Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Therapeutic principles of herbal medicine framework refer to:
Practices, theories and philosophies specific to the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of clients eg concurrent, palliative and continuing care and recognise the stage of the client's illness in terms of chronicity, tendency for the condition to degenerate or spontaneously resolve


Contraindications to treatment and possible complicating factors may include:
Acute surgical and medical conditions such as cardiac arrest, acute hypovolaemic shock, paralytic ileus and loss of consciousness
Traumatic injuries or conditions requiring immediate medical attention
Life threatening situations
Personal or life circumstances
Ability or willingness to comply with treatment
Allergies/sensitivities
Past treatment history
Current conditions/disease state
Current medications/treatments
Contra-indications for use of certain excipients and bases


Treatments may include:
Prescription of herbal medicines
Dispensing of extemporaneous preparations


Client compliance refers to:
Ability to follow instructions or suggestions
Willingness to follow instructions or suggestions


Discrepancies may include:
Client is unaware of the immediate danger of their condition
Client is over anxious about their condition
Client is unaware of maintaining causes acting on their condition
Practitioner is unaware of some implications of the client's condition
Practitioner and client have a different view as to what the main problem is


Practitioner responsibilities may include:
Isolating the sick person
Notifying doctor about their condition
Appropriate hygienic procedures
Notifying state health authorities of notifiable/communicable disease
Commitment to the treatment plan
Discussing relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment
Reviewing of treatment plan


Client responsibilities may include:
Following instruction/advice during and post treatment
Advising practitioner of any relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment
Advising practitioner of compliance issues
Commitment to the treatment plan


Treatment evaluation strategies may include:
Discussing and reviewing of response to treatment
Reviewing achievement of treatment goals
Monitoring time-frame for achieving treatment goals

EVIDENCE GUIDE

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over a range of workplace situations
Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations
Evidence is required of both knowledge and skills application
Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender
Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:
interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace
scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units
holistic/integrated assessment including:
working within the practice framework
performing a health assessment
assessing the client
planning treatment
providing treatment


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Simulations may be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Resources essential for assessment include:
An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
Relevant texts or medical manuals
Documented process to enable the access and interpretation of up to date information
Relevant assessment instruments
Appropriate assessment environment
Skilled assessors


Method of assessment
Observation and practical demonstration in the work place
Written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Questioning
Role play simulation
Explanations for plan preparations
Written, multiple choice or short answer tests
Research work


Access and equity considerations:
Workers should have an understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture and history and an ability to work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
Assessors and trainers must have a knowledge of and take into account the influence of cultural and historic factors relating to health for those working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Related units:
This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related competency units:
HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients
HLTHER601C Apply western herbal medicine diagnostic framework