1. Demonstrate the principles of the assessment and management of service users presenting with minor illness and minor injuries across the age-range
Knowledge and Understanding
Analysis
Communication

2. Critically analyse the principles of the assessment and management of service-users presenting with long-term/chronic conditions
Knowledge and Understanding
Analysis
Learning

3. Critically evaluate pharmacological interventions in accordance with the advancing context of professional paramedic practice
Analysis

4. Demonstrate the ability to obtain, assimilate, analyse and document information from a service-user’s environment, medical history, physical observations and social/familial circumstances
Analysis
Problem Solving
Communication

5. Demonstrate the ability to make safe, autonomous, evidence-informed and justifiable clinical decisions relating to a service-user’s treatment, management and/or referral
Analysis
Problem Solving
Communication
Application

Continuing from Level 5, this module aims to develop existing knowledge by introducing advanced assessment and management of minor injuries and minor illnesses across the age range in the context of paramedic practice. The practitioner will develop the underpinning knowledge and clinical decision-making skills to assist and deliver care at level 6.

The content has been divided into the following categories:

Minor Injuries/Minor Illnesses

This will cover knowledge and understanding of commonly encountered minor injuries & illnesses, assessment and management of each. We will also cover such areas as:

• Evidence-based care for patients suffering from minor injury and/or minor illness across the age range
• A review of human development and factors which influence susceptibility to disease, injury and responses to treatment
• Fundamentals of x-ray interpretation




Long-Term/Chronic Conditions

This will encompass assessment, management and treatment of patients with long-term conditions, as well as discussion of key professional, ethical and legal issues relevant to this subject. It will include such areas as:

• Evidence-based care for patients suffering from long-term/chronic conditions across the age range
• The physical and psychological effects of long-term/chronic conditions
• Contextual and integrated care for long-term/chronic conditions, palliative and end-of-life care
• The assessment and management of pain
• Polypharmacy associated with long-term and chronic conditions
• Holistic approaches to palliative care, long-term/chronic illness, and end-of-life care
• Recognition of imminent and irreversible death and appropriate and supportive care which involves the preferences of service-users
• Home management of illness or referral which considers individual preferences
• Procedural, legal and ethical aspects of advance care planning
• Evidence-based, justifiable and ethical management plans

Professional Issues

This will involve in-depth discussion of key professional issues encountered across the spectrum of patients and emergency situations. This will include areas such as:

• Medicines management & pharmacological interventions associated with advancing paramedic care
• Human factors
• Multidisciplinary team, interprofessional and collaborative working
• Factors affecting health and disease, healthcare and its delivery (incorporating psychosocial, cultural and spiritual aspects)
• Recognising and initiating appropriate care for vulnerable service-users
• Critical interpretation of physiological data acquisition and awareness of limitations
• Alternative pathways, referral and safety-netting
• Local healthcare systems and care pathways
• Scope of practice and appropriate referrals

We will also review some key issues encountered earlier in the course and encourage more in-depth discussion and consideration appropriate to Level 6. This will include areas such as communication, health promotion, wider determinants of health, loss & bereavement, and team working.

The assessment for this module is divided into three parts.

Written Assignment

1. Students will complete a 2000-word written assignment exploring a chronic illness case-study involving collaborative care. You will draw on contemporary evidence to support your discussion, and will critically analyse the assessment, management and pharmacological treatment options available for your chosen case-study. This will cover Learning Outcomes 2 and 3 and carries a 50% weighting of your overall grade for this module.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

The practical element of this module will be examined via 60 minutes of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). These OSCEs will cover Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4 & 5 and will be divided into two separate examinations:

2. Minor Illness – This will require students to demonstrate assessment techniques appropriate to examining a patient presenting with a minor illness. Students will be expected to assess a patient, conduct appropriate investigations, demonstrate appropriate enquiry and history taking, provide a working diagnosis and discuss/initiate treatment as appropriate. (Weighted 25%)

3. Minor Injury – This will require students to demonstrate assessment techniques appropriate to examining a patient presenting with a minor injury. Students will be expected to assess a patient, conduct appropriate investigations, demonstrate appropriate enquiry and history taking, provide a working diagnosis and discuss/initiate treatment as appropriate. (Weighted 25%)

These OSCEs will be graded and will comprise 25% each of the marks for this module. A pass mark will be awarded for safe and appropriate treatment of the patient. Further marks will be obtained through demonstration of understanding, interpretation of clinical signs/symptoms, and depth of knowledge demonstrated throughout the examination.

Due to the professional nature of this programme no compensation within or between modules is permitted.
All assessment elements must be passed at 40% to complete the module.

Throughout the module, key theory content will be delivered through a combination of lead lectures (approx. 62 hours) and will be supplemented by online material. The majority of content will be delivered by the paramedic teaching team. However, specialist guest lecturers may be brought in to cover some key subjects and provide alternative perspectives on specific areas of clinical practice.

Theory content will be complimented by practical sessions (approx. 68 hours) utilising the paramedic skills labs, as well as off-site training opportunities. The module will expose students to clinical simulation situations including time spent in the university’s simulated house at Stoke campus, and other locations where available. Students will also be given the opportunity to access the skills labs for supplementary unsupervised clinical skills training in preparation for their OSCEs.

Students are expected to participate in simulated learning either as a clinician or taking the role of a patient/relative, and this is an extremely valuable learning experience. Consent will be sought for this at the commencement of the course, and students will reserve the right to withdraw consent at any point. In the event of this happening an alternative learning experience will be provided by the teaching team. Service user involvement will also be utilised in simulated learning where appropriate and available.

This module will also include elements of Interprofessional Education (IPE). Students will participate in simulated learning experiences in conjunction with students from other areas of healthcare such as Midwifery, Nursing and Operating Department Practitioners and will learn with and from one another by working together to achieve the best outcome for the simulated patient.

Tutorial support will be available for students throughout the module, and group work will also be utilised to encourage collaborative learning.

Students are expected to conduct their own independent study (approx. 170 hours) to consolidate their learning and prepare for assessment points. Supplementary learning materials will be made available on the university Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to help direct this study, and to assist with revision.

BICKLEY, L. (2016) Bates Guide to Physical Examination and History taking 12th Edn. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
DOUGLAS, G., NICOL, F., ROBERTSON, C. (2013) Clinical Examination 13th Edn. London: Elsevier
JOHNSON, G., HILL-SMITH, I. (2012) The Minor Illness Manual 4th Edn. Abingdon: Taylor and Francis
PURCELL, D. (2016) Minor Injuries: A Clinical Guide 3rd Edn. Abingdon: Taylor and Francis
RANDALL, S., FORD, F. (eds.) (2011) Long-Term Conditions: A Guide for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing

VLE
IT resources
Library resources
Skills labs

Enrolled onto the following award;
BSc(Hons) of Science in Paramedic Science