Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care

Purpose

This Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care is designed to produce entry-level emergency care providers who are assistants within the field of pre-hospital emergency medical care. This qualification provides an access point into the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and it recognises the key competencies required of Emergency Care Assistants who will work under the guidance of Emergency Care Technicians, Emergency Care Practitioners and Medical Officers in a variety of contexts. Qualifying learners will operate mainly in and around ambulances, within wide-ranging contexts, including rural, urban, military, coastal, corporate, mass gatherings, homes, and workplaces. The Emergency Care Assistant will provide a supportive service within the pre-hospital emergency medical care environment.

Rationale

The Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care has been developed in response to the promulgation of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) as well as in response to the requirements from the National Emergency Care Education and Training Policy.

In response to these national imperatives, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), which is the statutory body responsible for the professional registration of health care professionals as well as the Professional Board for Emergency Care (PBEC) which is the regulatory body for emergency care providers, reviewed the full range of health care qualifications with a view to ensuring their compliance with latest national requirements.

There are two streams of prospective applicants for this qualification; that is school leavers and employees from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The majority of the prospective applicants hold short course EMS qualifications that are not aligned to the NQF and are in the process of being phased out by the Minister of Health. School leavers that meet the minimum entrance requirements for the qualification will be considered in conjunction with the full-time employees from the EMS as part of the recruitment and selection process.

Upon completion of the qualification, the qualifying learner is eligible for registration with the HPCSA as an Emergency Care Assistant (ECA). Qualifying learners can practice basic and intermediate emergency medical care primarily in ambulances within South Africa (SA) in rural and urban contexts that range from sophisticated emergency medical care facilities to remote primary health care settings.

This qualification also aims to promote an understanding of the multi-disciplinary approach to effective and efficient patient care. In addition, this qualification aims to produce a professional practitioner who can take cognisance of South African history and can adapt to the unique circumstances of a changing SA with emphasis on equity in health care, social upliftment, and reduction of the burden of disease.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 without endorsement.

Or

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 132 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 132 Credits.

• Anatomy and Physiology I, Level 5, 16 Credits
• Chemistry, Level 5, 8 Credits
• Physics, Level 5, 8 Credits
• Foundations of Professional Practice, Level 5, 8 Credits
• End User Computing, Level 5, 8 Credits
• Mental Health & Wellness, Level 5, 8 Credits
• Cornerstone 101, Level 5, 12 Credits
• Emergency Medical Care I - Theory, Level 5, 16 Credits
• Emergency Medical Care I - Practical, Level 5, 16 Credits
• Clinical Practice, Level 5, 32 Credits

1. Demonstrate effective communication and apply the principles of medical ethics, professional behaviour and the legal framework to the context within which Emergency Care Assistants operate while maintaining personal health, wellness, and safety.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems in South Africa and how they relate to the broader healthcare structures within the country.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human and basic sciences underpinning emergency care.
4. Provide emergency medical care within an emergency medical service environment to all sectors of the community within the Emergency Care Assistant's scope of practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Communicate with patients, colleagues and other service providers is effective, clear, direct, and accurate, with appropriate use of modalities including electronic media.
• Promote human dignity and undertake sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious and gender diversity.
• Apply ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy and justice, truth-telling, promise-keeping, and in all contexts.
• Apply clinical interactions and related practices in line with the provisions and rules of the codes of ethics of the HPCSA and professional associations.
• Provide accurate and comprehensive explanations of the legal framework within which an emergency service provider and/or Emergency Care Assistant operates.
• Discuss the importance of mental health and wellness on the part of the emergency care provider comprehensively, highlighting their role and importance, with reference to the impact on job effectiveness.
• Identify and describe suitable methods for achieving and maintaining operational fitness in terms of lifestyle, diet, and exercise techniques, highlighting the impact on self and job effectiveness.
• Identify and apply methods for maintaining personal safety through appropriate risk assessment, scene assessment, decision making and option taking.
• Describe the safe and effective lifting, carrying and movement of patients.
• Describe the safe and effective use of emergency service vehicles and emergency response driving.
• Conduct operational routines correctly within an EMS environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Describe EMS accurately in terms of structure, role, and function, both public and private, within the South African context.
• Provide correct explanations of the interdependence and interrelationships occurring between EMS and other Allied Emergency and Health Care structures.
• Explain the role of the health care team in terms of key responsibilities of each role and the relationships between each role.
• Identify and explain national legislation as applicable to emergency care and rescue services.
• Explain multi-disciplinary approaches to emergency care and rescue scenarios.
• Explain factors influencing policy and operation of the emergency care and/or rescue services.
• Identify and address problem areas using problem-solving and decision-making techniques.
• Explain applicable labour legislation and labour practice.
• Explain principles of disaster management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Describe and integrate the composition, general form, spatial orientation, and position of structures within the regions of the human body accurately within a clinical context.
• Explain and integrate the physiological functioning of the human body correctly into patient care.
• Apply key principles of chemistry to emergency medical care.
• Explain and apply key principles of physics correctly to emergency medical care.
• Describe drugs used within the scope of practice of the Emergency Care Assistant accurately and comprehensively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify potential hazards within the emergency service environment in terms of their origins, impact and means of management or mitigation.
• Carry out scene and incident management in line with best practices and established procedures.
• Describe emergency medical care equipment accurately in terms of function, storage, maintenance, and safe use.
• Discuss and implement infection control in line with established procedures.
• Apply integrated patient care and clinical skills procedures correctly.
• Describe the principles of primary health care, disease prevention, health promotion and counselling.
• Perform clinical assessment and clinical decision-making in line with the scope of practice of an Emergency Care Assistant, and treatment for minor injuries and minor ailments in specific controlled circumstances is provided.
• Render emergency care support to the sick or injured individual, groups, and the community with due consideration.
• Construct medical records which provide sufficient accurate details of patient information and treatment.
• Ability to offer appropriate clinical advice that will enhance the prevention of further injury or ill health is demonstrated.
• Carry out operational routines and procedures within an Emergency Medical Services environment.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Integrated assessment strategies are applied and assessed in the classroom, in practical venues and in an authentic environment. Integrated assessment takes the form of an appropriate variety of assessment methods, for example: written and oral examinations, problem-solving assignments, project presentations, case studies, portfolios, logbooks, clinical reports and objectively structured clinical examinations, reflective practice journals and simulated medical and rescue scenarios. Through the institution's policies on assessment and moderation, assessment practices will be open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable to ensure that no student is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever.

Formative Assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated. The scheme of work includes tests and assignments, practical work, and competency evaluation of practical skills. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work with a limited number of outcomes.

Summative Assessment

Summative assessments evaluate the learners' abilities to manage and integrate a larger body of knowledge and to achieve the stated outcomes. The summative assessment also focuses on the student's ability to integrate knowledge and skills in emergency care. Summative assessments include theory and practical assessments.