Program Overview

CHIR8601 Clinic Internship 1

Unit Description

This is the first of two clinical units in which students will attend Macquarie University Chiropractic and Research Centres as a chiropractic intern. Students will be responsible for patient management and care under the guidance of clinic supervisors and will learn about the administrative structures needed to run a chiropractic clinical practice. Students will also undertake fieldwork and placement activities to provide experience in the assessment and management of people from different settings.

General Information

• Unit Convenor and Teaching Staff: Rosemary Giuriato, Sarah Letby
• Credit Points: 10
• Prerequisites: (CHIR8512 or CHIR8502 or CHIR874) and (CHIR8102 or CHIR892) and (CHIR8514 or CHIR8504 or CHIR919) and (CHIR8402 or CHIR917)
• Corequisites: CHIR8103 or CHIR903
• Co-badged Status:

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate professional behaviour and appropriate communication in accordance with ethical, legal and professional standards of care when interacting with patients, supervisors/educators, other health professionals, and the community.
• Demonstrate sociocultural awareness and respect in communication (verbal and non-verbal) and interactions with patients, supervisors/educators, other health professionals, and the community.
• Perform a patient-centred and culturally responsive patient assessment, including clinical history and physical examination. Perform and report on radiographic imaging as indicated and identify whether referral for additional evaluation is required.
• Apply clinical decision-making skills to develop a patient-centred, evidence-based management plan, incorporating clinical impression, goals of management, prognosis, management options, and assessment of progress of care.
• Explain, discuss, obtain informed consent, and implement a patient management plan, supported by accurate and appropriate clinical record keeping.
• Implement safe practices by identifying adverse events and possible complications. Minimise risk by applying appropriate procedures and timely action, including referral in situations that are outside the scope of expertise and/or competence.
• Perform administrative tasks required in a chiropractic clinic. Discuss effective administrative structures and staff roles in a chiropractic clinical practice.

General Assessment Information

Standardised Clinical Case Exam

• Assessment Type: Case study/analysis
• Indicative Time on Task: 1 hour
• Due: Examination period
• Weighting: 50%
• Clinical competency assessment presented in a standardised case study format.

Additional Clinic Requirements

• Assessment Type: Work-integrated task
• Indicative Time on Task: 1 hour
• Due: By end of semester
• Weighting: 0% (hurdle assessment task)
• Adequate clinical progression with respect to treatments delivered and clinical activities.

Clinical Competency on New Patient

• Assessment Type: Clinical performance evaluation
• Indicative Time on Task: 1 hour
• Due: By end of semester
• Weighting: 40%
• Clinical competency assessment is to be undertaken on a patient that is new to the student.

Ongoing Clinical Assessments

• Assessment Type: Clinical performance evaluation
• Indicative Time on Task: 1 hour
• Due: By end of semester
• Weighting: 10% (hurdle assessment task)
• Mastery of ongoing clinical assessments incorporating a range of clinical skills and patient interactions.

Assessment Tasks

Delivery and Resources

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of clinical, fieldwork, placement learning activities, and lectures. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit. Students are required to attend 3 x four hour shifts in the University's teaching clinics per week. Two of these shifts will be as a treating intern, the other as a reception intern. There will be a one hour lecture delivered most weeks of the semester.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

• Academic Appeals Policy
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Academic Progression Policy
• Assessment Policy
• Fitness to Practice Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
• Special Consideration Policy

Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students.

Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities.