Proficiency in Medical Care

The Proficiency In Medical Care on Board course is for seafarers designated to take charge of medical care on board ship or who have responsibility for checking medical equipment.

Medical Care training is a requirement for MCA Master 500 and is a natural progression from the STCW Proficiency in Medical First Aid course.

The course aims to develop the competence required to be able to diagnose medical problems aboard ship, provide medical care to the sick and injured while they remain on board and participate in co-ordinated schemes for medical assistance to ships.

This course may also be undertaken to update an existing Proficiency in Medical Care certificate.

This is a highly specialised course involving multiple instructors and specialist equipment and we therefore require a minimum of 3 candidates to run the course.  Consequently this course only runs on request for a group booking of 3 or more candidates.

Course Structure

Subjects on the course will include

Identification of symptoms based on the concepts of clinical examination and medical history

Protection against infection and spread of diseases

Appropriate treatment of an injury or condition

The dosage and application of drugs and medication

Prompt recognition of changes in a patient’s condition

Clinical examination procedures

The method and preparation for a medical evacuation

Procedures for seeking radio medical advice

Useful Information

Candidates attending this course are required to be at least 16 years old and to hold one of the following certificates as proof of prerequisite training.

Proficiency in Medical First Aid on Board Ship reference STCW Code Section A-VI/4 -1

Proficiency in Medical Care on Board reference STCW Code Section A-VI/4 –2

Updated Proficiency Medical Care on Board reference STCW Code Section A-VI/4 –2

All candidates must be conversant with current first aid practices. It is recommended that delegates who have not had recent first aid training undertake additional personal study to obtain a satisfactory level of understanding. To assist with this, brief first aid revision notes are sent with the course booking confirmation.

Please note that the First Aid at Sea and the Ship Captain’s Medical certificates that predate STCW95 training are NOT accepted as prerequisites. If you are unsure that the certificate you hold is acceptable, please contact your local MCA office to check before attending the course.

Classroom teaching is backed by practical sessions to consolidate the information delivered in the course.