IKONS
At the recent Para olympics Games in Rio four Indians secures two Gold medals (including a world record), and a Silver and a Bronze respectively. Devendra Jhajharia & Mariyappan Thangavelugot the Gold medal Javelin throw and High Jump respectively, Deepa Malik won the Silver Medal in the Put Shot and Varun Singh Bhati won the Bronze in the High Jump.
Devendra’ one of the reasons for his excellence was the fact that he had an excellent physiotherapist in G. B. Shetty at SAI Centre, Gandhinagar where he trained.
Similarly all these medallists who made India proud, have had their Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist to keep them in ultimate Fitness. So the opportunity for ParaMedics to shine by helping sport people to shine is a great Career opportunity, besides other areas of health.
What is the Job all about?
Paramedics are trained people who assist the medical profession in various medico-specific problems areas. In Goa, for instance the “108” Medical Ambulance Service, have a Paramedic on duty in the ambulance and he gives immediate Medical Aid, should the patient need it before reaching the Hospital, i.e. Oxygen, Medical resuscitation.
Paramedics are trained in various specialities as indicated below:
Physio-Therapy: Basically a rehabilitative service needed after accidents or for the permanently disabled and handicapped people, etc. This Science helps to alleviate dysfunction of movement. It involves the treatment of patients through exercise therapy and other therapeutic agents. This usually is a post operative treatment. e.g. fracture, dislocation, amputation, nerve injuries, burns, etc.
Medical Technology: Essentially this is a diagnostic service provided to Doctors. Medical Laboratory Technicians deal with pathology or micro-biology. They conduct tests of urine, stools and blood, blood counts smears and biological skin tests. They also examine body fluids, tissue samples, and determine the presence of fungi and bacteria.
Speech Therapy and Audiology: This Science deals with communication difficulties. Speech therapists can assess and successfully treat all kinds of voice, speech and language defects including difficulties in articulation, viz. stammering, etc. The other aspect that affects the old, in particular, is the aspect of loss of hearing.
Radiology / Radiotherapy: This is an important tool in the treatment and diagnosis of various diseases like Cancer, tumours, ulcers, etc. There is a drawback, in the sense that, exposure to Radiation is considered damaging and harmful in the long run.Therefore, women are advised to keep away from this field, as they tend to be more susceptible.
Occupational Therapy: This Science deals with individuals with physical impairments and mental disorders. The Therapists work with other team members to try and restore normalcy in the life of these patients.
Optometry / Ophthalmic Technology: This must not be confused with Ophthalmologists who treat diseases of the eye. Optometrists are involved in the treatment of visual defects with the help of optical instruments. Optometrists are trained to conduct eye tests in order to examine the patient’s vision. They also fabricate lenses to suit prescribed specifications, and the lenses are then fitted in the frames that suit individual tastes. They also conduct test and prescribe contact lenses which is becoming very popular these days.
Prosthetics and Orthotics: Prosthetics deals with rehabilitation of the physically handicapped, either due to a medical condition e.g. hereditary condition, or due to a sports injury. This is also a frequent problem in the Defence Services due to injuries in war operations. Prosthetics is, replacing the damaged arm/leg, etc. with an artificial limb. People dealing with these problems are known as Prosthetists. Whereas Orthosis is the device, which is implanted to support the diseased body part. So, the people that make these devices are called Orthotists.
Dental Lab-Technician: These programs trains technicians in the skilled repair and making of dental appliances – dentures, inlays, crowns, bridges, braces and choose and mount replacement teeth, construct denture frames.To identify needed prostheses repairs. To cast plaster dental moulds. To clean and polish prostheses,as directed by the dentists and orthodontists. This involves accuracy and precision.
Can you go for it?
Many young people want to contribute in the medical field –but not all can be doctors due to stringent tests at the admission point. So, instead, they take up the various other options available based on each ones personal ability.
The positions demand commitment, compassion, understanding the ailment that the patient is going through and giving the necessary medical assistance, as has been recommended by the medical experts.
Is there a future in this field?
Our population is huge and correspondingly the medical problem areas are also vast. There is a general shortage of Doctors, and hence some of the areas of assistance are passed on to Para–medics who are trained extensively to deal with such medical issues. So there is tremendous potential for trained Para-medics
Where to Begin
in Goa
The Vrundavan Hospital & Research Centre, Porvorim, offers the following Diploma Courses – the examination is conducted by the Delhi Board. This is a one year Program.The program is followed by a 3-month Internship.
Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT)
Diploma in X-Ray Technology
Diploma in Medical ECG & ICU Technology
Diploma in Hospital Management Technology.
Diploma in Operation Theatre Technology
Diploma in CT Scan technology
Diploma in Ultrasound and Echocardiography Technology
Outside Goa
1. Physio-Therapy
Padmashree Dr. D.Y.Patil College of Physiotherapy,Pimpri, Pune (Maharashtra)
School of Physiotherapy, KEM Hospital, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College ,Sion Mumbai (Maharashtra)
2. Prosthetics and Orthotics
The National Institute for Rehabilitation Training and Research at Cuttack offers a three and half years B.Sc. program. Admissions are however controlled by Delhi for which a Joint Entrance Examination is held. Mangalore, Belgaum, Bengaluru, have colleges offering these programs too.
3. Speech Therapy and Audiology
The All India Institute of Speech and Hearing at Mysore, offers a three-year B.Sc. program followed by a Post –Graduate program.
Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Bandra, Mumbai.
4. Radiology
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (A.I.I.M.S.), New Delhi.
Dr. B.R. (Bhim Rao) Ambedkar Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru (Karnataka).
King George Hospital College of Nursing, Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
5. Optometry/ Ophthalmic Technology
This is again a three-year B. Sc. program offered by the ALL India Institute of Medical Sciences – Delhi.
SNDT Women College Mumbai http://www.pvpsndt.org/OPTH.html /
CMC Eye Hospital Vellore.www. home.cmcvellore.ac.in
Diploma programs are also offered by Jaslok Hospital & KEM Hospital in Bombay.
6. Prosthetics and Orthotics
All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Haji Ali Park, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.
National Institute for theOrthopedically Handicapped, Bon-Hooghly Kolkata.
7. Dental Lab-Technician
National Industrial Training Centre New Delhi http://www.nitcindia.com for Dental Training
DENTAL INSTITUTE – Cochin Technical Collegewww.cochinitc.com/dentalcourses.php
8. Occupational Therapy
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
DURATION: 4 years plus 6 months of internship Manipal Universtiy, Manipal
All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai(Maharashtra).
All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Haji Ali Park, K. Khadye Marg, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai (Mumbai Dist.) – 400034
College of Advance Studies, Chiplum (Maharashtra)
Shreekshetra Dervan, Ratnagiri , Chiplum (Ratnagiri Dist.) – 415606
G.S. Seth Medical College, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Parel , Mumbai (Mumbai Dist.) – 400012
Employment avenues
There are many jobs available in hospitals, nursing homes, health departments, sporting clubs, etc. You can also take up teaching assignments.
Money
Each specialism offers varied salaries. Essentially, this is a matter of supply and demand. Currently all the various specialisms are in short supply, so salaries can easily range from Rs. 5000/- initially going up to 10,000/- p.m. for the lower end jobs, and Rs. 15,000/- to 25,000 for the higher end jobs. These salaries proportionately go up with experience.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/