OPN362 Specialist Clinic 9

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit introduces the clinical practice of specialist areas within optometry of binocular vision, paediatric optometry, contact lens practice, colour vision, myopia management, and low vision rehabilitation. Through supervised clinical practice in these areas, students will refine their specific problem solving strategies for these areas of clinical practice, and develop problem specific examination techniques, reinforcing and refining clinical skills and clinical thinking developed in the previous units in these areas.

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 a technically competent manner in areas of specialist optometric practice;
2. Apply knowledge gained in the areas of contact lens fitting and consultation techniques, paediatric optometry (including colour vision and myopia management), binocular vision anomalies, and the rehabilitation of patients with low vision;
3. Formulate, review, and revise treatment and management plans for patients under your care in specialised 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 working with patients and other health care 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, paediatric optometry (including colour vision), myopia management 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 an independent primary care practitioner, by assuming the primary role in determining the care given to your patients within the clinic.

Learning in this unit contributes to 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-February).

Clinical hours are documented to demonstrate fulfillment 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. 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: End of semester examination

Threshold Assessment:

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.

Assessment: Performance

Assessment of patient encounters. A number of patient encounters will be assessed throughout the semester, concentrating on clinical skills, the 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 during the semester in this clinical practice unit, with the expectation that you will take on the primary role.

Threshold Assessment:

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.

Assessment: Case Report and Presentation

You will be required to present oral case presentations of patient encounters, with critical appraisal of your investigation and management of the patient, evaluating these against your knowledge of the science forming the basis for effective practice.

The PowerPoint presentation submitted prior to the oral case presentation is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Threshold Assessment:

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.

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

Requirements

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. For more information visit www.bluecard.qut.edu.au

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 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.

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: End of semester examination, Performance, Case Report and Presentation
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   Relates to: Performance
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   Relates to: End of semester examination, Performance, Case Report and Presentation
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    Relates to: End of semester examination, Performance, Case Report and Presentation

2: Communication and Patient History

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3: Patient Examination

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4: Diagnosis and Management

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5: Health Information Management

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