The event saw academics from across the health spectrum converge on CPUT’s Bellville campus to unpack the issue which is becoming a growing concern for the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Attendees from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Durban University of Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Johannesburg, University of Fort Hareand the Boitekanelo College in Gaborone, Botswana gave their perspectives on how their courses are approached at their respective institutions in an attempt to problematize current A&P offered and how it aligns with their primary subject, emergency medical care (EMC). This all in an effort to nationally standardise A&P in EC programmes.
Anatomy and Physiology are pivotal foundation subjects that provide the EC graduate with knowledge about the structure and function of the human bod. In addition it helps the student understand the course of treatment they need to employ when responding to emergency scenes.
Guests found themselves debating a number of critical issues like how in-depth the subject matter should be, whether the course should articulate into credits for future admission into other health science subjects and challenges facing the overhaul of the course with the primary goal of proposing the minimum standard of A&P required for EC graduates
HAPEC Chairperson,CPUT’s Dr Kareemah Gamieldien says the conference was necessary because there were indications of mal-alignment between A&P and EMC. HAPEC therefore provided the ideal platform for both the A&P and EMC academics to identify the challenges faced when trying to integrate A&P theory with EMC practice.
