The Specialist Certificate in the Management of Paediatric Patients (opteometry) from the University of Melbourne is an online course covering issues within the field of paediatric optometry, with the aim of developing a student's capacity for highly evolved communication and co-management with other professionals involved in paediatric opteometric assessment and care.

A range of areas will be covered, encompassing the developmental, visual, medical and educational issues relevant to paediatric optometry. Specific areas covered will include diseases and disorders such as amblyopia, comitant strabismus, ametropia, and disorders of refraction, accommodation and vergence.

By introducing optometrists to a wide range of modern and classical thought, the course fosters a deeper, evidence-based understanding of central themes, thereby providing a solid context against which to evaluate emerging issues relevant to world's best practice of paediatric optometry.

On completion of this course the students should have:

Advanced knowledge and skills in their selected fields of clinical optometry
Detailed knowledge in the use and application of specific advanced diagnostic techniques and/or instrumentation
Advanced ability to evaluate and synthesize research from the scientific and clinical literature
Appreciation of the value of, and the ability to achieve, collaboration with other healthcare professionals as an effective means to aid clinical problem-solving
Capacity to interpret and integrate information from a variety of sources (such as patient presentation details, advanced diagnostic techniques, scientific, clinical and technical literature, and other healthcare professionals), in the development of the most appropriate patient management
Ability and initiative to offer enhanced clinical services based on their in-depth study in selected fields of clinical optometry
Advanced their clinical skills and developed a flexibility of outlook such that they are better able to respond to future paradigm shifts in the scope of optometric management

The Specialist Certificate is achieved through successful completion of one compulsory 25 point subject, Management of Paediatric Patients.

Links to further information

http://www.commercial.unimelb.edu.au/mpp/

Course description

The Specialist Certificate is achieved through successful completion of one compulsory 25 point subject, Management of Paediatric Patients.

This course is delivered online via the UoM online learning management system, known as LMS. Once you have enrolled, you will be issued with an LMS user name and password. Enrolled students will be directed to research articles, case studies, course materials and activities, as well as being able to interact with other students using this platform e.g. participating in discussion forums.

Please note: The Specialist Certificate in the Management of Paediatric Patients (optometry) is an award certificate which comprises of a previously approved subject (Paediatric Optometry OPTO90010) from the Optometry programs that are being discontinued. The main change to the existing subject is a change to the subject title and the revision of total study commitment time to achieve consistency with current guidelines.

The course is designed to offer the optimum balance of formal education and flexible study options to optometrists who have a compulsory requirement to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) every year to maintain their registration as an optometrist. Under new legislation (2011), all registered Australian and New Zealand Optometrists are required to complete 40 points of CPD each year, of these 20 points are required to be in the therapeutics area.

Please note: Registration to practice in Australia is NOT granted on completion of this course

This course is delivered online via the UoM online learning management system, known as LMS. Once you have enrolled, you will be issued with an LMS user name and password. Enrolled students will be directed to research articles, case studies, course materials and activities, as well as being able to interact with other students using this platform e.g. participating in discussion forums.

Professional Development Information 2017

Medicine

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