CQUniversity Unit Profile.

In assessment task one, you will develop your understanding of the Australian healthcare system, through the analysis of the healthcare structure, service provision arrangements, points of access, and the roles paramedics play within these systems. Within Australia, paramedicine has evolved beyond the isolated response to medical emergencies. Paramedics operate at the intersection of a complex and multi-tiered healthcare system, involving multiple points of access. To provide effective patient-centred care, paramedics must look beyond the ambulance and emergency department, considering the broader healthcare system and the most appropriate transport or referral pathway. The knowledge gained from this assessment will support you in mapping local health networks, thereby supporting informed clinical decision making for the most appropriate patient disposition.

This assessment task is comprised of two parts: Part 1) Concept Map and Part 2) Reflective Narrative.

Part 1) Concept Map

In Part 1, you will develop a digital concept map using Coggle (https://coggle.it/), visualising the Australian healthcare landscape. The concept map must be centred around the specified location and demonstrate the healthcare pathways through various systems. The requirements for the concept map include:

• Location: Must be created for a patient located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
• Core Nodes: Must include Federal, State/Territory and Private sectors.
• Points of Access: Identify where a patient can enter the healthcare system.
• Paramedic Interface: Using a distinct colour, identify where paramedics can interact with corresponding nodes (e.g., inter-facility transfers, referral pathways, hospital handovers).

Part 2) Reflective Narrative 

In Part 2, you are required to provide a reflective narrative building upon the developed concept map from Part 1. Your narrative should consider the real-world application of the mapped healthcare system, and the role paramedics play within this system. The requirements for the reflective narrative include:

• Role of Paramedics: Analyse the role of paramedics within the Australian healthcare system and how they can maintain patient-centred care through integrated healthcare. Your analysis should be supported with contemporary academic literature (<10 years old).
• Referencing: APA 7th Edition.
• Word Limit: 500 words.

The assessment criteria for this assessment task are contained within the rubric, that is available on the unit Moodle site. Broadly, you will be assessed on:

• Analysis of the Australian healthcare system.
• Analysis of healthcare service provisions, structure and points of access.
• Analysis of the role of paramedics within the Australian healthcare system.
• Presentation.
• Academic writing and referencing.

Level of GenAI Use Allowed:

Level 2: You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Any use of GenAI tools must be acknowledged in a statement on the submission cover page.

Task Requirements:

• You must use the Assessment Task One Template, located in the Assessment Tile of the Unit Moodle site.
• You must provide the Coogle.it link to the developed concept map, within the Assessment Task One Template.
• You must submit the document as a Word file (.doc/.docx).

In assessment task two, you will apply key values, principles and strategies for communicating and collaborating in a range of settings, including cultural safety for First Nations Peoples. These are some of the most important skills at the centre of paramedic practice, that can be observed as Domain 2 of the Professional capabilities for registered paramedics. You will also explain the use of patient information management systems, and the importance of accurate and timely management of patient information and health records, ensuring adherence to legal and ethical requirements.

This task requires you to write two narrative responses, addressing the discussion points provided in Part 1 and Part 2. Your responses should draw upon your findings from the provided case scenario.

Case Scenario:

During a busy afternoon shift, a two-person paramedic crew is dispatched to a regional sporting complex following reports of a “difficulty breathing” incident. On arrival, they find Mr Daniel Ngarra, a 68-year-old Aboriginal man, seated near the field and visibly distressed. He is accompanied by his daughter, who explains that he has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes, but she is unsure of his current medications.

Mr Ngarra is alert but breathless and has difficulty speaking in full sentences. Several family members and community members are nearby, and it is clear they are concerned and wish to remain involved in his care. One paramedic immediately begins asking rapid, closed questions using clinical language, while the other starts entering preliminary details into the electronic patient care record. Mr Ngarra appears uncomfortable and looks to his daughter before responding. When asked about his symptoms, he gives brief answers and avoids eye contact.

As the assessment continues, the crew becomes aware that Mr Ngarra recently attended the local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service, but no written documentation is available at the scene. His daughter states that he is “not keen on hospitals” because of a previous experience where he felt “talked over” and not listened to. She also asks whether the information given to the paramedics will be shared with the hospital and whether Mr Ngarra has to agree to that first.

The crew transport Mr Ngarra to the nearest emergency department. During handover, there is confusion about his date of birth and medication history. Later, the receiving hospital contacts the ambulance service because the electronic patient record contains incomplete observations and an incorrect allergy entry. The incident raises concerns about the accuracy of documentation, privacy and consent, and whether the paramedics communicated in a culturally safe and collaborative way.

Part 1) Communication and Collaboration:

In Part 1, you will provide a narrative response addressing the below requirements, related to the provided case study. Your narrative should demonstrate your knowledge of communication, collaboration and cultural safety within paramedicine, drawing upon contemporary peer-reviewed literature (<10 years old) and professional standards. The requirements for the narrative response include:

• Identify any issues with the applied values and principles for communication and collaboration.
• Discuss how culturally safe communication and collaboration should have been applied, when working with First Nations peoples.
• Recommend practical strategies for communication and collaboration, emphasising patient and cultural safety.
• Referencing: APA 7th Edition.
• Word Limit: 750 words.

