Bachelor of Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Care

BACHELOR OF HEALTH SCIENCES IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE (B9E01Q)

Programme Duration

• Full-time: Minimum 4 years and Maximum 6 years
• NQF Level 8, 480 Credits

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to develop an Emergency Care Practitioner competent in the clinical knowledge and skills required for the emergency medical care and medical recue profession.
The graduate will be able to competently apply an integration of theoretical principles, proven techniques, practical experience and appropriate clinical skills in order to:

• Provide an independent specialised emergency medical care and rescue service to all sectors of the community.
• Demonstrate skills in management and research working independently and in a supervisory capacity within emergency services and the healthcare team.
• Become a reflective practitioner and lifelong student within the emergency medical care profession.
• Successful completion of this qualification will entitle the student to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as an Emergency Care Practitioner.

Outcomes
1. Demonstrate effective communication and apply the principles of medical ethics, professional behaviour, and the legal framework to the context within which emergency care practitioners operate while maintaining physical fitness, personal health, wellness and safety.
2. Provide and facilitate emergency medical care to all sectors of the community utilising specialised clinical strategies and technologies.
3. Perform medical rescue in a wide range of contexts.
4. Provide in-service training in emergency medical care and rescue.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and functioning of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems in South Africa including the provision of operational and clinical supervision within an emergency medical and rescue service.
6. Develop research skills, participate and conduct research in emergency medical care and rescue.

Rules of Access and Admission Requirements

For applicants who obtained a Grade 12 prior to 2008:

1. A Senior Certificate with university exemption or an equivalent qualification at an equivalent standard, as determined by a Status Committee, with 2 of the following modules:
1.1 Biology or Physiology with at least a Higher Grade D or Standard Grade C symbol.
1.2 Physical Science with at least a Higher Grade D or Standard Grade C symbol.
1.3 Mathematics with at least a Higher Grade D or Standard Grade C symbol.

For applicants who obtained a Grade 12 during or after 2008:

A National Senior Certificate (NSC) – APS Score with minimum requirements as shown below: (Exclude Life Orientation when calculating APS)
Minimum APS: 26

• Language of teaching and Learning (English): 5
• Mathematics: 4
• Mathematical Literacy: Not accepted
• Physical Sciences: 4
• Life Sciences: 4

Selection Criteria

Selection will be based on:

• academic merit;
• a structured personal interview;
• a phobia evaluation;
• passing of a Class II Aviation or equivalent medical examination;
• a physical preparedness evaluation;

Evidence of community service and or previous appropriate experience is a recommendation.

Pass Requirements

1. Due to the integrated nature of certain modules, individual credits are NOT retained unless all are passed within the same academic year. This ruling applies to the following modules:

1st Year

• EMC01Y1
• EMC02Y1
• EMC03Y1
• PFP01Y1

2nd Year

• EMC01Y2
• EMC02Y2
• EMC03Y2
• PFP02Y2

3rd Year

• EMC01Y3
• EMC02Y3
• EMC03Y3
• PFP03Y3

4th  Year

•  EMC01Y4
•  EMC02Y4
• EMC03Y4
•  PFP04Y4

2 Students may enroll for a module in the following year, provided that:
2.1 They have passed the prerequisite modules.
2.2 The module selection does not lead to timetable clashes.
2.3 In the case of Medical Rescue, the student has passed the fitness and swimming proficiency assessment.
3 First-year students must pass a minimum of 60% of the first-year modules to qualify for readmission to the programme.
4 100% attendance of all theory lecturers, practical, experiential or clinical components as well as tutorials is compulsory.
5 Students who fail to attend theory classes will be requested to provide in writing reasons for their non-attendance.

Clinical Practice (Work Integrated Learning)

1 Students must, by the end of each year, complete the requirements which are detailed in the EMC 1, 2, 3 and 4 Study Guides.
2. Clinical Learning and rescue practical are integrated into the academic programme in conjunction with cooperative education and training partners, for this reason, shift rosters cannot be personalized.
3. Due to the nature of emergency medical care and rescue work students registering for this programme may be required to work after-hours, weekends and over religious holidays. We are regretfully unable to cater for individual requests not to work on certain days and times.

Specific Rules and Regulations for Emergency Medical Care Students

1. Students must familiarize themselves with the internal rules and regulations of the Department of Emergency Medical Care. These rules and regulations, as set out in the Departmental policy document, are binding.
2. The programme is not offered as a limited contact or distance- learning programme. Students who elect to leave the country will be unable to continue with their studies.
3. All students (even if not registered for Clinical Practice within that academic year) are required to see a minimum number of patients each year as determined by the department whilst they are registered. This is a requirement to ensure that clinical competencies are retained.
4. All registered students are required to attend physical training sessions as rostered.
5. Students may not register for a third time for the same module.
6. Students are required to adhere to the requirements of the department relating to uniform and personal appearance.
7. Students have maximum of 6 years to complete the four-year degree.

Curriculum

All modules are Continuous Evaluation modules.