Higher Certificate in Practice Management

Purpose

The discipline of medicine and the environment in which it is being practiced is continuously evolving. The bulk of General Practitioners in South Africa (75%) practice as self-employed practitioners in the private sector. The nature of these practices involves them or their practice managers in management at a first line managerial or middle management level. This qualification is designed to address the management needs of independent health care practitioners (doctors, pharmacists, dentists etc) currently no or very limited exposure is given to management issues in the undergraduate curriculum of health care professionals. The typical learner who will access this qualification will be a person who supervises other managers, supervisors and or team members in the health sector.

Further was the need for medical practitioners to be involved in continuous learning acknowledge by The Health Professional Council of South Africa through the introduction of an obligating system of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in 1998 and this qualification is accredited for CPD points.

The Higher Certificate in Practice Management is structured in such a way that it gives learners exposure to a broad set of Core competencies.

Rationale

This qualification is designed to address the management needs of independent health care practitioners (doctors, pharmacists, dentists etc) currently no or very limited exposure is given to management issues in the undergraduate curriculum of health care professionals.

The qualification covers the basic principles of management conceptualised for the ethical and environmental realities of health care practice. By introducing management practices for private health care provision, it supports providers in understanding national health care goals, policies and objectives.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of prior learning. Individual learners will be assessed against the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification on a case-by-case basis. Such procedures, and the assessment of individual cases, are subject to moderation by independent-assessors.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements are

• National Senior Certificate (NSC).

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational) NC(V)) at Level 4.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Modules

• Business Planning, 15 Credits.
• Human Resource Management, 15 Credits.
• Practice Finance, 15 Credits.
• The Business Environment, 15 Credits.
• Health Law and Ethics, 15 Credits.
• Managed Care, 15 Credits.
• Operations Management in Healthcare, 15 Credits.
• Marketing, 15 Credits.

1. Develop an implementable business plan for the practice.
2. Use systems effectively and appropriately in achieving the objectives of the practice.
3. Apply an effective marketing strategy within the parameters of the current legislation for health care practitioners.
4. Apply sound financial management practices and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Analyse the external business environment and the market environment to determine the key factors for organisational success.
• Analyse the internal organisational issues that are essential for the effective positioning of the organisation to address the industry and external environmental changes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply quality management principles.
• Measure the productivity of an operational unit.
• Identify where process improvements could be made.
• Understand the importance of environmental health and safety for the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Use various strategic analysis tools to understand the competitive environment in which you operate.
• Identify the factors which influence the customers to purchase products, to make judgments about the value which they receive, and to keep returning.
• Distinguish between market segmentation, marketing targeting, and market positioning and explain how we can better use the principles to make our brands even more successful.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Interpret balance sheets.
• Use income statements to measure profits.
• Manage cash flow.
• Manage a budget.
• Save money and increase income.
• Manage and improve a business profit and its cash flow situation.

Integrated Assessment

The applied competence of this qualification will be achieved if a learner is able to achieve all Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Exit Level Outcomes are measurable and verifiable through assessment criteria assessed in one application. Competence will be assessed when conducting Formative and Summative Assessment.

Formative Assessment

Formative Assessment takes place during the process of learning and assessors should use a range of assessment methods and tools that support each other to assess total competence. These tools include the following:

• Role-play simulations.
• Structured group discussion.
• Case studies.
• Presentations on group work.
• Experiential learning including work based assignments.
• Scenario sketching.

The assessment method and or tools used by the assessor must be fair so as not to hinder or advantage the learner, valid, reliable and effective.

Summative Assessment

Summative assessment is carried out at the end of the qualification to assess the achievement of the learner.