HLTHOM601C
Apply homeopathic diagnostic framework

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required interpret information gathered when taking the homœopathic case and to make and review accurate homoeopathic diagnosis over the course of treatment

Application

This unit applies to work in homœopathy


Prerequisites

Not Applicable


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Analyse and interpret information received

1.1 Physical examination findings are correlated with the case history

1.2 Information is gathered, assessed for priority and acted upon within the practitioner's capability

1.3 Information is organised and recorded in a way that can be interpreted readily by other professionals and according to clinic guidelines

1.4 Clinical disease is assessed according to signs and symptoms of condition, and results of investigations

1.5 Condition is classified according to stage of disease and homœopathic nosology

1.6 Professional judgment is used to draw sound conclusions and prognosis from the data collected

1.7 All signs and symptoms are elicited in a thorough and objective manner to avoid prejudiced or premature conclusions

2. Make a homœopathic diagnosis

2.1 Appropriate analysis techniques are applied

2.2 What is to be treated in the client is identified

2.3 Expected natural course of disease is established

2.4 A meaningful totality of symptoms is established

2.5 Information is organised and recorded in a way that can be interpreted readily by other professionals and according to clinic guidelines

3. Critically evaluate the homoeopathic diagnosis

3.1 A critical evaluation of homoeopathic diagnosis is applied in an ongoing manner

3.2 The client's progress is systematically monitored and the initial homoeopathic diagnosis or clinical impression reassessed

3.3 History and clinical data is effectively combined to obtain a differential diagnosis of possible medicines, to select the most homoeopathic medicine, and to establish prognosis and therapeutic expectations

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Anatomy and physiology of the body systems

Basic nutritional requirements for the various ages and stages of life

Case analysis and management according to homœopathic principles

Clinical disease

Data analysis techniques

Disease processes and the natural history of disease

Homoeopathic materia medica of sufficient scope and depth (derivation of data, systems of classification, keynotes, clinical indications) to enable accurate differentiation of indicated medicines in a broad range of acute and chronic conditions

Homœopathic symptomatology

Knowledge and understanding of types of further investigation available

Obstacles to cure

Posology

Referral process

Relevant testing and assessment options and procedures

Signs and symptoms of disease and disorder/dysfunction

Susceptibility and sensitivity

The capabilities and limitations of homœopathic treatment

The contribution of the different schools of thought and historical theories of clinical practice

The effects of medicinal disease

The importance of striking rare, unusual and peculiar symptoms

The relationships between homoeopathic medicines

The use of alternating and intercurrent homoeopathic medicines and antidotes

continued ...

Essential knowledge (contd):

The various approaches to prescribing including consideration of:

totality of characteristic symptoms

keynote characteristic symptoms

central theme of a homoeopathic medicine

constitutional basis

miasmatic indications

aetiology

use of organopathic medicines

prophylactic use

ladder-like prescribing

tautopathy

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Apply differential assessment

Demonstrate homoeopathic differential diagnostic skills

Effectively use homoeopathic repertories

Establish a meaningful totality from the client's signs and symptoms

Establish urgency for treatment required

Identify clinical signs of nutritional imbalance

Interpret investigative findings

Manage medical emergencies

Prioritise presenting conditions

Research allopathic drugs, including iatrogenic potential, interactions, and requirements for withdrawal

Write referrals

Evidence Required

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 the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

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:

An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

Relevant texts or medical manuals

Relevant paper-based assessment instruments

Appropriate assessment environment

Method of assessment

Observation and practical demonstration in the work place

Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of diagnostic technique

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Homoeopathic diagnosis from assessment notes or simulated assessments

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 units:

HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients

HLTHOM604B Perform clinical screening examination and assessment

HLTHOM610C Take the homœopathic case


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.

Assessment according to signs and symptoms of condition must include:

Chief complaint(s)

Aetiology

Chronological sequence of symptoms

Physical generals - characteristic and common

Mentals - characteristic and common

Particulars - characteristic and common

Concomitants

And may include:

Physical evidence

Behavioural evidence

Sensations

Onset

Duration

Location

Causation

Direction of chief complaint

Ameliorating and aggravating factors

Symptom qualities (intensity, severity, nature of complaint)

Non-verbal signs

Functional and pathological disturbances

Classification according to stage of disease must include at least one of the following:

Acute disease - individual, sporadic, epidemic, acute, and sub-acute

Chronic disease partially developed or incurable

local or one sided manifestation as a physical and/or mental

Chronic disease fully developed

miasmatic disease, simple or mixed

environmental, life style and iatrogenic influences

Consequence of suppression of symptoms and/or discharges on the future development of disease

Life threatening condition

Analysis techniques may include:

Boger's hierarchy

Kent's hierarchy

Boenninghausen's hierarchy

Other more recent homœopathic hierarchical techniques

Conceptual image

Evolutionary totality

Standardised case record method

Perception of essence/core/whole state

Totality of symptoms

Keynotes and/or keynote combinations

Strange, rare and peculiars

Miasmatic interpretation

Layer and lesion concepts

Synthetic prescribing

Homœopathic computer analysis

What is to be treated must include:

Natural course of disease includes:

Natural duration of disease

Progress, extension, radiation and pace

Probability of remission

Meaningful totality must include consideration of at least one of the following:

The relevant aphorisms in the Organon of Medicine 5th/6th Edition

Hering's principles

Boger's principles

Kent's principles

Boenninghausen's principles

Other relevant basis for a totality

Prognosis and therapeutic expectations includes:

Cure

Palliation of incurable condition

Severe aggravation

Progression of disease

Reduction of miasmatic condition

Changes in emotional state and/or relationship dynamics

Removal of layer, lesion or acute state and emergence of new symptoms


Sectors

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

This unit contains Employability Skills


Licensing Information

Not Applicable