TOI: Paramedical Fields: July 07, 2008

Paramedical fields

One must be observant, resourceful and tolerant, and above all, have a genuine interest in people …….– Jayanti Ghose

Professional health science courses like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, etc, may be lesser known than MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BAMS, etc, but are no less important when it comes to career opportunities, and providing a better quality of life to people incapacitated by accidents or born with physical challenges.

Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist or physical therapist may work with a child born with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, an athlete recuperating from knee surgery, a paraplegic, or the elderly suffering from severe arthritis or rehabilitating from a stroke.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is concerned with the physical and psychological rehabilitation of individuals, who suffer from injury or illness, or from emotional, mental or developmental problems. In occupational therapy, rehabilitation employs the use of educational, vocational and recreational activities or occupations to restore a patients health, independence, and selfreliance.

Prosthetists and orthotists

These health professionals provide biomechanical devices, called prostheses (artificial limbs) and orthoses (braces), to physically disabled persons so that they can function better. Prostheses may replace an amputated hand, arm, foot or leg, while orthoses would increase the stability of the spine or an extremity after injury or disease.

Audiology and speechlanguage pathology

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists are devoted to improving communication skills in children and adults. These communication problems can occur at birth or they can develop later in life as the result of a major illness or injury, such as a stroke or head-trauma injury.

Skills/ traits

The capacity and willingness to work hard, the zeal to serve, and an abundance of patience, a cool and calm temperament and boundless energy and empathy with the patient are important qualities to have or to cultivate if you plan to join this field. One must be observant, resourceful, and tolerant, be able to communicate with people, combine firmness with kindness, and above all, have a genuine interest in people.

Education and training

Professional degrees are the four-and-a-halfyear Bachelor of Physiotherapy/ Physical Therapy (BPTh/ BPT)/ Occupational Therapy (BOT/ BOTh)/ Prosthetics and Orthotics (BPO), open to students completing class 12/ equivalent with physics, chemistry and biology. This duration of training includes six months of practical internship.

Bachelor of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology (BSLPA) or Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (BASLP) would be of six semesters, plus twosemester internship offered to students completing plus two with at least three subjects from physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics.

Three-year BSc medical technology (lab)/ BSc medical technology (radiodiagnosis and imaging/ BSc medical technology (operation theatre)/ BSc medical technology (radiotherapy), four-and-a-half-year Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics, four-year Bachelor of Optometry could also be allied opportunities to explore.

Placements/ prospects

Employment opportunities exist in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, rehabilitation centres, sports coaching centres (sports physiotherapy) and allied facilities. A postgraduate degree enhances employment opportunities to include specialised practice, teaching and research.

With the increasing number of hospitals and health centres, more opportunities are coming up for paramedical professionals. The general public has also become more aware of the importance of the therapists role. Private consulting practice is an avenue for paramedical professionals just as it is for medical professionals. These careers offer the opportunity of combining medical technology and equipment, and interpersonal, human relations skills to help people lead more productive and fulfilling lives.

Institutions

All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore (www .aiishmysore .com)

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (http ://pgimer .nic .in)

Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (http ://ayjnihh .nic .in)

Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Cuttack (SVNIRTAR) (www .nirtar .nic .in)

National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped (NIOH), Kolkata (www .nioh .in)

Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Institute for the Physically Handicapped, New Delhi (www .iphnewdelhi .in)

Padmashree Dr D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai (www .dypatil .com)

Dr D Y Patil University, Pune (www .dypatiluniversity .org)

Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University, Karad (www. kimsdeemeduniversity.in)

D Y Patil University, Kolhapur (www .dypatilkolhapur .org)

All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai (www .aiipmr .gov .in)

T N Medical College, Dr A L Nair Road, Mumbai – 400 008

Seth G S Medical College, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai – 400 012

L T Municipal Medical College, Laxmibai Kelkar Marg, Sion, Mumbai – 400 022

Log on to www .dmer .org for complete listing of institutions in Maharashtra admitting through MHTCET.

(Indicative listing)

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