Recommended Study Sequence

Clinical Osteopathic Medicine 1 allows the students to integrate their professional osteopathic skills learnt in the undergraduate course to the modalities of Functional Technique, Myofascial Release, Counterstrain and Mobilisation of the nervous system, and to further their abilities as practitioners to select and develop competence in the performance of treatment techniques, using examples commonly seen in practice.

This unit will develop an understanding of the principles and practice of evidence-based health care in the framework of primary health care practice. Students will integrate individual expertise with the best available clinical evidence from systematic research, and will learn how to apply these skills in their professional practice.

This problem based unit is designed to integrate knowledge and skills required to practice osteopathy in the clinical setting. It will introduce students to the issues involved in clinical reasoning; the different types of clinical reasoning used in solving problems; and reasoning used in designing and conducting the therapeutic intervention. It will teach students how to: integrate multiple modes of reasoning into clinical problem solving; to differentially diagnose; to apply the skills of clinical reasoning to the diagnostic process. Students also develop these abilities in a supervised clinical setting..

This unit is designed to develop the students’ skills and experience required in the area of rehabilitation and teach them how to integrate rehabilitative approaches into osteopathic clinical care. This unit will teach students the skills of the reflective practitioner and teach them to evaluate rehabilitation treatment approaches in the primary health care setting. This unit will address the implementation of rehabilitation policy, rehabilitation of postural strains, post surgery rehabilitation, sports injuries and third party insurance claims.

This unit will review basic principles in advanced diagnostic imaging techniques which include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computer Tomography (CT), Angiography, Nuclear medicine and Ultrasound. Imaging of areas of the body relevant to Osteopathic clinical practice to be reviewed will include head, spine, abdomen, thorax, pelvis and extremities.

This unit develops the principles and practice of osteopathic medicine with regard to both systemic and visceral conditions. Also covered in this unit is an understanding of practical knowledge of osteopathy in the cranial field. A broad cross-section of clinical presentations that present in Osteopathic health care practice is reviewed.

This problem-based unit is designed to develop the students skills required to practice osteopathy in the clinical setting. It will develop clinical reasoning underlying the evaluation and identification of clinical problems. Students will learn the issues involved in appraising and evaluating patient problems along with developing and understanding patient history taking and clinical examination. The students will learn to evaluate diagnostic information and use the process of a diagnostic sieve. Students develop these abilities in a supervised clinical setting.

In this unit, students will develop and write up their own research proposal and undertake for data collection relating to their research proposal. Emphasis in this unit is on the development and implementation of the project through: developing a research question, formulating a research protocol, producing an ethics proposal, undertaking data collection, managing and analysis of emerging preliminary findings. The project will not be concluded in this unit, although it is anticipated that most data collection will be complete.

This unit emphasizes to the student the clinical aspects and health issues pertaining to the specialties of Gerontology, and Chronic Pain and Psychiatry, that may present on Osteopathic health care practice. Students will further develop skills and understanding in the differential diagnosis and Osteopathic clinical management of these conditions.

This unit reviews two health care modalities – Nutrition and Pharmacology – that present in the clinical practice of Osteopathy. The pharmacology and nutrition components of this unit are intended to provide students’ with a comprehensive knowledge of these areas. Common and specific drugs used to treat conditions seen in osteopathic practice are addressed. Recognition of adverse reactions to drug therapy are described.

The aim of this unit is for students to apply their knowledge of research and scholarly writing with regard to the investigation and completion of the research project commenced in the unit Osteopathic Research 1 and Evidence Based Health Care

This unit is designed to further develop the student’s skills and experience required in the area of diagnosis, technique and patient management to practice osteopathy in the clinical setting. It will teach students how to develop a treatment plan for patient management. Students will learn clinical problem-solving and intervention techniques, and integrative thinking. Student’s abilities are further developed by accepting responsibility for patients in a supervised clinical setting as primary contact clinicians.

This unit develops students knowledge of pathology and clinical diagnosis and management in the fields of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics. Common Obstetric, Gynaecological and Paediatric conditions are presented and aspects relating to medical and osteopathic treatment are discussed. Particular emphasis in this unit is given to history taking, and assessment of these conditions, with the intention to refer to the appropriate health care professional.

The aim of the subject is to provide an opportunity for students to consolidate and integrate the knowledge of osteopathic principles and practice they have acquired in the course as it pertains to clinical presentations in osteopathic practice. This subject will further develop the use of advanced thrust manipulative techniques and patient focussed osteopathic management. The subject will introduce the concept of minimal leverage thrust to reduce the force required to perform manipulative techniques. This will improve student skills in manipulating and further ensure patient safety.

Health care professionals require a working knowledge of the law, ethics, and business management. This unit will develop an understanding of Osteopathic ethical and legal concepts and theories, enabling students to apply these to relevant issues in providing Osteopathic health care. This unit will also address the preparation and implementation of business planning for Osteopathic clinical practice management. It will explore how business and people management skills can enhance patient care while contributing to a successful and practice

This subject is designed to consolidate the students’ skills and experience required in the area of diagnosis, technique, patient and clinic management required to practice osteopathy in the clinical setting. This subject will teach students the skills of the reflective practitioner and teach them to evaluate treatment responses and outcomes as independent practitioners. This subject aims to develop integrated, problem based thought, and develop responsibility as primary contact clinicians.