UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

In this unit students will be supported in developing their skills in podiatric treatments, therapy, intervention techniques and patient management in individuals and those requiring advanced foot and ankle surgery. This unit develops a patient-centred approach to the investigation and an introduction to the surgical management of common foot pathologies of the forefoot, mid-foot and rearfoot. Students undertake advanced tuition in the selection of elective podiatric surgical procedures, the principles of internal fixation and post-operative care of the surgical patient. The diagnosis and management of post-operative complications is considered in a multidisciplinary context including assessment of relevant body systems.. Topics covered in the general podiatric surgery component include the principles of general surgery, disturbances of homeostasis, wound healing, care of the surgical patient, complications of surgery including bleeding and infection and wound healing and explain the role of podiatrist, podiatric surgeon & surgical assistant while identifying the . Emergencies in practice including anaesthetic trauma, emergencies, first aid, resuscitation, recovery from anaesthesia are discussed. The anaesthesia component covers areas relevant to podiatric practice including the use by podiatrists of local anaesthetics, 'conscious sedation' techniques and sedative agents are covered in detail. Students develop a deep application of their professional requirements to demonstrate and assure safe practice including referencing; relevant regulatory and ethical resources, antimicrobial stewardship, the Quality Use of Medicines (QUMs), the National Prescribing Standards (NPS), the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines(NSQHS), the Therapeutic Guidelines, Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) examine considerations for the surgical patient including communication, consumer engagement with a focus on person-centred care, and interprofessional referrals and engagement; (2) describe common diseases that may affect podiatric practice by discussing the interrelationship between certain systemic diseases and the lower limb disease presentation; (3) recognise and discuss management of medical emergencies and trauma in practice; including the deteriorating patient; (4) demonstrate a knowledge of common podiatric surgical procedures

; (5) understand the role of anaesthetics in minor in office procedures (LA) and podiatric surgery (LA and GA); (6) describe the post-operative management of the podiatric surgical patient in general podiatric practice; (7) demonstrate sterilisation standards and safe scrubbing and gowning; in accordance with guidelines and safe practice

; (8) outline the role of therapeutics involved in the the surgical care of patients employing regulatory and ethical resources in the therapeutic management of the podiatric surgical patient [ie: antimicrobial stewardship, EMS, the Quality Use of Medicines (QUMs), the National Prescribing Standards (NPS), the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines (NSQHS), the Therapeutic Guidelines, Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)]

; and (9) demonstrate understanding of national standards, legislation, and guidelines associated with the safe use of re-usable medical devices.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) assignment(s); (2) examination(s); (3) clinical assessment(s); and (4) professional behaviour assessment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the clinical assessment(s) and professional behaviour assessment components.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Matthew Keating and Dr Chris Pocklington

Unit rules

Prerequisites

(a)
Enrolment in

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 91870, and (b)

successful completion of

PODI4221 Podiatric Populations 1 (ID 7836) PODI4222 Clinical Podiatric Practice 3 (ID 7837) PODI4223 Pharmacotherapeutics for Podiatrists 2 (ID 7838) PODI4224 Research Project Planning (ID 7839)

Co-requisites

PODI4225 Podiatric Populations 2 (ID 7824) PODI4226 Clinical Podiatric Practice 4 (ID 7841) PODI4228 The High Risk Foot (ID 7843) PODI4000 Research Project Development (ID 7844)

Contact hours

Approximately 6 hours per week, including lectures 2-3 hours per week and a combination of: team and case based learning workshops, e-learning sessions, tutorials, and self-directed online learning.