Part 2) Patient Information Management Systems:

In Part 2, you will provide a narrative response addressing the below requirements, related to the provided case study. Your response should demonstrate your knowledge of patient information management systems, and the associated legal and ethical requirements, drawing upon contemporary peer-reviewed literature (<10 years old) and professional standards. The requirements for the narrative response include:

• Explain the role of patient information management systems in paramedic practice within the context of the case scenario.
• Explain how accurate, timely, and complete documentation supports continuity of care, clinical decision-making, and patient handover.
• Explain if the legal and ethical requirements for patient information management systems and healthcare records were maintained within this case scenario.
• Recommend strategies to reduce documentation errors and strengthen compliance with professional standards.
• Referencing: APA 7th Edition.
• Word Limit: 750 words.

The assessment criteria for this assessment task are contained within the rubric, that is available on the unit Moodle site. Broadly, you will be assessed on:

• Application of values and principles for communication and collaboration in paramedicine.
• Application of communication and collaboration strategies for paramedicine, including cultural safe communication.
• Explanation of the use of patient information management systems in paramedicine.
• Explanation of the legal and ethical requirements for patient information and health records.
• Academic literacy and referencing.

Level of GenAI Use Allowed:

Level 2: You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Any use of GenAI tools must be acknowledged in a statement on the submission cover page.

Task Requirements:

• You must use the Assessment Task Two Template, located in the Assessment Tile of the Unit Moodle site.
• You must submit the document as a Word file (.doc/.docx).

In assessment task three, you will examine approaches to evidence-based practice in paramedicine, incorporating critical thing and reflective practice. Within Australia, healthcare practices are guided by the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Framework. You will use these standards to guide your approach to evidence-based practice. You will also reflect on the application of Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) principles and infection prevention and control to promote safe work in an operational environment. Finally, you will draw upon your reflections to identify learning goals and strategies for your continuing professional development (CPD).

This assessment requires you to critically analyse a video clinical case with a specific focus on how evidence-based practice is applied in paramedicine. Using a structured reflective model (Gibbs), you will examine how clinical decisions are informed by evidence, how that evidence is interpreted in practice, and how professional standards guide safe and effective care.

Your reflection must explicitly engage with:

• Approaches to evidence-based practice (e.g. use of guidelines, clinical reasoning, hierarchy of evidence, patient-centred decision-making)
• National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards
• Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Framework
• Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) principles
• Infection Prevention and Control
   

Instructions:

From the provided video of the clinical case, address the following:

1. Case Overview (~200 words):
   1. Summarise the patient presentation and context
   2. Outline the key clinical decisions made by the paramedics and the case progression
      
      
2. Evidence-Based Practice Analysis (~600 words):
   
   1. Discuss how evidence appears to have been used, misused, or omitted in the video
   2. Examine the limitations of solely relying on ambulance guidelines
   3. Reflect on how you would locate, appraise, and apply evidence for this clinical case
      
      
3. Reflection and Analysis (~1,200 words):
   
   1. NSQHS Standards and Quality Use of Medicines:
      1. Identify at least two relevant NSQHS Standards that apply to the case
      2. Examine how the care demonstrated in the video supported or failed to support those standards
      3. Examine whether the medication used reflected the principles of the Quality Use of Medicines Framework
         
         
   2. Workplace Health and Safety:
      1. Identify any hazards or risks present in the operational environment show in the video
      2. Evaluate how effectively WHS principles were applied to protect the patient, paramedics and other at the scene
      3. Discuss what actions you would have taken to reduce or manage risks
         
         
   3. Infection Prevention and Control:
      1. Examine the infection prevention and control measures used in clinical case
      2. Discuss whether personal protective equipment (PPE) and other precautions were appropriate for the situation
      3. Explain how you would have maintained infection control and prevention
         
         
   4. Continuing Professional Development:
      1. Reflect on what this clinical case reveals about your own learning needs
      2. Identify your specific knowledge, skill, or judgement gaps that have been highlight by this clinical case
      3. Propose realistic strategies for improving your practices through continuing professional development

The assessment criteria for this assessment task are contained within the rubric, that is available on the unit Moodle site. Broadly, you will be assessed on:

• Examination of evidence-based practice approaches in paramedicine.
• Application of reflective practice and critical thinking.
• Examination of the NSQHS standards and QUM framework.
• Application of WHS principles and infection prevention and control.
• Application of continuing professional development.

Level of GenAI Use Allowed:

Level 2: You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Any use of GenAI tools must be acknowledged in a statement on the submission cover page.

Task Requirements:

• You must use the Assessment Task Three Template, located in the Assessment Tile of the Unit Moodle site.
• You must submit the document as a Word file (.doc/.docx).