Master of Medicine in Neurosurgery

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to produce qualified appropriately trained professionals in Diagnostic Radiology for South Africa with the specific knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to register as specialists with the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

The will also to produce learners with expertise in research, which includes the ability to evaluate and implement research findings in the practice of Neurosurgery specialisation and the ability to guide junior learner is in an educational setting usually as a component of work-integrated learning. Hence, the learners have competence in the practice of Neurosurgery and can contribute to specialist practice in the health sciences in South Africa.

Rationale

The clinical research and training force is ageing and has been steadily declining in numbers since the early 1990s. The combined burden of clinical teaching and training, health service and research thus falls on a shrinking and ageing pool of academics in health science faculties. This qualification improves the capacity to increase the production of properly trained health care workers and to train and inspire a new generation of clinical researchers and institution's lecturer.

This qualification contributes to the drive to revitalise clinical research in a developing country like South Africa to enhance health care at all levels by identifying the causes of problems, facilitating diagnosis, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of care, and promoting good policy-making.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is implemented through the institution's policy. For this qualification, RPL will be predominantly used for returning learners with an incomplete master's qualification and for learners who have an incomplete Master's qualification obtained at another institution. The RPL process involves matching the learner's current knowledge and skills to the learning outcomes of the qualification - which are nationally recognised qualifications registered on the NQF- to determine whether a returning learner should be given credit for specific units of competency.

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB).

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 9 totalling 900 Credits.

• Applied Neuroanatomy, 20 Credits.
• Applied Physiology, 20 Credits.
• General Principles of Surgery, 160 Credits.
• Mini dissertation (Neurosurgery), 228 Credits.
• Neurological Surgery/Neurosurgery 472 Credits.

1. Diagnose and investigate problems/diseases requiring Neurosurgery.
2. Perform operations using a variety of procedures.
3. Rehabilitate patients.
4. Demonstrate expert knowledge and skills and convey these to novices and peers
5. Analyse, interpret and evaluate research data.

• Diagnose, evaluate and treat disorders of the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems, including their supporting systems and vascular supply.
• Evaluate and treat pathological processes which modify function or activity of the nervous system, including the hypophysis and spine.
• Supervise which includes instruction in critical care management and rehabilitation. Have a holistic approach to disease processes related to general physiology and pathology as applied to Neurosurgery.
• Examine the patient and make an informed decision regarding the operability or not of such a patient in neurosurgery related cases.
• Use a wide range of specialised skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing and implementing methods of enquiry to address complex and challenging problems within the neurosurgery discipline and practical.
• Design and critically appraise research, make sound judgements using data and information at own disposal and communicate conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Integrated Assessment

Assessments are to include confirmation of the embedded knowledge component to ensure that the Foundational Competency is achieved. Verification of assessments must done by internal verifiers to ensure valid, credible, true and fair results. Competence may be achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the qualification.