CAM619: Medicine in Extreme Environments (Core)

This fully online unit was designed to complement CAM503 and pretty much “does what it says on the packet”. We look at cold, high altitude, desert, maritime, underwater and aerospace as the five key extreme environments, though given the origin of this program it won’t surprise you to discover that we focus more on “cold” and “high” than we do on the others. We start with the challenges of living and working in each environment, and then look at relevant physics and physiology in that environment (you can’t care for people effectively if you don’t start with that) before moving on to patho-physiology and clinical care of common problems. As always the focus is that of the clinician in a remote site providing frontline care.

CAM503: Operational Aspects of Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments (Core)

This fully online and predominantly non-clinical unit provides a foundation for designing and running a healthcare facility in an austere setting. It looks at some concepts and that underpin how healthcare is delivered differently and uses case studies that showcase solutions to some of the difficulties faced. The unit starts by considering the concepts of “remote” and “extreme” and the types of populations to be found there. It then moves on to look at topics such as leadership, management and team work, disaster planning, evacuation, telehealth, and point of care testing, before finishing with additional non-medical knowledge and skills to allow you to thrive in extreme environments. Although it is predominantly non-clinical, every so often you will need to dig into your existing clinical skills and then apply them differently in a new context.

CAM632: Humans in Space

This unit involves both online learning and attendance at the Humans in Space course run by ASAM (htps://www.asam.org.au ) at which you will get to rub shoulders with Australasia's leaders in the field of Space Medicine. This multi-disciplinary unit takes you on a journey starting with the aspiration to become an astronaut through to planning the first Mars mission. It does of course cover all the medical issues, but also exposes you to relevant specialties such as geology, engineering and physics: the role of an astronaut is a multi-faceted one.

CAM631: Expedition Medicine

This 8 day intensive residential course in expedition and mountain medicine provides your opportunity to cement the theory with hands on practice. We cover pre-expedition planning, medical kits, emergency response, search and rescue, stretchers and splints, steep terrain rescue, navigation, remote area communications, meteorology and common environmental medical problems. If that list hasn’t got you out of breath, then the increasingly long and difficult scenarios and exercises certainly will. The course typically culminates in an extended night time search and rescue exercise that will test everything that you have learnt. Underpinning all of our teaching is a thorough practical emphasis on leadership and team work (CRM) and comprehensive debriefs. We offer several courses during the year, however, the curriculum for all of them is the same. Full details of courses may be found at: https://www.utas.edu.au/health/study/cpdu

The course is converted to the CAM631 unit with the completion of one assignment. You may attend the Expedition Medicine course as stand-alone CME without being enrolled in the Graduate Certificate.

KHB701: Human Behaviour in Extreme Environments

This fully online unit take a detailed look at how humans behave when living and working in extreme environments. By their very nature these intend to involve isolation and confinement. Increasingly we are coming to realise that human behaviour, relationships and interactions are of fundamental concern when planning expeditions involving small groups of people who are flung together for long duration missions: be it Antarctica, or indeed Mars. This unit has been designed by psychologists who have worked with AAD, the ADF and have carried out space analogue research with NASA.

CAA500 – Advanced Diagnostic Reasoning in Out of Hospital Practice (Paramedics Only)

This online unit is part of the Master of Advanced Paramedicine (Specialisation) (M7T), and is included here for paramedics who are looking to make the leap from conventional paramedic practice into providing care in remote and extreme environments. This unit bridges that gap.

CAM630 Practical Skills for Remote Medicine

This unit reflects the additional skills needed by clinicians in remote environment and focuses on radiography, ultrasound, regional anaesthesia, physiotherapy and dentistry and the curriculum reflects to a large extent some of the additional training undertaken by Australian Antarctic Division doctors prior to deployment. The unit is not “taught” in the conventional sense, but rather you will gather evidence that you meet the requirements and will gain credit for this unit. Contact us for details.

CAM634 Extreme Sports Medicine

Extreme and adventure sports have increased in popularity over the last few years and are practiced by many people, often in remote and extreme environment settings. This unit takes a multi-disciplinary approach and looks at training, prevention, engineering and safety equipment, management of the injured extreme athlete, and medical event coverage. This unit broadens your medical horizons to include BASE jumping, paragliding ,mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, extreme skiing and ultra-endurance running and sailing. The unit is predominantly online with one short residential workshop. The workshop is designed to allow you to learn practical skills and gain insights from some of the country’s top athletes and clinicians.

CAM635 Medical Care on Offshore and Inland Waters

Medical Care on Offshore and Inland Waters provides both a theoretical and practical introduction to the planning and delivery of medical care in various aquatic settings: from scientific expeditions and Antarctic cruises on large ships through to white water rafting and kayaking expeditions. The unit runs as an eight day residential, intensive course that covers non-clinical theoretical topics such as maritime regulations and maritime search and rescue, clinical topics such as marine envenomation, drowning and cold injury, and then combines these with practical scenarios and exercises.