Podiatry and Community Health Practice

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Abstract

This subject will enable students to further develop their professional practice as a podiatry practitioner, within a real clinical setting. Students will explore opportunities to reduce barriers and facilitate meaningful engagement in healthcare for diverse groups and particularly for First Nations peoples and older people. Students will explore prevailing social attitudes about ageing and the impact these have on choices, opportunities, and wellbeing for older people. The subject also introduces various aspects of age-related health, biological and social changes, and development, and allows students an opportunity to consider how to enable a person to age well. Students will investigate elements of the Australian health system and services available to older people in the community, examining opportunities for partnership and health promotion work. This subject will also build the students’ understanding of prescription medicines relevant to a person’s needs, in the context of podiatry.

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics: Module 1 - Professional podiatric practice; assessment and treatment of routine podiatric and cutaneous presentations; management planning; understanding a person’s needs in relation to treatment with prescribed medicines; clinical record keeping.Module 2 - Facilitating meaningful engagement in healthcare: health equity; needs of diverse … For more content click the Read More button below.

The subject will cover the following topics:

Module 1 - Professional podiatric practice; assessment and treatment of routine podiatric and cutaneous presentations; management planning; understanding a person’s needs in relation to treatment with prescribed medicines; clinical record keeping.
Module 2 - Facilitating meaningful engagement in healthcare: health equity; needs of diverse groups; identifying barriers to healthcare access; improving health outcomes for First Nations peoples and older people.
Module 3 – Ageing well: physical and mental health issues for older people; ageism in the community and within healthcare systems; Australian health and aged care system; health policies; community services and support programs for older people; health promotion; reducing the risk of falls.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

effectively apply neurological, vascular, musculoskeletal and cutaneous assessments for a range of clients and accurately record findings in a clinical setting;

consistently review existing management plans for low risk podiatric presentations and communicate effectively with the patient and the healthcare team the continuation of that plan;

demonstrate safe and sustainable practice in a clinical environment with due consideration of people, equipment, and the environment;

gather relevant information with due consideration of a person’s cultural and social history, to explain their needs in relation to treatment with prescribed medicines and non-pharmacological interventions;

identify potential barriers to meaningful engagement in healthcare for diverse groups and particularly for First Nations peoples and older people;

analyse the issues facing older people in relation to health, wellbeing, choice and independence; and

identify and develop health promotion opportunities to facilitate healthy ageing for people engaging with a podiatrist.

Enrolment restrictions

Restricted to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine; Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine (Honours)

Pre-requisite

Incompatible

Work integrated learning

Placement Duration 91 hours Details Students are required to complete clinical practice as a participant in the Community Engagement and Wellness Centre (CEW). 13 days (approx 91hrs)

Learning resources

Additional resources required by students

Students will incur costs in association with clinical practice (purchase of clinic uniform and assessment equipment)