Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess the therapeutic needs of clients using an oriental therapies diagnostic framework. It requires the ability to gather client information, perform a physical assessment and bring information together to develop an oriental therapies treatment plan.
This unit applies to therapists who work with oriental therapies as part of a broader complementary health practice.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Determine scope of client needs | 1.1 Explore and clarify client expectations 1.2 Provide clear information about scope and limits of services to be provided 1.3 Collect an accurate, relevant and organised health record and document in a form which can be interpreted readily by other professionals 1.4 Recognise needs that are beyond scope of own practice and make referrals to other health care professionals as required 1.5 Identify and respond to any barriers to information gathering and assessment 1.6 Seek client information respectfully and sensitively, using purposeful, systematic and diplomatic questions 1.7 Manage information in a confidential and secure way |
2. Make a physical assessment | 2.1 Provide information about the physical assessment process and obtain client consent to proceed 2.2 Follow clinical and practitioner hygiene procedures 2.3 Respect client dignity and anticipate sensitivities 2.4 Seek client feedback on comfort levels 2.5 Assess client through hara, back and meridian palpation 2.6 Integrate observation and sensory information gathering techniques 2.7 Use ongoing questioning with client to gain further information as required 2.8 Accurately document information from the physical assessment |
3. Analyse information | 3.1 Correlate results of physical assessment with case history 3.2 Consider any available western medical information and incorporate into analysis within scope of own practice 3.3 Bring together eastern and western approaches to pathology 3.4 Analyse energetic patterns and differentiate by assessing signs and symptoms 3.5 Identify condition according to stage and related implications by applying the eight principles of diagnosis 3.6 Identify pre-requisites or contraindications to treatment 3.7 Determine optimum type, duration and frequency of treatments 3.8 Use professional judgement to draw substantiated conclusions about treatment needs 3.9 Establish expected treatment outcomes based on the oriental therapies framework and evidence 3.10 Accurately document proposed treatment plan |
4. Confirm assessment and treatment plan with client | 4.1 Discuss assessment, its implications and rationale for treatment with the client 4.2 Assign and agree treatment priorities and expectations in consultation with the client 4.3 Schedule times and session lengths suited to the required techniques and sequences 4.4 Respond to client enquiries using language the client understands 4.5 Discuss referral and collaborative options with the client as required |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 200 hours of client consultation work
prepared for and managed at least 60 oriental therapies health assessments - clients must include males and females from different stages of life with varied presentations
used an oriental therapies framework to assess the therapeutic needs of clients, including:
diagnostic methods from four methods, eight principles and five elements
analysis and interpretation of the structural and functional relationships of movement patterns
determination of patterns of disharmony
interacted effectively with clients:
clearly articulated information about services, treatment options and rationale
engaged clients in decision making
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for client assessment and treatment planning:
codes of conduct
duty of care
informed consent
mandatory reporting
practitioner/client boundaries
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
working role boundaries:
working within scope of practice
presenting symptoms that require referral to a medical practitioner
work health and safety
referral options for practitioners:
professional health services including complementary health modalities
community resources and support services
types and availability of further medical testing
factors and barriers that may impact on assessment, including:
physical
psychological
cultural
factors that affect individual health status, including:
constitution
lifestyle
diet
personal and medical history
values and attitudes
balance of rest and activity
physical environment
social environment
client information required for assessment and the scope and depth of information needed around:
client objectives and expectations
client history and its components
client current state of health
signs and symptoms:
onset
duration
location
quality and severity
non-verbal
different ways that signs and symptoms of conditions present:
physical
psychological
social
spiritual
features of signs and symptoms
principles and philosophy of oriental therapies framework:
yin and yang,
five elements theory
five vital substances
jing luo
zang fu
extraordinary organs,
four methods of diagnosis
eight principle patterns
six pathogenic influences
pattern differentiation and aetiology
seven emotions
oriental therapies diagnostic techniques and considerations:
origin and development of disease
disharmony
point location
tsubo
function and dysfunction
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pattern differentiation
(TCM) pulse and tongue diagnosis
Oriental face diagnosis
four methods - visual, palpation, listening and smelling, asking
anatomical or mobility/flexibility assessment
back and spinal palpation assessment
progression of disease into the body according to six divisions
oriental therapies used for assessment of body imbalances including:
sotai
makko ho and corrective exercises
relationships between body types and symptoms according to five phases theory
influence of lifestyle, diet, exercise, personal history and values and attitudes on health
relational dynamics within and between human behaviour, anatomy and physiology, pathology and the natural world
possible reactions, contra-indications to treatment and/or limitations for assessment
treatment planning techniques and considerations
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a clinical environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
health assessment, client consultation forms
futon
linen
modelling of industry operating conditions, including provision of services to the general public
clinic supervision by a person who meets the assessor requirements outlined below for at least 120 of the 200 hours of client consultation work
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition, assessors must:
have at least 3 years current clinical experience working as a Shiatsu therapist providing services to the general public
hold practising membership of an Australian professional body that represents Shiatsu therapists
fulfil the continuing professional development requirements of the professional body to which they belong
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.