Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy)

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

What do I need to be able to do?

Understand and respond to verbal communication.
In the clinical practice environment, this will assist you in your work with patients to establish relationships, undertake assessment and deliver treatment in a safe manner.

Verbally communicate clear instructions and explanations in a time responsive way.
In the clinical practice environment, verbal communication is the primary source of communication between you, patients, supervisors and other health professionals.

Clear communication assists with completing your professional experience placement tasks safely.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Additional time allowances for comprehension and expression may be available to you for on-campus learning activities. 

Professional experience placement activities may require time responsive communication. This should be discussed with your Placement Coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Social communication

Social Communication refers to the capacity to understand and use appropriate non-verbal communication such as: eye contact, gestures, facial expression, speaking volume, tone of voice, proximity and verbal turn-taking. 

What do I need to be able to do?

Recognise, interpret, use and respond to non-verbal communication appropriately in both on-campus learning activities and professional experience settings to build relationships, assess patients and provide treatment. 

During clinical practice and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require social communication abilities include:

• Interpreting patients’ non-verbal communication, such as identifying that a patient is uncomfortable or in pain from their facial expression or body posture
• Responding to patients with open body language, eye contact and facial expressions to demonstrate understanding and empathy

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.  

Consideration will be given to the use of non-verbal communication appropriate to your disability or condition for example, if you have a vision or hearing impairment, you may rely more on using either auditory or visual means of social communication.

Reading

What do I need to be able to do?

Read and understand a range of written material in differing forms from a variety of sources such as: on screen material, reference material and /or handwritten notes.

In the clinical practice environment, essential patient information is communicated in written form.  Tasks which require reading include: 

• Reading  patient history notes and reports from other health professionals
• Reading, understanding and correctly interpreting scientific literature and other essential written information such as pathology or radiographic reports

The ability to read, understand and interpret written information is fundamental for delivery of appropriate and safe patient care. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during professional experience placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Writing (Written Language)

N.B. This refers not to the physical act of writing but rather to the written content.

What do I need to be able to do?

Produce coherent written communication appropriate to on-campus and professional experience placement settings. 

In the clinical practice environment, tasks which require clear, concise, accurate and time-efficient writing include: 

• Contributing  to patient health care records, record keeping and report writing
• Written communication with other health professionals, community/public agencies and patients

The accuracy of written communication is in accordance with professional and legal standards and is fundamental for delivery of consistent and safe patient care.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during professional experience placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

What do I need to be able to do?

Correctly use and apply knowledge of theory, research, and practice gained from the on-campus learning setting in clinical situations during your professional experience placement.

In the clinical practice environment, assessment and intervention tasks require:

• Conducting client assessment and treatment plans using clinical reasoning so completion of the treatment can be achieved within the time constraint of a session
• Problem solving, interacting and providing feedback to patients simultaneously and in a time appropriate manner. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use assistive technology and strategies such as rest breaks to support your memory, planning and organisation in the on-campus learning environment. The use of these strategies during professional experience placements should be discussed with the Placement Coordinator prior to commencing professional experience placement.

Visual acuity refers to the extent to which a person can see or interpret visual information. This may also include colour vision.

What do I need to be able to do?

In the clinical practice and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require vision include: 

• Replicating physical treatment techniques demonstrated by teaching staff
• Observing a patient throughout the duration of their Osteopathy procedure to ensure they are comfortable and appropriately positioned for assessment or treatment
• Observing the patient’s skin for clinically relevant information, and the assessment of biomechanical inefficiencies that can contribute to your patient’s complaint

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

The use of assistive technology to enhance vision will be considered. It is recommended that you discuss this with the ELS and Placement Coordinator prior to commencing your placement. 

Glasses and other visual aids can be used during on-campus learning activities and on professional experience placement.

If you have been deemed legally blind or have a medical condition that may impact your vision, it is recommended that you discuss your condition with Equitable Learning Services.

Tactile abilities refer to the sense of touch.

What do I need to be able to do?

The use of tactile abilities supports accurate diagnosis, monitoring and treatment to ensure patient safety in the clinical setting.

In the clinical practice and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require a sense of touch include:

• Examining and assessing patients and discriminating various body tissue types
• Applying palpating (using firm touch) movements of the cervical spine in a patient with neck stiffness
• Applying appropriate pressure to the patient without pain, discomfort, or harm. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. Any adjustments considered should not compromise patient safety.

In both the on-campus learning and professional experience settings, tasks will involve: lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting or bending.

What do I need to be able to do?

In the clinical practice and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require gross motor skills include:

• Positioning and setting up patients with varying physical capacities for assessment or treatment procedures
• Manual handling i.e. safely lifting the patient’s extremities and resisting the patients activated force
• Delivering effective forces in examination and treatment procedures by combining your various body positions and using your physical dexterity
• Using both upper limbs to perform a task while maintaining a standing position 

Safe manual handling minimises the risk of injury to patients and students. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. 

Any adjustments considered should not compromise patient safety.

i.e.: The ability to undertake precise coordinated movements of the hands.

What do I need to be able to do?

In both the on-campus learning and clinical settings, tasks will involve: pushing, pressing, pinching, manipulating and resisting 

In the clinical practice and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require fine motor abilities include:

• Setting up a patient for treatment accurately, this involves making precise fine adjustments to their posture.
• Delivering safe, effective, and controlled forces whilst carrying out Osteopathic assessment, examination and treatment
• Performing musculoskeletal testing such as pain provocation tests, this requires localising forces to certain body structures in a precise and graded way

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. Any adjustments considered should not compromise patient safety.

This refers to the ability to undertake a task/s over a pre-determined period of time. This could include physical performance such as standing for a period of time, or cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time.

What do I need to be able to do?

In the clinical practice and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require physical and mental endurance include:

• standing for extended periods without break
• remaining mentally focussed while carrying out monotonous, repetitive tasks
• managing multiple patient consultations consecutively with a variety of presenting complaints and patient physical characteristics
• responding  to individual patient needs and presentations consecutively and consistently and identifying  potential risk factors in a presenting patient 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your circumstances and physical capacities. You may use strategies such as rest breaks to support your performance for on-campus learning contexts. It is recommended that you discuss the use of these strategies during placement with ELS and Placement Coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Any adjustments should not compromise patient safety.