module specification

This module develops students’ ability in a range of core knowledge, skills and attitudes required for assessment, problem identification, goal setting, treatment, and management of individuals with acute illness or injury.

Its emphasis will be on evidence-based clinical reasoning and problem solving, which is developed through critical engagement with the theoretical basis of human functioning and practical skills. It will consider physiotherapy as part of a multidisciplinary approach to ensuring patient safety, recovery, and a positive experience of care in the acute and primary care settings. Students will learn and develop effective and contemporary clinical hands-on skills to manage the consequences of common acute injuries, illnesses, and emergency conditions to ensure patient safety, prompt resolution of illness and restoration of function.

The module will run alongside the applied sciences module (PT7001) and the other physiotherapy theory and practice module (PT7003) to allow students to enable students to utilise human science as the basis of their evidence-based Physiotherapy management of commonly encountered problems in clinical practice.

This module runs alongside PT7001, PT7003
Available for Study Abroad? NO

Knowledge

• Contextual frameworks for healthcare: e.g., Primary, and secondary care pathway, emergency care and fracture clinic, etc
• Response of muscle, bone and nervous tissue to injury, disuse, and use of therapeutic exercise in acute care
• Acute soft tissue injuries: inflammation, fractures, healing, joint dislocation, peripheral nerve injury and recovery
• Pain: nociceptive and persistent pain mechanisms
• Acute neurological conditions: neuropathy (including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), acute stroke care pathway,
• Acute respiratory chest infection and acute exacerbation of COPD
• Ventilatory failure, pharmacology for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, post-operative lung function, introduction to critical care following trauma
• Acute musculoskeletal conditions: fractures, sprains, muscle contusion etc
• Physiotherapy interventions: Electrotherapy - thermotherapy
• Making every contact count:  Health promotion and living well
• Abdominal surgery
• Digital innovations in acute care rehabilitation

Skills

• Joint Assessments: peripheral joint assessment, hip, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand
• Spinal red flags and functional spinal assessment,
• acute post-surgical respiratory assessment,
• Neurological assessment
• Cardiorespiratory assessment
• Interpreting electrophysiological investigation (EMG, NCS)
• Risk assessment in emergency department
• acute injury management (cryotherapy),
• manual therapy (massage, soft tissue techniques, mobilisation techniques),
• exercise prescription,
• rehabilitation of lower motor neurone disorders
• mucociliary clearance,
• oxygen therapy & humidification,
• postoperative physiotherapy (abdominal surgery) wound support,
• positive pressure (CPAP),
• mobility aids prescription,
• acute stroke care (positioning, posture, early rehabilitation, impact of sensorimotor inattention) 
• managing exercise in the acutely unwell patient

Attitudes

• Working in partnership
• Client focussed care and population awareness
• Making every contact count (MECC)

The teaching methods will include didactic teaching, guided self-study, blended learning, small group case study exploration, practical skills development sessions, and case-based teaching.

Practical teaching will be a significant part of this module and students will be able to work in groups and receive feedback from practical tutors to support skills development.

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Apply sound knowledge and understanding of human functioning to formulate physiotherapy assessment, problem list, person-centred treatment goals for individuals with acute or emergency health using a biopsychosocial framework.
2. Deliver and evaluate safe and effective physiotherapeutic interventions for management of individuals with acute or emergency health conditions delivered as a part of multi-disciplinary management within contemporary healthcare frameworks for acute and primary care.
3. Demonstrate the ability to work safely and effectively within own scope of practice in collaboration with others and refer appropriately to optimise safety and functional outcome.
4. Show initiative in identifying and managing ethical dimensions of practice in acute and primary care

The module will be assessed by an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and a written examination.

Unseen Written Examination
The is a 2-hour unseen written examination and will explore student’s knowledge and understanding of acute pathology on human function and the approaches that the principles that support the restoration of function. This assessment will account for 50% of the module’s mark and assess LO1,4. Students will have a formative opportunity to practice written examinations before the actual assessment.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination
The OSCE will examine student’s practical and clinical reasoning skills for the assessment and delivery of physiotherapy interventions to optimise functioning in individuals with acute and emergency conditions within the health and social care framework. This element will account for 50% of module marks and assess LO2,3. A formative practice OSCE will be scheduled before students do the actual assessment

Electronic Reading List
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/71E2B439-2240-63A2-493F-642B41C1A2C8.html

Greenhalgh, S. James Selfe. Red Flags: a guide to identifying serious pathology of the spine Elsevier 2006.
Jones, M. 2019. Clinical reasoning in Musculoskeletal Practice. Elsevier.
Lennon, Sheila, Ramdharry, Gita, and Verheyden, Geert. Physical Management for Neurological Conditions. Fourth ed. 2018.
Main, Eleanor, and Denehy, Linda. Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy: Adults and Paediatrics. Fifth Edition / Edited by Eleanor Main, Linda Denehy. ed. 2016.  
Petty, Nicola J. Neuromusculoskeletal Examination and Assessment: A Handbook for Therapists. Fourth ed. 2013.
Soames, R. Nigel Palastanga, Richard Tibbitts Anatomy and Human Movement E-Book Ed 7 Elsevier Health Sciences
Van Griensven, Hubert. Pain in Practice: Theory and Treatment Strategies for Manual Therapists. Edinburgh: ELsevier, 2005.
Williams, Jane, Perry, Lin, and Watkins, Caroline. Acute Stroke Nursing. Chichester: Wiley‐Blackwell, 2010.