Doctor of Emergency Medical Care

Purpose

The purpose of the Doctor of Emergency Medical Care is to provide learners with an opportunity to conduct independent original research through scientific discourse and independent investigation, thereby contributing to the development of the emergency medical care and rescue field.

The qualification thus provides a vertical articulation pathway for emergency care providers and provides for advanced, scientific inquiry in the prehospital emergency care field. The qualification is designed for high-level scientific research in the emergency care context to promote the scientific experience and critical reasoning in the field of emergency medical science. Candidates are expected to complete a rigorous advanced research project focusing on clearly defined emergency care and rescue problems.

On completion, the qualifying learners will be able to

• Demonstrate expertise and critical knowledge in an area at the forefront of emergency medical care and rescue discipline.
• Contribute to scholarly debates around emergency medical care and rescue.
• Develop new research methods, techniques, processes, or systems in original and creative ways in pursuit of the doctoral project.
• Complete the research project, having considered all ethical implications related to the project.

Rationale

Prehospital advanced life support practitioners are the primary responders in prehospital emergencies. They play a critical role during disasters as front-line teams providing primary care and extrication of patients. They are also responsible for interfacility transfers of intensive and coronary care units in South Africa. Given the high burden of trauma in South Africa, prehospital emergency care providers play an integral role in the care of critically ill or injured patients. However, more research is needed in the South African prehospital milieu.

Unfortunately, African emergency care relies on research from the global north for evidence-based practice. This reliance on research that may not be relevant for our local context is not ideal. This qualification will promote locally and contextually relevant research output that contributes to the body of knowledge. The qualification will address the needs of the prehospital emergency care within the South African emergency care system.

Accordingly, the focus of this doctoral qualification is to provide learners with the opportunity to conduct independent original research through scientific discourse and independent investigation, thereby contributing to the development of the field of emergency medical care and rescue. The outcome of this doctoral qualification is a comprehensive and systematic grasp of an in-depth body of knowledge in the field of emergency medical care and rescue, with the focus on the development of specialist, expert knowledge, thereby promoting professional practice.

With a growing number of Emergency Medical Care professionals at undergraduate and master's levels, it is expected that there will be a demand for continuity of study at the doctoral level. A doctoral qualification is a requirement at universities for promotion to Senior Lecturer and above. Existing lecturers with a master's qualification in Emergency Medical Care or related fields are also potential candidates for this qualification.

Postgraduate education in prehospital emergency care is still in its infancy in South Africa. The qualification will provide learners with an opportunity to conduct independent, original research, thereby contributing to the development of emergency care and rescue, both locally and internationally.

This qualification is aligned with one of the National Department of Health priorities. Promoting health research is part of the Minister of Health's 10-point plan. This qualification is responsive to the professional and community-based needs. This qualification will address the emergency medical services industry by promoting local research output in emergency care. The emergency care profession will benefit from increased research output that will contribute to the scientific body of knowledge within the South African Emergency Care system.

The institution consulted several sources, including the National Skills Development Strategy III, the Human Capital Development Strategy for the Biodiversity Sector, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) Report on Green Jobs, and the Guidelines for a Human Capital Development Strategy for the Biodiversity Conservation Sector. These consultations enabled the institution to consider both the scarcity and the trends in the demand for various skills in the sector, including the need for a Doctorate in the field.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution's RPL policy guidelines will be followed as required.

RPL for access

• Advanced standing will only be for access to the qualification.
• Candidates will be requested to provide a portfolio of evidence detailing their qualification/s and career, which accordingly reflects their knowledge.
• Candidates will also indicate a topic for their thesis.
• The department will assess the portfolio to determine eligibility for the qualification.
• A recommendation will then be made for admission or further assessments to demonstrate competence in research skills and proficiency for the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Master of Emergency Medical Care, NQF Level 9

Or

• Master of Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Care, NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Health Sciences, NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Medicine in Emergency Medicine, NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine, NQF Level 9.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory module at National Qualifications Framework Level 10, totalling 360 credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 10, 360 Credits

• Research Dissertation, 360 Credits.

1. Demonstrate expertise and critical knowledge in an area at the forefront of emergency medical care and rescue discipline.
2. Demonstrate the ability to contribute to scholarly debates around emergency medical care and rescue.
3. Demonstrate ability to develop new research methods, techniques, processes, or systems in original and creative ways in pursuit of the doctoral project.
4. Demonstrate the ability to complete the research project, having considered all ethical implications related to the project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Acquire well-informed relevant knowledge within the emergency care and rescue environment. Advances the frontiers of knowledge through an original contribution achieved through an independent study.
• Apply expert, specialised, and in-depth current knowledge of a specific area in emergency care and rescue, which will be evident in the thesis
• Conduct a critical evaluation of appropriate literature to support the research
• Demonstrate evidence of original and innovative thinking in research that makes a special and novel contribution to the field of study.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Create and introduce appropriate relevant research designs, approaches, methodologies, instruments, and procedures, appropriate for the doctoral work undertaken.
• Conceptualise and reflect critically, work independently and arrive at defensible conclusions and solutions, based on appropriately substantiated and defensible premises and analysis.
• Demonstrate advanced scholarly writing, including relevant digital literacy skills appropriate for doctoral research.
• Communicate research findings effectively to expert and non-expert audiences alike, to defend them in the context of intellectual and knowledge domain(s).

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Compile and develop a logically organised thesis or another suitable report, e.g., Thesis by publication, which addresses the research questions.
• Successfully produce a thesis or thesis by publication report which meets national and international standards
• Disseminate findings in DHET-accredited peer-reviewed journals

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Conduct the research project and disseminate the findings in an ethical manner
• Comply with the legal prescripts, such as those outlined in the National Health Act No. 61 of 2003.