From September 2019
Combined pathway Osteopathic Degree

Year 4 – Osteopathic Degree Course

ICOM (Irish College of Osteopathic Medicine) embraces the Philosophy that the body has an innate natural ability to self-regulate and heal itself. Osteopathy is a “whole persons” approach to medicine Osteopaths provide complete care to their patients, not just their symptoms. They do by careful consideration to the global health of each patient, creating a treatment approach appropriate for each patient’s individual needs.
ICOM has a long history of teaching manual therapy and is proud to be the first approved Osteopathic Education Provider in Ireland. ICOM offer a 5 year part time combined degree pathway in collaboration with NESCOT .This will allow students to qualify as OCI recognised Osteopaths.

RATIONALE

Due to changes in the legislation in Ireland the ICOM have decided to start a part time Osteopathy course. From January 2018, the title of “Physiotherapy” along with “Physical Therapy will become protected by law. This change has led to the decision by ICOM course to offer a five year BSc course in Osteopathy with the collaboration of ICOM at NESCOT a validated Osteopathic Education Provider in the UK.
Mr. Kieran Corcoran D.O. the director is a qualified osteopath and registered with the Osteopathic Council of Ireland (ICOM) . He has successfully run a number of courses at his college in Cork. The College was started in 1994 as a platform for mature students to obtain diploma courses in Remedial Massage, Sports Therapy, Physical Therapy, Manipulative Therapy, Electrotherapy and Cranial Therapy. He also delivers CPD courses for Physiotherapist, Osteopath, and other healthcare professionals.

AIM OF THE PROGRAMME

The aims of the programme have been designed to reflect the following statement from EFSOP.

“The primary aim of an osteopathic education provider is to educate students to become safe and effective osteopaths who are fully capable of working autonomously in a variety of clinical settings as primary contact healthcare practitioners.” Error! Bookmark not defined. EFSOP

The programme meets the academic and vocational requirements for Osteopathy published by the SOTE, the EFSOET and the EFSOP. The programme aims are as follows:

• To produce a competent Osteopath who fulfils the standards set out in EFSOET and confers eligibility on them to apply for professional registration with the OCI.
• To produce a graduate demonstrating reflective, self-evaluative and critical thinking and transferable skills whilst providing safe, caring, ethical and competent Osteopathic treatment.
• To develop a graduate demonstrating a commitment to life-long learning, research and evidence-based practice, continued professional development and business entrepreneurship.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
In addition, applicants must hold an O6/H7 grade in one of the following Laboratory Science subjects: Biology; Physics, Chemistry; Physics and Chemistry; or Agricultural Science.
QQI Entry
Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling requirements for this programme

COURSE STRUCTURE

The new course will be based on the European Framework for Standards Osteopathic Education and Training (EFSOET)[1] as Ireland does not have its own standards for Osteopathic Education.
The EFSOET approximate guide for the notional number of contact hours of study would be in the region of 4,000 – 4,800 of this total, osteopathic clinical training should account for no less than 1,000 hours.

Courses should comprise the following Scientific and professional underpinning studies:

• Anatomy (gross, functional, integrated, applied, neurological, embryological, histological)
• physiology
• pathology
• neurology/neuroscience
• nutrition
• biochemistry
• peripheral and spinal biomechanics
• principles and philosophy of osteopathy
• palpatory skills and diagnosis
• osteopathic procedures (full range including structural, myofascial and functional)
• interpretation of clinical laboratory techniques
• exercise physiology
• pharmacology
• psychology/psychosomatics
• clinic observation
• information and communications technology (ICT) skills
• emergency support skills/first aid
• health studies and other healthcare systems.

Research studies:

• Critical analysis
• evidence in practice
• research methodology (quantitative and qualitative)
• research ethics
• dissertation/research paper.

Clinical/professional studies:

• Differential and clinical diagnosis and clinical problem solving
• clinical methods and procedures
• case history-taking
• communication skills
• professional ethics
• clinical dietetics
• ergonomics
• gynaecology and obstetrics
• paediatrics and osteopathic care of children
• rheumatology
• orthopaedics and trauma
• osteopathic care of the elderly
• radiological diagnosis and clinical imaging
• dermatology
• osteopathic sports care
• applied clinical osteopathy (full range of osteopathic procedures, including structural, myofascial and functional)
• osteopathic evaluation and patient management (including reflective practice)
• professional practice management (including medico-legal issues and business issues)
• case analysis studies.

Osteopathic clinical practice:

• Closely supervised clinical practice in suitable clinical environment(s) where effective tutoring, monitoring and student assessment can take place.

All the above subjects other than the research project will be covered within the ICOM course. NESCOT will deliver and oversee all the research project aspect in Y5.

CLINIC TEACHING STRUCTURE

Clinical hours are an essential part of the European and UK Osteopathic Standards in teaching requirement. The consensus is that student require a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical training. During that time students will peer observe and once competent start treating patients under the guidance of trained clinic tutors, as students become more confident and capable their level of autonomy is increased. Clinical hours are achieved by all students attending the ICOM supervised clinic one. The clinic is open all year round this allows for 50 week attendance. Clinical training is documented in the form of a clinical log which is signed by the tutor at the end of each session. Students will be expected to make up any missing hours before achieving a Diploma.

NESCOT PROGRESSION

Agreement has been reached with NESCOT in the UK to deliver year 5 of the B.Sc Ost combined pathway. NESCOT is recognised Osteopathic Education Institution (OEI) known as ICOM (International College of Osteopathic Medicine) at NESCOT (formally known as Surrey Institute for Osteopathic Medicine). ICOM@NESCOT has been an OEI since 1999 it was the first publicly funded OEI and is one of nine recognised providers in the UK.
Entry to Y5 is on successful completion of the ICOM Osteopathy Diploma and documented clinical log book. Students are expected to prepare a research proposal, to ensure they use evidence-based practice, a clinical portfolio demonstrates their professional abilities and records the variety of patients seen, it also allows students to justify their treatment (or non-treatment) approaches to patients. Communication skills are demonstrated in viva type assessments. Criticality is demonstrated in the case study and the presentation.

[1] http://www.forewards.eu/projects/osteopathic-standards

Address from Kieran Corocoran

I have been teaching Physical Therapy, Manipulative Therapy, Cranial Therapy and Sports Injuries here in Ireland since 1995. In that time I have seen people embark on life changing courses that allowed them to become their own boss and dictate how much income they earn!
I have seen people grow in confidence . They have gain tools and techniques to change their patient’s life and by doing so grow themselves as therapists.
My dream has always been to have a school of excellence and be a leader in health education in Ireland . In the 24 years that the college has been graduating students we have achieved this and more. I am humbled and honoured to now be able to offer not only our part time diploma courses in everything from sports injuries to manipulative therapy but from September 2019 to be able to offer graduates a pathway to obtain a degree in osteopathic medicine.
The dedicated staff at ICOM along with lecturers from Nescot will insure the highest quality of course content and expertise. They will ensure all students are in a caring nurturing learning environment. Students will have class attendance at ICOM in Cork with access to Nescot’s online learning resource -WEBLEARN. I am very excited to be the principal of this college and I acknowledge all my colleagues both here in Ireland and Nescot who have helped make this happen.
Kieran Corcoran
ICOM Principal

Prices Osteopathy Course

Payment options available on request for all courses.
Fees all inclusive of books, tutor notes, and exam fees.

Year 4 Diploma in Osteopathy (non-practicing)  2020/21