The specialist MMed.EM degree was registered in 2003 and first offered in January 2004. It is a joint programme, offered between the Health Science Faculties of the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch. It was the first MMed.EM programme in the country. The first students graduated in December 2007. Form 2009 the division has also hosted several foreign students on this course. Foreign nationals interested in this course should refer to the Emergency Medicine Foreign Information Brochure

Protected teaching time for specialist registrars is every third Wednesday, for the full day. It alternates between the Surgical Conference Room, J floor, Old Main Building, Groote Schuur Hospital, and the Audio Visual suite, Tygerberg campus of Stellenbosch University. Teaching includes lectures, demonstrations, journal club, simulations, and M&M meetings. Non-registrars are welcome to attend, with the understanding that the teaching will be focused on the educational needs of the registrars. The sessions are CPD accredited.

The teaching timetable is posted on the home page. You will also find links to study aids, lecture presentations , podcasts and past papers.

1. To equip the trainee, at the completion of four years of study, with the theoretical knowledge, practical ability and interpersonal skills for fulltime or independent specialist Emergency Medicine practice.
2. To enable the trainee to develop the attitudes and abilities necessary to become an independent learner and to accept the responsibility for lifelong continuing professional development.
3. To equip the trainee to plan, conduct, interpret and publish independent research in the field of Emergency Medicine.

1. The student should possess a broad knowledge of:
   1. Current state-of-the-art developments in medicine in general
   2. Ethical principles as applicable to Emergency Medicine and the practice of medicine in general
   3. An interdisciplinary approach to patient evaluation and care
   4. Epidemiological and statistical principles and their application in analysing scientific data
   5. Humanitarian and socio-economic issues governing the overall practice of Emergency Medicine and medicine in general
2. The student should have the ability to:
   1. Identify and solve problems in such a way that it will be clear that decisions are reached by way of critical and creative thinking
   2. To perform his/her work and interact with patients and fellow workers in a way that demonstrates the exemplary application of professional values
   3. Ability to effectively co-operate with other people as member of a health team
   4. To organise and manage himself/herself and his/her activities in a responsible and efficient manner
   5. Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information, and to extrapolate beyond given data to new, broader issues
   6. To communicate effectively, orally or in writing, using statistics, audio-visual aids and other information technology as appropriate

The selection of specialist registrars follows formal criteria laid down by the two Universities, and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape. The selection committee is chaired by the programme convenor and the members of this committee include the Heads of the Schools of Medicine of both Health Science Faculties, and members of the Provisional Government of the Western Cape.

Applicants should have two years of general experience, which should be varied and preferably include Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics. In date certification in Advanced Life Support Courses (ACLS; ATLS; APLS / PALS) is a requirement. Possession of the Primary examination of the FCEM is a distinct advantage.

Registrars who are selected onto the programme are required to complete the biannual College of Emergency Medicine primary examination within the first 18 months of their rotation. Refer to the CMSA regulations – FCEM(SA) - in regard to the Primary and Fellowship examination regulations. These regulations are available from the CMSA and include the curriculum (CMSA-Rondebosch: Mrs. Elise Engelbrecht, tel. 021-6893161 and CMSA-Parktown: Mrs. Ann Foster, tel. 011-7267037).

Applicants who have undergone training that is directly relevant to Emergency Medicine, and has been done in a training post against which there is a registered training number recognised by the HPCSA, may be credited with this time on the rotation. Individuals in this position will need to apply directly to the HPCSA for accreditation of this time.

The philosophy of the division with respect to training is both informal and enabling; there are no rigid rules for the conduct of day-to-day activities – an ethical, mature and responsible approach on the part of the trainee, as an independent medical practitioner, is assumed as a given. Furthermore, teaching staff, while always available for advice or direct assistance, expect initiative and inquiry, rather than the burden of didactic teaching.

An integral part of training is to be a trainer; teaching of interns and undergraduate students is part of the course of service delivery. Providing optimal patient care is a fundamental responsibility.

The primary recommended text is:

ROSEN, BARKIN, EMERGENCY MEDICINE – CONCEPTS AND CLINICAL PRACTICE, 6th edition, 2006

1. Part one: FCEM(SA) primary examination
   The traditional logbook is replaced by the College of Emergency Medicine’s C.R.I.T.I.C.A.L. (Certified Record of In-service Training Including Continuous Assessment and Learning) performance portfolio. This is available from the College offices in Rondebosch. Clinical evaluation is done by the clinical supervisors, who are required to complete a clinical evaluation form at the end of each 3 month rotation. The rotation is as follow although not necessarily in this particular order:
   • 3/12 Pre-hospital medicine
   • 6/12 Medical Emergencies, adult (includes acute Psychiatry)
   • 3/12 Medical emergencies, paediatric
   • 3/12 Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
   • 3/12 Anaesthetics
   • 6/12 Intensive Care (Paediatric and adult)
   • 9/12 Trauma (includes Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, ENT)
   • 15/12 Emergency Unit (includes Orthopaedics at Victoria)
     Medical emergencies and Emergency Unit time will include Cardiology and Infectious diseases
   Additional courses:
   • Aviation medicine
   • Wound Management
   • Basic Surgical Skills
   • Burns course
   • Disaster Medicine
   
   
2. Part two: The exit examination at present is either the MMed.EM or FCEM(SA) Fellowship examination. It is expected that the FCEM(SA) will act as the common exit examination for both qualifications from 2009.


3. Part three, The Dissertation:
   Students may take an additional fifth year to complete the dissertation, understanding that neither the MMed.EM nor the FCEM(SA) degrees will be awarded without successful completion of the Dissertation.

Registrars are encouraged to join EMRASA. For more information please contact the chairperson, Dr. Melanie Stander (tel. +27-84-2988857)