optometry as they pertain to this unit.

Blue card
The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000) requires that students undergo a criminal history check and be issued with a blue card by the Commission prior to undertaking field experience in a school or centre, or undertaking activities in any unit which may involve contact with children. You will require a blue card for clinical placement/practicum in this unit. You should apply for a blue card at least 12 weeks before any clinical placement/practicum. Current blue card holders must register their card with QUT. More information is available online.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry 2014

1: Professional Responsibilities

1. 
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, End of semester examination, Oral Examination
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   Relates to: Clinical Performance, End of semester examination, Oral Examination
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   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Oral Examination
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   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Oral Examination
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   Relates to: Clinical Performance, End of semester examination, Oral Examination
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   Relates to: Clinical Performance, End of semester examination, Oral Examination
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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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    Relates to: Clinical Performance, End of semester examination, Oral Examination

2: Communication and Patient History

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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3: Patient Examination

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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4: Diagnosis and Management

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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5: Health Information Management

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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Course Learning Outcomes

OP85 Master of Optometry

1. Theoretical optometric knowledge, cognitive, clinical and technical skills and research methodology in vision science
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, End of semester examination, Oral Examination
2. Apply critical thinking and researchable questions to generate solutions to complex conditions in clinical and research settings
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, End of semester examination, Oral Examination
3. Apply clinical skills to conduct assessment, diagnose and implement a management plan safely and effectively
   Relates to: Clinical Performance
4. Acquire and transfer complex knowledge to patients, professionals within multiple environments
   Relates to: Clinical Performance
5. Practise independently and collaboratively as an ethical, socially responsible health care professional within legal and professional frameworks
   Relates to: Clinical Performance