Practice Management & Professional Issues

General Information
Duration 1 semester (14 teaching weeks)
Level Year 4, Semester 7
Unit Weighting Unit Credit Points: 10 credit points
Total Course Credit Points: 320 credit points
Student Workload Number of timetabled hours per week: 4
Number of personal study hours per week: 6
Total workload hours per week: 10
Prerequisites ACU207 TCM Practice 1 (Acupuncture Techniques) and CHM208 Chinese Herbal Medicine & Formulae 3
Academic Details
Description This unit covers the theory and practice of Chinese medicine gynaecology and obstetrics. The unit includes the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system, as well as those diagnostic features that pertain to gynaecological and obstetric disorders. For each of the main gynaecological and obstetric disorders the aetiology, differentiation of syndromes, appropriate treatment principles and strategies are examined. Treatment approaches include Chinese herbal formulae and/or acupuncture, with appropriate adjustments for culturally different individual cases, lifestyle and dietary advice to support the total treatment plan, TCM strengths and limitations and the necessary referral to other medical practitioners. The importance of a commitment to appropriate reporting of adverse events and the implementation of appropriate first aid measures when a patient displays an adverse reaction to treatment, and ensure prompt transfer to medical services where necessary will be emphasised. 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.
Learning outcomes Upon completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe and explain the symptomatology, aetiology and pathogenesis of the main gynaecological and obstetric disorders including the principal symptoms and the main syndromes that can be present in the disease.
  2. Describe and explain the treatment of the main gynaecological and obstetric disorders using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
  3. Identify and explain strengths and limits of CM, any cautions and contraindications that need to be considered; possible adverse reactions to the herbal treatment and acupuncture, possible interactions between herbs and other medications, the need of reporting adverse events, and the necessity of referral to other medical practitioner when appropriate.
  4. Identify and assess lifestyle, dietary or other multi-cultural and multi-racial factors that should be explained to a patient and how this may affect the practice of Chinese medicine within the Australian healthcare context.
Unit requirement To successfully complete the unit, students must: attend 80% of all the lectures and tutorial classes; attempt all assessment tasks and achieve at least 50% of the total marks; achieve a mark of at least 40% in the final examination.
Assessment Assessment 1: Reflective Portfolio (30%)

Assessment 2: Case Study Analysis (30%)

Assessment 3: Final Examination (40%)

Prescribed text * The prescribed and recommended readings are subject to annual review.

N/A

Recommended readings Maciocia, G. (2011). Obstetrics and gynecology in Chinese medicine. New York: Churchill Livingstone.

Flaws, B. (1997). Handbook of menstrual disease in Chinese medicine. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press.

Yu, J. (1998). In Hakim C. (Ed.), Handbook of obstetrics & gynecology in Chinese medicine: An integrated approach. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press.

Marchment, R. (2007). Gynaecology revisited: Obstetrics and gynaecology for practitioners of Chinese medicine. Marrickville, N.S.W.: Elsevier Australia

Fu, S. (1992). Fu Qing-zhu’s Gynaecology = [Fu Chʻing-chunükʻo] (1st ed.). Boulder, Colo.: Blue Poppy Press.

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