Diploma in Emergency Medical Care

Purpose

The Diploma in Emergency Medical Care recognises the key competences required of an Emergency Care Practitioner who can work independently in a variety of contexts. The qualifying learner will be able to provide independent, specialised emergency medical and rescue service to the community, and be able to supervise such services in either the public or private sector, thereby contributing to the emergency medical care and rescue needs of both rural and urban communities. In general, the practitioner will provide an independent service within the pre-hospital context. The qualified person will be able to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Rationale

This qualification is designed to provide emergency care services primarily within South Africa, in contexts that range from rural, disadvantaged communities to sophisticated, highly technological urban areas. Also, this qualification aims to produce a competent practitioner who will take cognisance of South African history and be able to adapt to the unique circumstances of a changing South Africa with emphasis on equity in health care and reduction of the burden of disease.

The qualification provides the necessary foundational knowledge, skills and insights needed to form a platform for further study in the field of Emergency Care. The qualification is thus designed to enable learners to pursue further personal and professional development and to promote life-long learning.

This qualification is of benefit to the emergency care profession as it

• Provides a consistent and coherent foundation for practice at an entry-level and progression within the profession in the context of a National Qualifications Framework.
• Provides a means for the critical function of formal certification and registration within the profession, thus ensuring society is served by competent Emergency Care Technicians.
• Helps to legitimise this level of practice in particular, as well as the profession as a whole.
• Will lead to a reduction in the burden on other health structures and practitioners.
• Will lead to a reduction in the number of disciplinary occurrences that take place due to inadequate or inappropriate training.
• Also, employers of Emergency Care Technicians will benefit through enhanced efficiency, effectiveness and productivity (e.g. reduced accidents).

The key benefits to society are

• Patients are served by competent Emergency Care Technicians, thus increasing their chances of survival and recovery.

This qualification will be particularly useful for

• Individuals wishing to enter the profession.
• Basic ambulance assistants.
• Ambulance emergency assistants.
• Operational emergency care orderlies.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be taken into account with learners presenting a Portfolio of Evidence of previous learning and experiences. Learners have to apply for RPL via the Department of Graduation and Assessment. The university's policies regarding RPL will be used to process applications.

The following procedure will be utilised when applications for RPL are received

• Learner completes prescribed RPL form obtained from Assessment and Graduation services (AGS) of the CUT.
• The completed form is submitted to AGS.
• The appropriate HOD with experts in the field assess the application.
• They make a recommendation regarding the application.
• The relevant HOD meets with the chairperson of the faculty RPL Committee to evaluate the document and check for completeness of the documentation. The signed document/s with recommendation is then presented to EXCO for final discussion and approval.
• EXCO's decision is then sent to AGS for implementation and to communicate the outcome to the applicant.
• A successful learner can apply for the specific qualification for which RPL was sought.

Please note that RPL will also be awarded to learners who provide sufficient evidence that the stated competencies and outcomes of the qualification have been achieved through relevant experience.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate (NSC), NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies.
• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Levels 5 and 6 totalling 372 Credits.

Compulsory Modules NQF Level 5, 192 Credits

• Basic Science, 24 Credits.
• Anatomy and Physiology, 24 Credits.
• Medical Rescue, 30 Credits.
• Emergency Medical Care I & WIL, 36 Credits.
• Emergency Service Technology I, 24 Credits.
• Psycho-Psychiatric Emergency Care I, 6 Credits.
• Pharmacology I, 24 Credits.
• General Pathology I, 24 Credits.

Compulsory Modules NQF Level 6, 180 Credits

• Physiology II, 24 Credits.
• Emergency Service Communication I, 12 Credits.
• Medical Rescue II, 30 Credits.
• Emergency Medical Care II & WIL, 24 Credits.
• Emergency Service Administration I, 12 Credits.
• Medical Rescue III, 30 Credits.
• Emergency Medical Care III & WIL, 48 Credits.

1. Provide specialised emergency medical care to all sectors of the community.
2. Provide a specialist rescue service to all sectors of the community.
3. Supervise an emergency medical and/or rescue service at an operational level.
4. Provide effective communication systems within emergency care and/or rescue services.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

- Correctly apply integrated knowledge of the different body systems to emergency medical situations in terms of

> Physiological.

> Anatomical.

> Microbiological structures.

> Functions.

> Processes.

• Explain the principles of chemistry correctly.
• Explain the principles of microbiology.
• Demonstrate integrated knowledge of the pathological and pharmacological sciences in the assessment and management of patients in an emergency context.
• Explain the psychosocial aspects of human behaviour correctly in an emergency context.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of conflict management correctly.
• Conduct incident assessments efficiently.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of incident command and control correctly.
• Identify and control hazards.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of incident and support service resource utilisation correctly.
• Use diagnostic procedures efficiently in the clinical assessment of patients.
• Undertake patient management correctly using insight and logical reason and consideration of current guidelines.
• Select and utilise appropriate equipment correctly in the assessment, management and transport of patients.
• Explain and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the function of equipment in relation to patients in the emergency context.
• Explain and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the modes of emergency transport and their relevance in a variety of contexts correctly.
• Transfer the patient to an appropriate medical facility and hand over effectively to ensure continuity of care.
• Terminate the incident according to standing operational procedures.
• Explain and demonstrate an understanding of ethical and legal responsibilities.
• Protect the patient's right to quality care in accordance with the Patient's Bill of Rights.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Use Assessment procedures in the management of rescue incidents.
• Undertake rescue activities using insight and logical reason and consideration of current guidelines.
• Select and utilise appropriate equipment in locating, accessing, and stabilising, extricating and transporting patients.
• Explain and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the function of equipment concerning patients in a rescue context.
• Appropriately apply emergency medical management in a rescue context.
• Correctly explain and or demonstrate the principles of disaster management.
• Terminate the rescue incident according to standing operational procedures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Explain the National Health Policies applicable to emergency medical services correctly.
• Complete general administration efficiently in accordance with departmental and medicolegal requirements.
• Explain and demonstrate fundamental financial principles.
• Explain and demonstrate budgetary control measures.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of maintenance of equipment and materials correctly.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of stock-control correctly.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of labour law correctly.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of Continuous Professional Development.
• Demonstrate leadership skills adequately.
• Supervise and monitor operational functions correctly and continuously.
• Solve problems effectively using appropriate problem-solving approaches and decision-making techniques.
• Explain and demonstrate the principles of quality assurance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Perform correctly control centre functions at a supervisory level.
• Collect, analyse, prioritise and dispatch in-coming information relating to an emergency to an appropriate service provider.
• Clear and appropriate written, verbal and non-verbal communication to the situation.
• Appropriate and clear communication of the situation.
• Effectively demonstrate listening skills and empathy.
• Managed conflict effectively.
• Communicate appropriately to the culture of the patient, members of the public and colleagues.
• Demonstrate teamwork.

Integrated Assessment

Formative

Tutorials; clinical practice feedback; peer group evaluations; presentations and seminars; clinical evaluations; self-assessment through portfolios and reflective journals.

Summative

Tests and examinations using multiple evaluation strategies; viva voce; projects and assignments; fieldwork reports (experiential learning); simulations; case studies; Objective skills Competency Evaluation (OSCE); clinical evaluations.