The Lower Limb at Risk CPD draft

Program Overview

The Lower Limb at Risk module is a postgraduate program that provides advanced knowledge and skills in managing various disease states compromising the lower limb, including diabetes. Delivered through a blend of face-to-face teaching, practical workshops, and online learning, it equips healthcare professionals with an understanding of pathophysiology, pharmacological management, assessment, and care pathways. The program is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their practice in treating high-risk lower limb conditions.

Program Outline

It equips learners with specialist knowledge of disease states that compromise the lower limb, including diabetes mellitus.

• Extend clinical and professional practice by critically evaluating theory and linking it to practice.
• Relate the theory of aetiology and pathophysiology to management strategies designed to prevent and treat the at-risk lower limb.

Outline:

Course Content:

• Pathophysiology: Covers vascular disease, Charcot neuroarthropathy, wound and skin malignancy, endocrine disease, neurological disorders, and rheumatic disorders.
• Advanced Vascular Assessment: Theory and practice of advanced vascular assessment.
• Pharmacology: Pharmacology related to specific conditions that compromise lower limb viability, including the role of antibiotics in managing infection.
• Wound Management: Topical management of wounds, including debridement techniques and the properties of wound care products.
• Advanced Wound Management and Prevention: Advanced principles of wound management and prevention, including casting techniques and offloading methods.
• Care Pathways: Development and facilitation of care pathways involving the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Education: Importance of education in diabetic/high-risk foot management and how it may be delivered.
• Diagnostic Techniques: Diagnostic techniques and interpretation relating to cutaneous, soft tissue, and bone pathology in high-risk cases.
• Research Evidence: Finding and interpreting research evidence.

Structure:

• Delivered as a three-day block of face-to-face teaching at the University of Northampton’s Podiatry Clinic, alongside two virtual study days.
• Lectures and skills sessions are delivered by a range of clinical and academic subject experts.
• Teaching methods include face-to-face teaching sessions, practical workshops, group work, and directed online learning.

Course Schedule:

• 2023/24:
• Thursday 6 June 2024 (virtual)
• Monday 17, Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 June 2024 (onsite)
• Monday 1 July 2024 (virtual)

Individual Modules:

• Valuing Professional Experience (20, 40, 60 Credits): Designed for students who wish to include their work experience within an academic award.
Credits are awarded based on the breadth and depth of professional experience, academic reflection, and critique demonstrated.
• Therapeutic Communication Intervention (20 Credits): Advances students' interpersonal communication skills and knowledge of evidence-based psychological approaches to promote wellbeing.
• Advanced Dementia Care (20 Credits): Enhances the knowledge and expertise of leaders and managers in health and social care provision who are providing services and delivering care to people living with dementia.
• Occupation for Occupational Therapists (20 Credits): Explores, debates, and evaluates the understanding and application of the concepts of occupation within professional and practice contexts.
• Professional Project (60 Credits): Requires students to identify an area of current practice and to identify potential developments using recognized techniques from health and social care.
• Injection Therapy of the Lower Limb for Podiatrists (20 Credits): Extends the practitioner's knowledge of anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology, as well as the safety, ethical, and legal issues associated with the use of injection therapy.
• Advanced Patient Assessment and Diagnostic Skills (40 Credits): Enables healthcare practitioners to gain skills and knowledge to undertake a complete patient history and to use enhanced assessment skills to describe and report on their observations and findings.

Teaching:

• Methods: Blend of face-to-face teaching sessions, practical workshops, group work, and directed online learning.
• Faculty: Delivered by a range of clinical and academic subject experts.

Other:

• The lower limb at risk course can be taken as a standalone postgraduate module or as part of the MSc Advancing Practice award.
• Three one-day workshops are offered for those wishing to upskill and develop specific areas of practice.
• Applicants should be professionally registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (or an alternative professional body e.g., NMC or GMC, or international equivalent), in a profession related to the treatment of lower limb disorders.
• The modules shown relate to the academic year 23/24.
The modules relating to the academic year 24/25 will be available from June 2024.
• The modules relating to the academic year 24/25 will be available from June 2024.
• The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.