Master of Medicine in Family Medicine

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to produce graduates

• With special training in Family Medicine at a level that will allow them to register as a specialist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
• Who can provide comprehensive and continuous patient-centred medical care to individuals, their families and the community, using a bio-psychosocial approach, and the ability to guide junior candidates if the graduate is in an educational setting.
• With expertise in research, which includes the ability to evaluate and implement research findings in the practice of the branch of Family Medicine.

Hence, graduates have competency in the practice of Family Medicine and can contribute to the need for the highest standard of clinical practice and optimal research skills in the health sciences in South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applicants who fall outside of the regular admissions process who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have a qualification or experiential- or work-based learning which has taken the learner to an equivalent level of a qualification specified above (under Formally Accredited Learning), may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning. Applicants who, after such assessment, are deemed to have sufficient potential but need further academic development, may be required to broaden their curriculum to include preliminary programmes before admission or parallel programmes after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8.
• Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Practitioner.

1. Registrability.

The qualifying learner shows competence in clinical and academic skills, of a sufficient standard, which allows the learner to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Family Physician.

1. Attitudes and Values.

The qualifying learner shows ethical, compassionate and skilled ability to conduct all aspects of health care and demonstrates the attitudes necessary for the achievement of generalist standards of medical practice, both in relation to the care of individuals and populations and to his or her own personal continuing professional development.

1. Research Ability.

The qualifying learner shows expertise in research and the ability to evaluate and implement research findings in the practice of the branch of Family Medicine.

1. Application of Knowledge.

The qualifying learner has knowledge of the principles and practice of medicine, from the basic to the advanced level.

1. Communication and Psychomotor Skills.

The qualifying learner is competent in clinical skills at the family physician level.

1. Self Development.

The qualifying learner will have acquired and will demonstrate self direction and independence in his or her learning in order to become a lifelong learner, and will recognise personal education needs, utilise appropriate learning situations and evaluate her or his own progress.

1. The qualifying learner demonstrates special skills of a standard which enables the leaner to sit the written and clinical MFamMed examinations of the University; passing the examination with three years of MFamMed study and completing a research project and report in the field allows the learner to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Family Physician.
2. The qualifying learner:

• Shows respect for patients and colleagues without prejudice, with an understanding and appreciation of their diversities of background and opportunity, language and culture.
• Where applicable, refers patients to practitioners who are more appropriately qualified than he or she is to manage certain conditions.
• Demonstrates an awareness, through actions or in writing, of the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in individual patient care, in the provision of care to populations and of both the impact of health care on the environment as well as the impact of the environment on health.
• Strives to improve patient care, to reduce inequalities in health care delivery, to optimise the use of health care resources in our society and uses his or her professional capabilities to contribute to community as well as to individual patient welfare by the practice of this branch of medicine.

3. The qualifying learner

• Shows research mastery through the production of a research report which demonstrates skills including the ability to evaluate research, review literature, design and perform a study, collect data, perform and interpret statistical analyses on data, interpret results and draw conclusions.
• Practices Evidence-Based Medicine by critically evaluating published literature in the field (e.g. on the topics of new therapies and drugs).
• Is able to guide junior candidates who are studying or working in the same branch of specialisation.

1. The qualifying learner demonstrates, through clinical practice at the family physician level, the application of knowledge from the basic to the advanced level.
2. The qualifying learner:

• Is able to communicate efficiently and effectively with the patient, other health care workers and the community, e.g. in order to obtain a history, to communicate a treatment regime and explain the medical condition.
• Uses problem-solving techniques, which draw on her or his multi-faceted knowledge, in order to arrive at a diagnosis for a patient.
• Shows sustained competence in psychomotor skills necessary for the practice of specialist skills in the branch studied.
• Is competent and responsible in the use of tools and equipment necessary for the practice of specialist skills in the branch studied.

6. The qualifying learner is able to

• Use appropriate strategies for learning that will prepare him/her for continued professional development throughout life, both as doctors and as responsible citizens.
• Acknowledge responsibility for vocational training in Family Medicine and for continuing professional education in order to keep up-to-date with new developments.
• Identify personal limitations and develop the capacity of self-audit and participate in the peer review process, showing a willingness to seek help when necessary.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment is performed on a continuous basis through evaluation of performance in clinical practice. Further, the research report that the learner submits is used for the integrated assessment of research mastery.