The program for training of Clinical Officers has been conducted by the Government of Kenya for many years to provide health care services in Kenya. This training started at certificate level in 1928 until 1967 when the diploma program was introduced. In the late 70‘s specialization at Higher Diploma level in Ear Nose and Throat, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology and others were started. Members of this profession are responsible for preventive, promotive, and curative health care services in Kenya. The graduates of the program will therefore play vital roles in the health care service provision as skilled personnel withindepth understanding of the basic sciences as foundation for clinical courses and adequate skills in management and leadership in community health. The Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine course of Egerton University will offer opportunities to Clinical Officers for further academic development and at the same time improve standards of health care services in the country.
Clinical Officers have continued to play vital roles as clinicians and managers not only in rural facilities but also in the running of district, provincial and national hospitals. Training Clinical Officers at a higher level is one way of raising the standards of health care delivery to Kenyans since they provide about 80% of health services especially in the rural areas. It is envisaged that the BSc graduate in Clinical Medicine will apply critical thinking and come up with practical solutions to solve the various patients or clients‘ health problems and needs. The improvement in the services will be achieved through incorporation of the knowledge, skills and attitude acquired.
The program has been designed to recognize that its graduates will have an advanced training in basic sciences, clinical and community health in order to provide health care that will integrate curative and preventive health care. This program will also give an opportunity for the practicing Clinical Officers to upgrade their education and skills while opening avenues for the graduates to advance in postgraduate and research areas. Unlike the graduates of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine will operate as clinicians capable of providing general medical and community preventive care. To become doctors, they will require more training in surgical skills. The professional practice of Clinical Officers is regulated by an Act of parliament (Cap. 260 of the Laws of Kenya) which is charged with training, registration
and licensing. This ensures that high standards are maintained during training and practice while observing professional ethics of conduct.
Programme Objectives
Aim
The aim of this program is to equip the learners with the knowledge, skills and attitude to harness and implement clinical skills, conduct research and be able to advance academically in order to provide and improve the health delivery from the rural health facilities all the way to the National and International levels.
Specific Objectives
This course is designed to:
i. Equip students with analytical critical thinking and problem solving skills in clinical practice.
ii. Equip students with both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to provide curative, preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative services to the community.
iii. Equip students with knowledge and skills to conduct community diagnosis and research.
iv. Prepare students for academic and professional progression to higher levels of studies in their fields of specialization.
v. Develop basic skills in Management, leadership and supervision of staff in health care delivery system.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the prescribed course of the study for Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine, the graduates will have acquired knowledge and skills to be able to:
i. Demonstration of professionalism in decision-making, clinical reasoning within the health care system
ii. Demonstration of clinical skills, practical procedures, patient investigations and management skills.
iii. Demonstration of research skills to promote Community Health and disease prevention
iv. Application of ethical, legal, and behavioral (attitudinal) principles in the practice of clinical medicine
v. Demonstration of leadership, managerial skills and enhancement of personal, academic and professional development.
Admission Requirements
Candidates wishing to study for the Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Medicine shall have met the minimum University entry requirements as stipulated in the Egerton University Statutes.
In addition they should meet the following Faculty requirements;
i) Applicants must have attained a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of B (Minus) or its equivalent and passed in the subject cluster as indicted here below:
a) Biology B (Minus)
b) Chemistry B (Minus)
c) Mathematics or Physics B (Minus)
d) English or Kiswahili B (Minus)
OR
ii) Advanced level or equivalent with a minimum of two principal passes in Biology and Chemistry and a subsidiary pass in Mathematics or Physics.
OR
iii) Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery candidates who have passed with at least a ―credit‖ and above plus mean grade of C (Plain) in KCSE or equivalent or relevant health related medical course from an institution recognized by Egerton University Senate. Clinical Officers with a Higher National Diploma in a related discipline who will need to enroll in this program will have an added advantage.
A maximum forty percent (40%) credit transfer of the Senate approved credit factors towards the requirements for the degree program will be given where applicable.
