The fundamental goal of this study was to measure the levels and causes of stress of employees in an organisation undergoing immense change, including a transaction whereby the full administrative and managed healthcare operations are sold to a prominent insurance company (acquisition). This change represents an acquisition of the intellectual capital and systems of a mutual open medical scheme by a major insurance company with a well established brand equity and profile in the South African insurance market. The importance of the study is imperative as it forms an integral part of the management of change programmes. The goal is to execute a paradigm shift in leaving behind old comfort zones and moving towards a competitive workforce in a highly competitive environment with an outcomes based approach to business. The identification of the most important levels and causes of work stress will enable the organization to address factual situations and to build these strategies into its change programmes, whilst not relying on generic, non-focused initiatives with marginal success outcomes. Some organisations are more stressful than others and in order to manage stress and embark on effective strategies to cope with stress, the unique disposition of the organisation and its employees needed to be identified. The data was collected electronically via the organisation’s Intranet by means of the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire (WLQ), compiled by Van Zyl and Van der Walt of the Human Sciences Research Council in 1991. The questionnaire was developed to determine the levels and causes of stress of employees. The WLQ endeavours to establish whether employees experience normal, high or very high levels of stress and also identify those factors which cause these levels of stress. The questionnaire consists of three different parts namely, a demographic questionnaire, experience of work which determine the levels of stress and finally, circumstances and expectations which analyses the causes of stress. It was clear from the study that organisational change, such as is experienced by the employees of this organisation, does lead to increased and higher stress levels. It was further demonstrated from the results that uncertainty and lack of control over their own destiny and immediate circumstances, contributed to an increase in the levels of stress. Copyright 2009, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: V an Zyl, P 2009, The measurements of levels and causes of work stress of employees in a competitive open medical scheme in the privater sector, MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03152012-170001 / > C12/4/69/gm / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

The ability to learn from catastrophe and the science of managing such events has plagued man for centuries. From its insurance origins, corporate risk management has developed into a fully fledged management function and is progressing into business areas that were originally considered unrelated. The evolution of risk management towards such a corporate approach recognises that risks are interrelated and that significant benefits may be achieved from evaluating and monitoring them on a company-wide basis. This study aims at providing the reader with information on the major risks facing the private healthcare administration organisation in South Africa as well as the suitable corporate risk management methodology that may be applied in effectively managing these threats and opportunities from an internal audit perspective. Pressing issues facing the private healthcare environment today include: • Dramatic increase in regulatory oversight within the private healthcare industry; • the need for more innovative actuarial and financial models to address countrywide epidemics such as HIV and AIDS; • increased prevalence of capitation contracts to ensure the financial stability of healthcare service providers; • increases in expected fraudulent activity; • increasing the scope of private healthcare to incorporate a larger share of the South African population; and • providing effective healthcare cover to members whilst facing significant medical inflation increases. The development and implementation of a consistent risk management methodology provides stakeholders with greater confidence that pressing issues, such as those listed above, are being optimally managed. This type of improved risk management consists of distinct phases. Key phases of the suggested methodology presented in this work are supported by results from an empirical study representing 27% of the registered medical schemes in South Africa. Based upon assessments of literature, current definitions for risk and corporate risk management are also presented. Also, the study will be approached from the perspective of the internal auditor, with suitable insights and suggestions made from this standpoint. The study concludes with the author’s evaluation of the current state of risk management for private healthcare administration organisations in South Africa and future predictions regarding this management field. / Thesis (DCom(Internal Auditing))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Auditing / unrestricted

Includes bibliographical references / This dissertation intends to shed light on open-membership medical scheme benefit design in South Africa. This will be done by analysing the benefit design of 118 benefit options, so as to provide an overview of the structure and nature of the benefit offerings available in the market in 2014. In addition, affordability of these benefit options was analysed in order to identify whether or not there exist connections between the benefits on offer and the price of cover. This paper will argue that at present, the large number of benefit options available in the market, the lack of standardisation between benefit options, together with the mosaic of confusing terminology employed in scheme brochures, creates a highly complex environment that hampers consumer decision making. However, this implicit complexity was found to be necessary owing to the incomplete regulatory environment surrounding medical schemes. The findings of this investigation show that benefit design requires significant attention in order to facilitate equitable access to cover in South Africa.

The purpose of this study was to determine case managers’ understanding of their role in a managed care organisation and to develop recommendations for the improvement of case management practice. Quantitative descriptive research was conducted to explore perceptions of case managers regarding their role. A self-administered questionnaire was used as a formal data collection instrument and 25 respondents participated in the study. The findings revealed that the majority of case managers know what is expected of them in their job but that they do experience some barriers. There appears to be uncertainty with quite a number of respondents regarding certain aspects of their role. Recommendations were made for improved case management practice.

The purpose of this study was to determine case managers’ understanding of their role in a managed care organisation and to develop recommendations for the improvement of case management practice. Quantitative descriptive research was conducted to explore perceptions of case managers regarding their role. A self-administered questionnaire was used as a formal data collection instrument and 25 respondents participated in the study. The findings revealed that the majority of case managers know what is expected of them in their job but that they do experience some barriers. There appears to be uncertainty with quite a number of respondents regarding certain aspects of their role. Recommendations were made for improved case management practice.

