Career – Malwa Institute of Medicine

Why Paramedical?

Paramedics work with emergency medical services and give pre-hospital treatment to patients. The most common paramedics that we encounter are those who transport patients between facilities in ambulances. They need to have a good grasp of what to do when in need of an emergency and it is their responsibility to give the best care possible to the patients before they reach the hospital.

They tend to primarily work in caregiving units like aviation medicine, paramedics for the police force and urban search rescue teams. However, a majority of paramedics are involved with the emergency medical services unit.

Paramedical courses are available at degree, diploma and certificate level. The duration of the course can be anywhere btw 1 yr to 4 years.

There is a lot of travel involved in this job, as it is their primary goal to reach people in need of medical attention. The work schedule of a paramedic is pretty hectic.

People employed in this field work for more than 45 hours a week and sometimes are required to work the night shift too. Usually, paramedics work in 12-hour shifts. Paramedical (Para- besides) Services are those which assist medical profession in one or many forms e.g. Radiography, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy etc.

Paramedical professional supports the medical team with closely related functions for complete treatment. In modern world, Paramedical science has emerged as an important branch of medical science. It is proved as a milestone in the treatment of communicable, non-communicable diseases. In other words, we can say that paramedical science is a backbone for medical science because right diagnosis of any disease is necessary to prevent fatal diseases. Thus, Medical Science will be paralysed without paramedical science.

The continuous expansion of the health care industry brings a more demand for trained Paramedical Professionals. The main areas in paramedical education include Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Nursing, Occupational therapy, Audiology and Speech therapy, Medical laboratory technology, Radiology/X-Ray technology, Dental hygienist and Dental mechanics, Operation theatre assistant, Optometry and Ophthalmic assistant and other miscellaneous job oriented courses. These courses are offered through correspondence as well as full time classes.

Nature of Work

Physiotherapy: It is a branch of medical science which is concerned with the assessment, evaluation and treatment of physical disability, pain resulting from injury, disease or other health related problems. The professionally trained person who administers this treatment is called as a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist treats mainly post-operative cases like fracture, dislocation, amputation, neurological cases, nerve injuries, heart and chest conditions, skin conditions, muscular diseases, burns, plastic surgery etc.

Nursing: It is one of the most well-known paramedical professions which is a vital part of medical care. In the hospital, from general ward to the operation theatre, nursing is the most important component of patient care. Nursing is an essential component of the healthcare system.

Occupational therapy: It focuses on helping individuals with mental or physical illness / disability to come back to normalcy. Occupational therapist uses various methods in the treatment of their patients to assist them in maximum recovery and becoming normal after a prolonged disabling illness. This type of therapy is patient specific, involving recreational, creative or educational activities.

Audiology and Speech Therapy: Hearing is a crucial means for the acquisition and monitoring of language and speech. Audiology is the study of hearing disorders. These professionals treat people who are unable to speak or hear clearly. Audiologist use audiometers and other testing device to measure the loudness at which a person begins to hear sound, the ability to distinguish between sounds and the nature and extent of hearing loss. Speech therapist uses special instruments as well as written and oral test to determine the nature and extent of impairment and to record and analyze speech disorders.

Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT): Medical laboratory technologists examine and analyze body fluids, tissues, blood typing, microorganisms, screening, chemical analyses, cell counts etc. of the human body. They play an important role in collecting the information needed for treating most pathology cases by sampling, testing, analyzing and reporting such investigations.

Radiology and X-Ray technology: Radiographers take x-ray films of body parts used in diagnosing medical problems. They conduct the x-raying of the patient’s body, make the exposure, and then develop the x-ray film. Experienced radiologist can perform more complex imaging tests. A postgraduate radiologist normally interprets the x-rays.

Dental Hygienist / Mechanic: These technicians assist dentists in treating patients. Dental hygienists are trained to perform the specific clinical procedures that aim to prevent dental disease and work under the supervision of a dentist. The basic job of a dental mechanic is making and repairing artificial teeth, straightening of teeth & filling of cavities. They also help in the prevention and control of dental caries (decay) and gum disease. They also take dental X-rays, apply and remove periodontal packs, and advise the patient on how to take care of the teeth and mouth after operations.

Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation workers play an important role in restoring normalcy to the patient. Care in a hospital or rehabilitation center may be necessary for people with severe disabilities. In such settings, a rehabilitation team provides care. Along with the doctor or therapist, this team may include nurses, psychologists, social workers, other health care practitioners, and family members.

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Paramedical Courses

There is a wide variety of choices when it comes to the different courses offered under Paramedicine. The candidate can choose to go for a bachelors’ degree, a diploma course or a certification course. Usually, a diploma course has a duration of 2 years,BSc has a duration of 3 years and BPT has a duration of 4 years. The list of courses that come under the umbrella of Para – medicine include

X-Ray Technology

Also called as radiography, this course is extremely popular and the techniques taught in this course are of great help to doctors on the field. X rays are used to get an image of the internal organs of the body and help the doctor determine what is wrong with the patient.
In this course, students learn about the different types of machines used, different types of X – rays, best practices, and many other subjects. Additionally, they are taught about the various imaging technologies used like computerized axial tomography, fluoroscopy etc. Students need to know which technique suits a situation the best.

Anesthesia Technology

As the name suggests, students enrolled in this course learn about the different doses of anesthesia that should be administered in different situations. This is usually the first step when going for a medical procedure and hence is extremely important. Additionally, wrong administration of doses can lead to extreme health effects.

They learn about the different procedures and requirements that need to be fulfilled before giving anesthesia and after the dose wares off.

They also need to keep a careful track of the patient’s health and make sure that they do not have a reaction to the dosage given.

Physiotherapy

Also known as physical therapy is the branch of healthcare that deals with the movement of the human body. Various techniques like annual therapy, exercise therapy, electrotherapy etc are employed in this field.

Physiotherapists are tasked with improving the mobility of certain body parts in patients after an accident. It is a long process and this course teaches the students the different approaches to be taken during the long course.

Dialysis Technology

People enrolled in this course learn about the different machinery used in the process of dialysis and learn to operate them. They learn how to interpret the results that the machine gives them and make a correct diagnosis. Dialysis is a medical process that removes waste and excess fluids from the blood of patients.

Jobs and career opportunities in Paramedical Industry

Once a candidate finishes his / her course, they have a plethora of opportunities to choose from.

Ambulance Attendant

These are medical professionals who are usually the first respondents in case of emergencies. They are the professionals who are assigned to ambulances and come to the aid of patients who cannot get to the hospital on their own. They need to know what to do in different medical emergencies and are tasked with getting the patients to the nearest hospital in time

Advanced Life Support Paramedic

Usually, they are assigned to the intensive care units to take care of the patients in critical conditions. They are of assistance to the doctors and give them important information about the patient’s condition.
The salary is highly dependent on the experience of the candidate. The salary of life support paramedic ranges from Rs. 1,76,000 to Rs. 3,62,000. The usually tend to work long hours as the job is highly demanding.

Critical Care Paramedic

As the name suggests, these professionals need to provide medical help to patients in critical conditions. This is an extremely important position and comes with great responsibility.
Usually, they are the first responders in a critical situation and hence they need to make quick decisions to improve the patient’s condition or at least prevent the condition from deteriorating further.
The annual salary of Critical Care Paramedic professionals in Rs. 3,35,000 and this value is highly dependent on the sector that the candidate is working in.

Medical Assistant

Their main responsibility involves being of assistance to the physician. The following are a few of their responsibilities-

Medical Assistants are paid a salary of Rs. 2,98,000 per annum and this value will increase with experience.

Salary in Paramedical Industry

The salary of people who have taken a paramedic course ranges from Rs. 2,20,000 to Rs. 10,00,000. As with every other profession, the salary increases with experience. Additionally, the private sector is said to offer more in comparison to the public sector.

The healthcare industry is looking for candidates who have a good grasp of medical concepts and act accordingly in situations of pressure. Candidates entering this field are expected to have some practical knowledge and hence it is advised that the students do as many internships. This will help them to get a sense of how the industry works and what is expected of them.

Paramedical Recruiters

Some top recruiters for paramedics.