Course Structure and Duration
Course Duration
i. All courses in the Bachelor of Clinical Medicine program shall be compulsory unless the Faculty Board recommends exemption and the Senate approves.
ii. The Bachelor of Clinical Medicine shall extend over a period of 180 weeks divided into 4 academic years of 45 weeks each for regular students with total of 251.0 CFs.
iii. Bachelor of Clinical Medicine (In-service) shall extend over a period of 127 weeks divided into two and half academic years of 45 weeks each with total of 175 CFs.
iv. The academic session for the course of Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine shall be in trimesters. Each trimester shall comprise 15 weeks.
v. There will be compulsory community health attachment during third year of the academic study for all students which will cover 8 weeks for community diagnosis and 4 weeks of Health Service Management
Program Administration
i) The program will be offered in courses
ii) The University course system of study will apply as follow:-
a) 15 lecture hours is equivalent to 1 credit factor,
b) 30 practical/tutorial hours is equivalent to 1 credit factor
c) 45 clinical hours is equivalent to 1 credit factor
Course Coding
i. The course code for Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine will depended on area of specialty e.g. ANAT for Anatomy followed by 3 numerical numbers e.g. ANAT ii. The first numeral represents the year of study,
iii. The second numeral represents course category, i.e.
1. ANAT=Anatomy
0= general anatomy
2. HPHY=Physiology
0=General physiology
1=Pathophysiology
3. COMH=Community Health
0=Environmental health and Occupational health
1=Epidemiology
2=Management
3=Education
4. PATH= Pathology
0=Microbiology
1= Pathology
5. PHAM=Pharmacology
0= General pharmacology
1=Clinical pharmacology
6. MEDS=Internal Medicine
0=General Medicine
1=Psychiatry
2=Dermatology
7. SURG=Surgery
0=General Surgery
1=Orthopedic Surgery
2=Anesthesia
3=Ophthalmology
4=Ear, Nose and Throat
5=Dentistry
6=Radiology
8. PAED=Pediatrics and Child Health
0 = General pediatrics
9. REPH=Reproductive health
0=Obstetrics and Gynecology
iv. the third numeral represents the order of the specific courses in the particular category
Examination
Rules and Regulations
The University rules and regulations shall apply for the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine program.
Examination Modes
The examinations in this program will be conducted in a combination of any of the following modes, depending on the year of study and according to the examination schedule
i. Written examination
ii. Viva voce (oral examination)
iii. Practical examination
iv. Clinical examination
In addition, the following rules and regulations shall apply;
Continuous Assessment Tests
i. Continuous assessment tests will comprise 40% (both for pre-clinical and clinical courses) of the end of year/course examination, except for courses offered by other departments in the University where the 70% and 30% rule will apply.
ii. Continuous assessment shall comprise of assignments, group discussions or presentations, practicum, written assessments or logbook presentations.
End of Years/Course Examinations
End of Year or Course Examination will account for 60% of the total marks and;
i. Written Examination that will account for 25% (or 30% where the viva voce is not applicable) of the marks and may comprise of essay, multiple choice questions, and short answer questions.
ii. Clinical or Practical Examination that will account for 30 % of the marks.
iii. Structured oral (Viva Voce) examination (where applicable) that will account for 5% of the marks.
iv. Any candidate who fails the clinical examination will have failed to satisfy the examiners in the overall discipline examination even if the final mark is 50% or higher
v. The fourth Year Examination which is the end of course examination shall comprise all the units taught within the following disciplines.
i. Internal Medicine
ii. Reproductive Health
iii. Surgery
iv. Child Health
v. Community Health and Health Service Management.
b). The pass mark shall be 50% except for University core courses whose pass mark will depend on the department under which these courses fall.
165.6. Grading System
The total marks scored for each course shall be translated into letter grades as follows:
75% and above - A (Distinction)
65 – 74% - B (Credit)
50 – 64% - C (Pass)
Less than50% - D (Fail)
Graduation Requirements
To graduate a student shall be required to take and pass ALL scheduled courses within the stipulated period.
Degree Classification
The Bachelor‘s degree in Clinical Medicine shall not be classified.