Canada's ever-growing population is in need for more health
professionals to provide it with best practices and care. It's not all about
doctors. In fact, most staff patients meet during a procedure in healthcare
facilities are not doctors.
Patient Care technicians assist doctors, nurses and
therapists in direct care of patients within healthcare facilities. Some
patients have limited abilities and need help in motion, bathing, eating and visiting
toilet. Some of patients are also not able to administer their medications, and
help is needed to adjust beds, wheelchairs and other specific furniture and
equipment. That is why healthcare system needs PCT's. Their additional duties
include some basic medical procedures such as phlebotomy, recording
temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. Career focus for PCT's are all
clinical environments - hospitals, assisted living facilities, rehabs and
hospices.
This position requires many skills, willing to handle
patients; habits and requirements which always differ greatly. Becoming a PCT requires more certifications and
overall more education with a broader array of subjects compared to a Medical
Assistant.
Medical Office Assistants take administrative tasks of most healthcare
facilities. They are usually the first persons patients see when seeking medical
assistance - except in urgent cases or when arrive at a scheduled appointment.
At the end of the appointment, medical assistants schedule them for the next
one. PCT's duties are between the two, alongside doctors and nurses.
Medical Office Assistants manage patients' appointments and
documentation and are not expected to triage patients. Thus it's a typical
nine-to-five job, while PCTs work shifts match those of doctors and nurses.
Night shifts and weekends are what you need to count on as a PCT. