BCMP Clinical Medical Practice UP
To register as a Clinical Associate with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) a student has to obtain the Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice (BCMP) degree. A Clinical Associate is a professional member of the health care team with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to function effectively in the district health system in South Africa. Clinical Associates work under supervision of a qualified medical practitioner (doctor).
Teamwork and communication skills are critical and the Clinical Associate also need good clinical skills to manage common ailments and diseases. Clinical Associates is able to provide any medical service delegated to them by the supervising registered medical practitioner if such service forms a component of the doctors scope of practice and is provided with supervision.
Clinical Associates will thus be considered the agents of their supervising doctors in the performance of all practicerelated activities including the requisition of diagnostic, therapeutic and other medical services. Clinical Associates can work as a member of the healthcare team in district health care services. Employment opportunities include Public Health Care institutions and the South African Military Health Service (SAMS). Further studies and research can also be pursued and will open up many employment opportunities in health services and Institutions of Higher Learning
BCMP Clinical Medical Practice UP
Duration of the study programme
The BCMP degree is a three (3) year full time degree course. The programme has been compiled on the basis that training should take place through service delivery. The training is practical, problem-orientated and can be summarized as follow: • Year 1 Theoretical, practical and clinical training takes place mostly at the Prinshof (medical) Campus. Focus is on taking down patients’ medical history and clinical skills of students. Students are placed in various hospitals in and around the Gauteng region.
Contact Us
Physical address:
Oral and Dental Hospital
C/o Voortrekker and Dr Savage Roads
GEZINA
0002
Postal address:
Oral and Dental Hospital
School of Dentistry
Private bag X20
Hatfield
Pretoria
0028
Contact:
Prof A J Ligthelm
Tel: +27 12 319 2225
Fax: +27 12 326 2508
Email: at.ligthelm@up.ac.za
BCMP Clinical Medical Practice UP
- Obtaining patient history
- Physical examinations
- Ordering and performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
- Interpreting findings and diagnosing common and emergency conditions
- Developing and implementing a treatment plan
- Monitoring efficacy of therapeutic interventions
- Assisting with surgeries
- Providing patient education and counselling
- Making appropriate referrals for specialised care