MEDIMAGE 201 : Fundamentals of Medical Imaging

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Provides a fundamental understanding of Medical Imaging practice. Students will examine components of the clinical setting including patient care, cultural competency, and ethical considerations, to prepare them for the clinical learning environment. Students will apply these concepts to radiographic imaging in the context of routine radiographic examinations.

Course Overview

This course aims to develop student understanding of Medical Imaging practice, to enable application of knowledge and development of skills for the clinical setting. In particular, students will be able to perform routine radiographic imaging of the chest and appendicular skeleton. Learning activities and assessments are designed to support the development of not only clinical competency, but also growth holistically as a reflective practitioner.

The course is delivered primarily at Grafton campus. Students will also participate in practical Medical Imaging clinical laboratory sessions at Auckland District Health Board. The course will be based on a blended delivery model, with supporting resources provided online via the University of Auckland’s learning management system (Canvas). Tutorials and labs will be supplemented with online preparatory reading and learning tasks. Academic learning is expected to inform clinical practice and enhance levels of clinical competency.

This course is compulsory for the BMedImag(Hons) programme. Only students admitted to this programme are eligible to enroll in this course.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Course Director
Dr Pippa Bresser
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: pippa.bresser@auckland.ac.nz 
Profile: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/pippa-bresser

Course Coordinator
Dr Pippa Bresser
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: pippa.bresser@auckland.ac.nz
Profile: https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/pippa-bresser

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the role of the Medical Imaging profession within healthcare and apply the principles of professionalism, informed consent, ethical issues, communication and patient-centred care to safe clinical practice. (Capability 3, 7 and 8)
  2. Identify the importance of diversity and cultural competency in the clinical environment and demonstrate understanding of the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the context of Medical Imaging. (Capability 1)
  3. Describe the principles of x-ray production, interaction of x-rays with matter, image formation and exposure technique factors in order to safely produce a diagnostic image. (Capability 2 and 3)
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of radiographic technique for routine chest and appendicular examinations in a patient-centric context. (Capability 4, 5 and 7)
  5. Apply knowledge of key anatomical structures and landmarks and communicate significant image findings clearly to facilitate effective patient management. (Capability 3, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Project 40% Individual Coursework
Tests 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Project
Tests
This course is 100% internally assessed. An aggregated mark of 50% or more is required to successfully pass this course. Resubmission of failed assessments is not permitted.

Penalties for excessive word count and/or late submission (without prior written approval for an extension) will be applied in accordance with the 'Medical Imaging Assessment Requirements and Presentation Criteria' document.

The course Canvas page has more detailed information on assessment processes and requirements.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures, 30 hours of tutorial and/or labs, 20 hours of  directed reading and thinking about the content and 70 hours of work on assignments, self-directed learning and/or test preparation.

As a signicant component of pre-clinical preparation and to facilitate clinical competency, attendance at all labs is mandatory. Assessments  2 and 3 will be based on the learning and activities performed at these labs. Attendance records will be taken at each lab and students will be required to meet with the Course Coordinator to explain any absences. Failure to attend the laboratory sessions without valid reasons more than twice will automatically trigger the Medical Imaging Discipline’s ‘non-critical fitness to practice’ internal process.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials and lectures to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings where practicable. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will not be available as recordings.

The course will include live online events including zoom sessions. 

Attendance on campus is required for the tests.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Students will also be able to access a large selection of online resources via the Philson Library databases.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Overall students were satisfied with the quality of the course. Students found the course structure to be well organised and stimulating. There appeared to be some discomfort regarding broad guidelines for assessments and somewhat haphazard arrangement of lecture slides. There was also a timetabling issue with back-to-back classes on different campuses.  These issues will be improved by providing more detailed assignment submission templates, developing a FAQ area to address assignment related queries and working with the timetabling team to ensure adequate travel time is accounted for between classes on different campuses.

Other Information

Communication
All ocial communication to a student will be sent to the student’s current University email address (username@aucklanduni.ac.nz) and the student is responsible for ensuring that any desired forwarding to other addresses is in place and operating correctly. Sta will not be responsible for any consequences if students fail to read and respond to University correspondence in a timely manner.

Students are encouraged to use the course ‘Discussion’ forum via Piazza on Canvas as much as possible for communication with sta and other students. Email may be used for more private matters. Email communication to University staff and supervisors must be sent from the student’s University email address. As a general rule, students are advised to log-on at least twice a week. Logging on regularly allows regular checking of 'Announcements' as well as reading and engaging on relevant communication. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

The way to avoid plagiarism is to reference your work. Please refer to the following website for further information about academic referencing: www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/ 

The Student Academic Conduct Statute (2021) provides further advice on how to avoid plagiarism. More information can be found in the ‘Medical Imaging Programme Information’ on Canvas.

The penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including losing some or all of the marks for the assignment. Major offences can be sent to the University’s Discipline Committee, where further penalties can be imposed.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Fitness to practise (FTP)
As health professional students, in addition to meeting the University of Auckland graduate prole capabilities, students in the Medical Imaging programmes are required to demonstrate their tness to practise. This applies to students at all times, whether they are on campus, on placement or elsewhere.

Fitness to practise (FTP) is concerned primarily with patient and public safety. It also is concerned with upholding professional standards, including the relevant professional code of conduct, and contributing to the maintenance of the reputation of the profession and public confidence in the profession.

For further information visit FMHS Fitness to Practise Policy (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/theuniversity/how-university-works/policy-and-administration/teaching-and-learning/fmhs-code-of-fitness-topractise/fmhs-fitness-to-practise-policy.html)

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 27/10/2023 09:18 a.m.