PHC402 Pre-hospital Advanced Trauma and Cardiac Care (16)

CSU Discipline Area: Allied Health (ALHEA)

Duration: One session

Abstract:

This subject builds on the experienced paramedic's trauma and cardiac care knowledge. It provides an opportunity to acquire and practice medical protocols and guidelines peculiar to trauma and cardiac related emergencies. Trauma areas covered will include adult musculoskeletal injuries, hypovolaemia, penetrating and blunt injuries, burns, and head and chest injuries resulting from trauma. Cardiac areas covered will include adult cardiac arrhythmias, arrest, infarctions, and haemodynamic abnormalities. Ambulance service protocols will be reviewed and analysed within the student's professional context. The subject aims to form a component of the student's preparation as an intensive care paramedic.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

Session 1
Distance	Bathurst

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: PHC402

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Enrolment restrictions:

Restricted to Post Graduate Certificate in Intensive Care Paramedic Studies students.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

Describe the structure and function of the heart through the application of normal cardiac conditions;
Describe the natural history of ischaemic heart disease and cardiovascular pathology related to acute myocardial infarction;
Discuss the epidemiology of cardiac disease;
Interpret common electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythms and waveforms;
Describe the role of coronary care units in the management of patients with emergency cardiac conditions;
Revise the pharmacology of relevant drugs included in the trauma and cardiac Clinical Practice Guidelines;
Demonstrate the advanced trauma life support clinical skills required of Intensive Care Paramedics to be able to implement the adult Clinical Practice Guidelines;
Relate the pathophysiology of common traumatic and environmental injuries to their management;
Understand the application of evidence-based practice to the Intensive Care Paramedic management of emergency trauma and cardiac conditions;
Describe the benefits of pre-hospital advanced life support and the related role of the Intensive Care Paramedic;
Discuss the epidemiology of trauma and environmental injury;
Describe the structure of trauma systems and define the related in-field triage criteria;
Demonstrate ability to integrate theoretical knowledge and clinical skills in the management of trauma and cardiac emergencies; and
Demonstrate an ability through self appraisal and supervised clinical experience, to develop as a health professional within the context of managing patients with trauma and cardiac emergencies.

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

Module 1 Rationale for Pre-hospital Advanced - review of the literature through the application of evidence based practice principles Module 2 Clinical Sciences (Cardiac) - cardiac anatomy and physiology - the natural history of ischaemic heart disease - cardiovascular pathophsyiology - interpretation of electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythms and waveforms - pharmacology of drugs used in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction Module 3 Management of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Medical Emergencies - review of Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines - patient assessment, history taking and data collection - ECG monitoring, analysis and dysrhythmia interpretation - 12-lead ECG and thrombolytic therapy within the context of the patient presenting with signs and symptoms of myocardial ischaemia or injury - indications, methods of care and complications related to cardiac pacing and implanted defibrillation devices Module 3 Clinical Decision Making Model - formulation of pre-hospital care plans Module 4 Advanced Airway Management - protection, ventilation and oxygen delivery systems (including rapid sequence intubation, needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax, needle cricothyroidotomy and nasogastric intubation) Module 6 Context of Pre-hospital Trauma - examination of trauma systems - time critical guidelines and in-field triage criteria Module 7 Clinical Sciences and Management of the Trauma Patient - basic clinical sciences are integrated with clinical management protocols developed from evidence based practice principles and the clinical approach used to manage the trauma patient - consideration of the shock process and the patient with hypovolaemia is combined with skills development in perfusion status assessment and fluid resuscitation - specific traumatic injuries including chest injuries, head injuries, spinal injuries, musculo-skeletal injuries, burn injuries and crush injuries are discussed in depth and practice in the related skills of airway management, pain relief, emergency sedation and management of tension pneumothorax is provided.

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