A framework for articulation between the emergency care technician certificate and the emergency medical care professional degree

Abstract

English: The need to comply with the requirements of the SAQA Act necessitated a review of emergency care education and training in South Africa. The review and restructuring led to the creation of a formal two-year, 240-credit NQF level 5 Emergency Medical Care Technician (ECT) Qualification. The NDoH views the ECT programme as the "Mid-Level Worker" equivalent for the Emergency Care Profession. At the Higher Education level, the existing three-year National Diploma and one-year B Tech Programmes were collapsed to form a single four-year, 480-credit, NQF level 8 Professional Bachelor of Health Sciences Degree in Emergency Medical Care (B EMC). After the establishment of the two-year ECTand four-year B EMCprogrammes, the next challenge faced by the HPCSA,educators and educational providers within the emergency care field became that of facilitating articulation between the two qualifications. This study aimed to critically analyse and compare the two-year ECT qualification with the four-year professional B EMC degree in order to design a framework and bridging programme that may support and guide articulation between the two qualifications. An expository, retrospective analysis of existing documentation was followed by a focus group discussion with educators in the field in order to identify and explore potential obstacles and challenges with regard to articulation between the ECTand the B EMCqualifications. Finally, a detailed Delphi Questionnaire was sent to selected expert panel members. The study highlights a strong desire for articulation and academic progression within the emergency care profession. Similarities and substantial differences were identified in the scope, level and depth of knowledge of the ECT and B EMC qualifications. A framework was designed that includes a bridging programme to provide ECTgraduates with the necessary knowledge, skills and insights required to enter directly into the third year of the Emergency Medical Care Degree.

Afrikaans: Die noodsaak om aan die vereistes van SAKO-wetgewing te voldoen, het fn hersiening van nooddiensonderrig en -opleiding in Suid-Afrika teweeggebring. Die hersiening en herstrukturering het tot die daarstelling van fn formele twee jaar, 240-krediet, NKR vlak 5 Noodgeneeskunde Tegnikus (Emergency Medical Care Technician (ECT)) kwalifikasie gelei. Die NDvG beskou die ECT-program as die "Middelvlakwerker" ekwivalent vir die Noodgeneeskundeprofessie. Op Hoër Onderwysvlak is die bestaande drie jaar Nasionale Diploma en die een jaar B Tech-programme saamgevoeg om die enkele vier jaar 480-krediet, NKR vlak 8, Professionele Baccalaureus in Gesondheidswetenskappe Graad in Noodgeneeskunde (Professional Bachelor of Health Sciences Degree in Emergency Medical Care) (B EMC)) te skep. Nadat die twee jaar ECT- en die vier jaar B EMC-programme tot stand gebring is, was die volgende uitdaging vir die GBRSA, onderwyskundiges en onderwysverskaffers op die noodgeneeskundeterrein om artikulasie tussen die twee kwalifikasies te fasiliteer. Hierdie studie stel dit ten doelom die twee jaar ECT-kwalifikasie en die vier jaar professionele B EMC-graad krities te analiseer en te vergelyk om sodoende fn raamwerk en oorbruggingsprogram te ontwerp wat artikulasie tussen die twee kwalifikasies kan rig en steun. fn Verklarende, retrospektiewe analise van bestaande dokumentasie is opgevolg met fn fokusgroepbespreking wat onderwyskundiges in die veld betrek het om potensiële struikelblokke en uitdagings ten opsigte van artikulasie tussen die ECT- en B EMC-kwalifikasies te identifiseer en te ondersoek. Laastens is 'n uitvoerige Delphi-vraelys aan gekose deskundige paneellede gestuur. Die studie beklemtoon fn sterk begeerte na artikulasie en akademiese vooruitgang in die nooddiensprofessie. Ooreenkomste en wesenlike verskille is identifiseer ten opsigte van die omvang, vlak en kennis van die ECT- en B EMCkwalifikasies. fn Raamwerk is ontwerp wat fn oorbruggingsprogram insluit om ECT-gegradueerdes van die nodige kennis, vaardighede en insigte te voorsien om hulle in staat te stelom onmiddellik die derde jaar van die Gesondheidswetenskappe Graad in Noodgeneeskunde (Emergency Medical Care Degree) te betree.