Magister Educationis - MEd / Teachers and teachers' organisations have always been an intergral part of any community. More so in the Indian Community. The Indian teacher has always commanded great respect from his community and thus he has wielded considerable influence over it. Since the early days of Indian immigration to this country, the Indian teacher has played a vital role in all but political activities. In very recent times, however, he has taken a lively interest in the political aspirations of his people within the framework permitted by his conditions of service. The Indian Teacher is a member of the largest group of highly educated men and women in his community. No wonder, then, that the community has always looked to teachers and their organisations for leadership. The establishment of the Natal Indian Teachers' Society in the 1920s arose out of a community need in that a reception committee was required for holding celebrations on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales to South Africa. From then on the Natal Indian Teachers' Society continued to make representations on behalf of its members and the community for a a better deal in education. This was not always forthcoming from the authorities. Hence, the teachers and the community banded together to provide and build schools for themselves out of the monetary contributions of teachers and parents. The Natal Education Department in its biased treatment of teachers in aided schools, who it claimed were the responsibility of the grantees and managers, led teachers to form the Natal Teachers' Union which was run on trade union lines. A vigorous fight was waged by this Union for service conditions equal to those of teachers in government schools. The Education Department relented when it recognised the rights of the members of the Union. Thus the Union disbanded and its members rejoined the Natal Indian Teachers' Society. Thereafter the Natal Indian Teachers' Society grew from strength to strength. The inauguration of the branch system gave rise to broader representation and rapid growth. The formation of the Natal Indian Schools' Building Trust saw tangible evidence of of the commitment of the Society towards solving the accommodation crisis in Indian Schools. Upon the transfer of control of education to the Department of Indian Affairs in 1966, The Natal Indian Teachers' Society changed its name to the South African Indian Teachers' Association in order to enable Indian teachers throughout the Republic to become members. In 1979 the Association changed its name to the Teachers Association of South Africa, thus dropping the racial tag attached to its previous name. This meant that membership was open to all teachers. Over the twenty years of its existence as a national body the Association has developed into a vigorous institution. Its growth in stature must be measured by its multifarious activities which have benefitted Indian education. As a result of its representation in various departmental committees the Association is able to make valuable contributions where its opinions are valued. The Association's own Subject Societies make a valuable contribution towards education by means of their various publications. The Association's concern for the welfare of its members is illustrated by the representations it has made to the authorities on their behalf. In some instances legal recourse was necessary. That a great deal of success has been achieved by the Association there is no doubt. That education for Indians has made vast strides in the last 60 years there is no about. This is due in great measure to the untiring efforts of the Teachers Association of South Africa. The Association will still continue its fight for a better deal, not only for Indian teachers and Indian education, but for all South Africans.

The study was aimed at furthering the health objectives of the government's Reconstruction and Development Programme (ANC 1994b) in the area of primary health care. . The purpose of the study was to examine the possible reduction of medical scheme claims for cardiovascular disease by means of primary health care, so that medical scheme benefits do not become exhausted so rapidly. The overall outcome of the study showed that if cardiovascular disease could be diagnosed and treated early, the financial benefits could be substantial. This was illustrated by the comparison of primary, secondary and tertiary treatment of cardiovascular disease using case studies over a period of one year. Recommendations centered around nurse-based primary health care for cardiovascular disease and the cost-effective management of the medical scheme. It was concluded that as a result of nurse-based primary health care, costs could be contained so that medical scheme benefits would not become exhausted so rapidly. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

This study presents an overview of the medical expenditure allowed to taxpayers in the South African Income Tax Act, 58 of 1962 (hereafter the “Income Tax Act”). The study traces the changes made to the allowed expenditure over time. Changes made to the Income Tax Act, illustrating the effect of qualifying medical expenses on the income of persons with disabilities in terms of the Income Tax Act, are described. Certain provisions of the Income Tax Act, as well as other legislation dealing with persons with disabilities, were analysed. Furthermore, the research shows the effect of moderate to severe limitations on a person’s ability to claim qualifying medical expenses. In particular, the change over from the medical tax deduction system (section 18 of the Income Tax Act) to the medical tax rebate system (sections 6A and 6B of the Income Tax Act) to redress the inequality between high income and low income earners, was analysed. Case studies were used to illustrate that the medical tax deduction system (section 18 of the Income Tax Act) favoured high income earners over low income earners. Finally, the change over from the medical tax deductions (section 18 of the Income Tax Act) system to the current system of medical tax rebates (sections 6A and 6B of the Income Tax Act) was analysed. Except for a very small group of taxpayers, the medical tax rebate system (sections 6A and 6B of the Income Tax Act) was found to be financially more favourable to all taxpayers. / Taxation / M. Compt. (Taxation)

The study was aimed at furthering the health objectives of the government's Reconstruction and Development Programme (ANC 1994b) in the area of primary health care. . The purpose of the study was to examine the possible reduction of medical scheme claims for cardiovascular disease by means of primary health care, so that medical scheme benefits do not become exhausted so rapidly. The overall outcome of the study showed that if cardiovascular disease could be diagnosed and treated early, the financial benefits could be substantial. This was illustrated by the comparison of primary, secondary and tertiary treatment of cardiovascular disease using case studies over a period of one year. Recommendations centered around nurse-based primary health care for cardiovascular disease and the cost-effective management of the medical scheme. It was concluded that as a result of nurse-based primary health care, costs could be contained so that medical scheme benefits would not become exhausted so rapidly. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)