Block Clinical Practice 1

Interns participate in a 250-hour supervised internship (including 18 hours inter-professional practice) and they are placed in a position to take substantial responsibility for all aspects of managing, marketing and running of the clinic. The objective of this unit is to instill in students a desire to achieve excellence in the practice of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine/dispensing, engage in inter-professional practice and work collaboratively with other health care practitioner, and contribute to improving both the quality of life of patients and the wellbeing of the community and the environment.

Students are required to complete 120 treatments with acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine. The treatments with acupuncture must be roughly equal to the treatments with Chinese herbal medicine. The range of areas covered should include: internal medicine (minimum 30 treatments); traumatology (minimum 30 treatments); gynaecology (minimum 15 treatments);

The internship includes patient assessment, comprehensive differential diagnosis, treatment using Chinese medicine and/or acupuncture or other auxiliary treatment(s), patient communication in awareness of Australia’s healthcare context including multi-cultural/multi-racial issues that may affect practice, the application of basic counseling skills, ethical professional behavior, referral processes, the reporting of adverse events, the application of appropriate first aid measures for adverse reaction to treatment, prompt transfer to medical services where appropriate, and infection control and safety.

Students are also required to participate in activities on and off campus for 18 hours for inter-professional learning. Non-TCM practitioners such as medical practitioners (GPs), physiotherapists, chiropractors, psychologists and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health practitioner are invited on campus to provide students with an understanding of their health care approaches, to provide formal presentations and informal discussions and/or case study analyses of their approaches to health care and management. Inter-professional learning may take place off campus at approved non-TCM practitioners’ clinics. Students may arrange to visit, observe, and interact with practitioners in at least two different disciplines (e.g. GP and physiotherapist) within the allocated hours for inter-professional learning. Students may engage with non-TCM practitioners regarding consultations and treatment options, and contribute insights from the TCM standpoint and options of TCM treatment. The desire to achieve excellence in the practice of acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine and to contribute to improving both the quality of life of patients and the wellbeing of the community and the environment will be a key feature in the teaching and learning of this unit.

1. Collate, record and analyse clinical information gained by conducting a comprehensive problem focused interview, and conduct a physical examination appropriate for the safe, competent, independent practice of acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine; communicate in a cultural sensitive manner;
2. Differentiate diseases and syndromes by evaluating clinical information according to the differential diagnostic system, making TCM treatment plan in a judicious manner; Evaluate the strengths and limitations of TCM treatment on the basis of literature research, and from a variety of treatment approaches, the appropriate Chinese medicine strategies and techniques to effectively treat a patient’s condition; assume responsibility and accept accountability for their own professional decisions
3. Treat patients using TCM therapeutic methods including herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and guasha according to the patient’s needs, provide patient education on health preservation; aware of the appropriate reporting of adverse events if there is any and implement appropriate first aid measures when a patient displays an adverse reaction to treatment; and ensure prompt transfer to medical services where necessary;
4. Monitor the health of a patient by applying relevant assessment procedures, evaluate the results or TCM treatments and modify treatment strategies and techniques accordingly and provide necessary referral for inter-professional collaboration to advocate on behalf of patients within the context of their practice, contribute to improving both the quality of life of patients and the wellbeing of the community and the environment;
5. Adhere to CMBA’s Code of Conduct, policies, codes and guidelines to provide safe and competent manual practice of acupuncture, processing and dispensing of Chinese herbal products; Comply with the fundamental legal responsibilities of registered Chinese medicine practitioners including management of their own mental and physical health, and to demonstrate the attitude of continuing education and self-evaluation.

Assessment 2: Case Presentation (40%)

Assessment 3: Overall Clinical Performance (20%)

N/A

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Safety information, Department of Health and Ageing, Therapeutic Goods Administration. Available at http://www.tga.gov.au/safety/problem-medicines-forms-bluecard.htm (Accessed 26/06/2017)