CATALOG - University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

OPA 5134C – OPA Orthopaedics II Hours: 4This course covers invasive and non-invasive treatment skills associated with musculoskeletaldysfunctions arising from neurological, orthopaedic or disease conditions. Some areas covered includetreatment for soft tissue and peripheral nerve injuries, spinal disorders, reflex sympathetic dystrophy,dislocation, fractures, joint – ligament – tendon reconstruction, arthritis, and hyper/hypo mobility.Students learn to perform foley catherization, phlebotomy/IV insertion, aspirations and injections.Specific general interventions and exercise methods utilized by occupational and physical therapists arediscussed, as is patient /family education. Safety and appropriate documentation is emphasizedthroughout this course.OPA 5151C – Clinical Neuroscience Hours: 2Clinical neuroscience is a lecture and lab course in which students receive an overview of theneuroanatomical and neurophysiological foundations for understanding normal function, dysfunction andclinical interventions. The etiology, signs and symptoms, and medical intervention of the more commonneurologic pathologies will also be included.OPA 5200 – OPA Surgery Hours: 4This course covers indications, contraindications, safety, instrumentation and equipment, and steriletechniques associated with surgery. In addition, the knowledge and physical skills needed to assist withorthopaedic surgical procedures as well as pre-operative preparation and pre- and post- operative careand patient management are covered. The surgical procedures covered involve the upper and lowerextremities and spine and include reduction procedures on bone and joints; reconstruction surgery onjoints and ligaments; repairs of muscles, tendons, and ligaments; transfers of tendons and nerves;amputations and the removal of foreign bodies; and arthroscopic procedures. Students also learn properpositioning of the patient for surgery, how to monitor anesthesia and how to close and care for traumaticwounds and surgical incisions. Student are instructed about potential medical errors that can occur withsurgery and how best to avoid these. Observation of video and live surgeries, along with lab simulationswill augment this course.OPA 5351 – OPA Orthopaedic Pharmacology Hours: 3This course provides a clinical perspective of the general concepts of pharmocokinetics andpharmacodynamics related to the practice of orthopaedic medicine. It describes classes and specific drugsfor pain and inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, skeletal muscle, infections, as well ascentral nervous system drugs, cholinergic and adrenergic drugs, cardiovascular drugs and endocrinedrugs. Some gastrointestinal and respiratory are also described. These descriptions include: a) clinicaluses, b) therapeutics effects and mechanisms, c) side effects, and contraindications. The effects ofexercise, aging and other factors on pharmacodynamics are included when relevant to clinical practice.OPA 5700 - Wellness and Prevention Hours: 2This course will present the concept of Wellness as a foundation to the improvement of health caredelivery services and interventions. It will allow the students to investigate their own personal wellnessand to internalize the information, to become role models of Wellness in the health care profession.Additionally, the concepts of Wellness will be applied to the practice of rehabilitation, making relevantthe content to the student’s roles as future professionals. The course will include specific objectivespromoting wellness and patient education to maintain health and prevent disease by empowering clientswith holistic lifestyle choices by identifying barriers to change, goal setting and problem-solving. Inaddition, a special emphasis will be on health promotion and disease prevention on a macro level, whichanalyzes policies and procedures that engender concern for individuals as they operate in society.105