TM5560 - Foundations of Aeromedical Retrieval

Credit points:	03
Year:	2013
Student Contribution Band:	Band 3
Administered by:	Sch Public Health,Trop Medicine&Rehabilitation Sc

Available to postgraduate students enrolled in public health and tropical medicine courses only or by permission of Head of School.

Aeromedical retrieval is concerned primarily with the transport of patients via a properly managed aeromedical evacuation system. This subject provides students with an overview of the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for the successful management of aeromedical retrieval in the Australian and the global context. It includes examination of models of aeromedical care, aircraft characteristics and flight specific problems, aircraft and flight safety, medical equipment and clinical care in the aeromedical environment, co-ordination of aeromedical retrievals, legislation and insurance, and special issues associated with international aeromedical retrievals.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the epidemiology and history of aeromedical retrieval, including mission types, and discuss the main factors driving their need. Demonstrate knowledge of the physiological effects of altitude and flight and apply these to patient care. Describe the main characteristics of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft and discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages these offer;
• Compare the different crew combinations used in aeromedical retrievals and outline their relative advantages and disadvantages. Describe the main limitations on equipment use in the aeromedical environment and apply this to aircraft configuration and equipment selection. Describe a systematic approach to clinical coordination of aeromedical retrievals that addresses safety, patient outcomes and resource and cost efficiency and to apply this to specific tasking scenarios;
• Discuss the potential uses of technology in coordination of aeromedical retrievals. Describe governance arrangements in aeromedical retrievals, the impact of ethical, cultural and legal issues on aeromedical retrievals and the advantages of a systems based approach. Identify difficulties with education, training and research in the aeromedical environment and discuss potential solutions to this problem;
• Describe and compare the characteristics of different aeromedical retrieval systems within Australia and internationally. Compare and discuss the different roles of governments, NGOs and the military in aeromedical retrieval. Describe the special issues associated with long haul retrievals and use of commercial aircraft for retrieval purposes. Discuss the influence of case-mix on models of care in aeromedical retrievals including crewmix, frame selection and tasking arrangements (including consideration of futility and safety).

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• An understanding of the economic, legal, ethical, social and cultural issues involved in the use of information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to manage future career and personal development;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to generate, calculate, interpret and communicate numerical information in ways appropriate to a given discipline or discourse;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to work individually and independently;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies.

Availabilities
External, Study Period 2
Census Date 29-Aug-2013
Coordinator:	Ms Anita Robertson, Dr Peter Aitken
Lecturers:	Dr Peter Aitken, Dr Stefan Mazur.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU and Printed materials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50% - 60%); assignments (35% - 45%); on-line exam (15% - 20%).
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 28-Mar-2013
Coordinator:	Ms Anita Robertson, Dr Peter Aitken
Lecturers:	Dr Peter Aitken, Dr Stefan Mazur.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU and Printed materials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50% - 60%); assignments (35% - 40%); on-line exam (15% - 20%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.