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A medical secretary’s role is similar to that of a secretary in other business. However, a medical secretary is expected to be well-versed in medical terminology, practices and insurance procedures. A medical secretary should possess good administrative and customer service skills and should be able to schedule appointments, complete insurance forms and verify coverage, prepare reports, update patient records in the database etc.
Scope: With an increase in the number of healthcare institutions in India, there is an increasing demand for well-trained and competent medical secretaries in hospitals. Apart from hospitals, medical secretaries can work in clinics, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, laboratories, healthcare centres etc.
Students, while choosing a course of study for higher education have certain aspirations regarding their choice. Some students want to know if there are possibilities for higher education in India or abroad, some students are worried about job opportunities, some want to know the range of their starting pay, some are interested in whether the education is service-oriented, and some others question about the growth opportunities. There are not many branches in education where a positive reply can be given to each one of the above questions of students. Optometry is one unique profession that gives a whole gamut of opportunities for the students and allows them to choose the path they want to travel.
Optometry is the Primary Eye Care Profession dedicated to caring for the most treasured of human senses – Vision. Through academic and clinical training, optometrists acquire knowledge and skills needed to diagnose, treat and prevent problems of the visual system. Providing health education, managing preventive regimen, supplying vision care to special groups of patients are all part of an optometrist’s work. He / She must recognize ocular and visual signs of disease, understand the wide range of health problems affecting patients and refer patients to appropriate specialists. Public health activities include vision screening for communities, industries and schools.
A 4-year graduate course in Optometry is offered by Elite School of Optometry, Chennai. Understanding the need for primary eye care providers in India, Elite School of Optometry was founded by Dr. S. S. Badrinath, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya, in 1985. The college offers the Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Philosophy (M. Phil.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in optometry as Off-campus Collaborative Programs of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani.
Career Opportunities:
The scope of optometric practice is great, both in India and abroad. Optometrists can set up their own practice and work individually in India. Or they can set up group practices with other optometrists. Many eye hospitals and ophthalmologists have a great need for optometrists. So those who are not willing to invest in individual or group practice can join up with ophthalmologists or eye hospitals.
Higher education is a very good option with optometrists. They can pursue higher education either in India at the college itself or go abroad. Around 40% of the students from Elite School of Optometry are pursuing higher education in various universities in USA, Canada, UK, and Australia. The other career option open to optometrists is to work in Corporate MNCs, like Bausch and Lomb and Essilor. Optometrists can also choose to work in the colleges teaching optometry and pursuing research in optometry.
Optometry is one degree that opens a whole vista of opportunity. To know more about the course you can write to: The Principal, Elite School of Optometry, 8, GST Road, Chennai – 600016. Phone: 2234 4474.
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