A guide to skills development courses to get better jobs in hospitals and clinics

Many people dream of working in the healthcare field for many reasons. Obtaining satisfaction from making a difference in people’s lives, helping them in times of their illness and ill health or obtaining a professional workplace and earning a decent living. To work with a group of professional and well qualified staff and enjoy meeting new people every day. The reasons may be varied but if the aim is to secure a better job in hospitals and clinics, then the best way to do this is by improving skills. You may be trying to enter the healthcare profession or you may be trying to move up the corporate ladder in your chosen field, the way to go is to acquire new skills through skills development courses. Here is a brief guide to the different skill development courses for your benefit.

1. Diploma/Certificate in Medical Laboratory Technology

This course trains students to work as a fully-fledged laboratory technician. They are able to collect and store samples, analyze the sample, and generate a report based on the sample to be analyzed by the physician. They briefly study blood bank management, the safe disposal of biomedical waste, materials management, and supply chain management. They are also trained to clean and maintain equipment in the laboratory while adhering to quality control standards in accordance with NABL regulations.

2. Diploma/Certificate in Medical Records Technology

Here students are trained to handle medical case papers and records in a scientific manner. They check the file for completeness and prepare a file for storage. They are familiar with the International Classification of Diseases i.e. ICD 10 system and should enter the appropriate code on file.

3. Diploma/Certificate in X-ray and Imaging Technology

Trained students are qualified to work in clinics and radiology departments as radiology technicians. They are given a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology and are taught the proper way to handle x-ray equipment, developing x-ray films using both wet development and computerized x-ray machines. They are also taught how to handle ultrasound, CT, MRI and ultrasound machines.

4. Diploma / Certificate in Dialysis Technology

Trained students go on to become skilled dialysis technicians capable of handling hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on both Fresenius and B Braun dialysis machines. They are trained to prepare dialysis fluids, wash the dialysis machine, and store it for reuse.

5. Diploma/Certificate of Operation Theater Technician

Students with this training will be able to maintain and prepare the operating room. They are trained to set up the instrument trolleys and operating room according to the specific surgery by positioning the operating table and the patient in the right way and also assist the surgeon during the operation.

6. Certification in Hospital Front Office and Billing Executive

Trained front office managers will be able to familiarize themselves with medical terms, abbreviations, and diagnoses. They are able to operate on hospital information system for real time online hospital operation and billing work

7. Emergency Medicine Technician Certificate

Trained specialists are equipped to respond quickly to medical emergencies and provide critical pre-hospital care to patients. EMTs are a very critical resource and skilled EMT resources are in great demand across all hospitals and nursing homes. They should be trained to handle very critical and emergency situations like heart failure, accidents, burns, etc. by providing the necessary first aid and stopping further harm to the patient.

8. General shift assistant certificate

Public Service Aides are trained to be nursing aides in hospitals as well as home care settings for patients who are unable to care for themselves. They are trained in both assisting nurses as well as caring for the patient independently by providing required nursing care.

9. Certificate in Home Health Assistance

These students are trained to care for a patient who is unable to care for themselves and to provide basic nursing care in a home care setting.

10. Certificate in Phlebotomy Technician

A phlebotomy technician is trained to extract blood from patients and prepare samples for testing by classifying them properly. They are experts in drawing blood from patients by reducing their pain and discomfort.