Master of Medicine in Orthopaedics

This qualification provides opportunities for future training, research and development of registrars in Orthopaedics in the medical schools in South Africa. The qualification aims to provide learners with the foundation for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and for contributing through service and research to society at large through advanced patient care, innovation, scholarship and leadership in the field of Orthopaedics.

Rationale

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. The clinical research and training force is ageing and has also been steadily declining in numbers since the early 1990s. The combined burden of clinical teaching and training, health service and research thus fall 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 the institution's teachers.

A higher level of responsiveness to diverse regional and national human resources, skills and knowledge needs in healthcare provision, in particular for rural areas and the public sector which is in line with the social accountability focus of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Holders of this qualification are needed for the implementation of the NHI to ensure equitable health care for all. Presented by experts in the field and based on the syllabus of the Colleges of Medicine in South Africa (CMSA), it contributes towards the special medical qualification and to the scientific and intellectual capacity of our country and beyond. The successful learners meet the specific needs of the medical profession, academia, the public sector, as well as the private sector.

This qualification focuses specifically in Orthopaedics and provides learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to register as specialists in Orthopaedics with the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the HPCSA. The qualification structure accords to the guidelines of the HPCSA and the College of Medicine of South Africa. This qualification provides opportunities for future training and development of registrars in Orthopaedics in the medical schools in South Africa. The applied competence and skills derived from their training in Orthopaedics is sufficient to allow them to be accredited specialists with registration recognition with the HPCSA. The qualification aims to provide learners with the foundation for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and for contributing to society at large through advanced patient care, innovation, scholarship and leadership in the field of Orthopaedics.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8.

And

• Registration with HPCSA as a medical practitioner Independent Practice.

And

• Appointment to a Registrar's post recognised by the HPCSA.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 1040 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 1040 Credits

• Applied Anatomy for Surgical Disciplines, 160 Credits.
• Orthopaedic Pathology, 160 Credits.
• General Physiology, 20 Credits.
• General Principles of Surgery, 160 Credits.
• Orthopaedics Major, 360 Credits.
• Mini-Dissertation (Orthopaedics), 180 Credits.

• Demonstrate specialist knowledge of disease processes related to Orthopaedics.
• Perform and interpret Imaging in all modalities related to the practice of Orthopaedics and to offer a specialised clinical opinion.
• Demonstrate the necessary skills required to initiate and manage an Orthopaedics service.
• Use a wide range of specialised skills in Orthopaedics to identify, conceptualise, design and implement methods of enquiry to address complex and challenging problems; and have an understanding of the consequences of any solutions or insights generated within the field of Orthopaedics.
• Evaluate current processes of knowledge production and to choose an appropriate process of enquiry for Orthopaedics.
• Develop his/her learning strategies which sustain independent learning and academic and professional development.

The Associated Assessment Criteria will assess the Exit level Outcomes in an integrated manner

• Use problem-solving techniques, which draw on multi-faceted knowledge, to arrive at a diagnosis for a patient.
• Communicate efficiently and effectively with the patient and other health care workers as a team.
• Competently and responsibly use instruments and equipment necessary for this practice.
• Show sustained competence in skills necessary for the interpretation of medical investigations.
• Practice Evidence-Based Medicine by critically evaluating published literature in the field and applies it in practice relevant to Orthopaedics.
• Guide junior candidates who are studying or working in the same branch of specialisation: Orthopaedics.
• Show respect for patients and colleagues that encompasses, without prejudice, diversity of background and opportunity, language, culture and way of life.
• Refer patients to practitioners who are more appropriately qualified than he or she is to treat a certain condition, where applicable.
• Demonstrate an awareness, through actions or in writing, of the moral, legal and ethical responsibilities involved in individual patient care and the provision of care to populations.
• Consider the impact of health care on the environment and the impact of the environment on health.
• Strive 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 the community as well as to individual patient welfare by the practice of Orthopaedics.
• Teach through clinical practice at the specialist level relevant to Orthopaedics, the application of knowledge from the basic to the advanced level to other professionals.
• Communicate this knowledge by teaching undergraduates and supervising interns and more junior colleagues in the speciality: Orthopaedics.
• Use appropriate strategies for learning that prepare him or her for continued professional development throughout life, both as a specialist doctor and as a responsible social accountable citizen.
• Acknowledge responsibility for continuing professional development (CPD) to keep up to date with new developments and to maintain accreditation and meet statutory CPD requirements.
• Identify personal limitations and develops the capacity of self-audit and participates in the peer review process, showing a willingness to seek help when necessary.

Integrated Assessment

The integrated Assessment is through continuous assessment where the learners' ability to achieve the outcomes of the qualification.

Continuous, formative assessments

• The formal end of block evaluations.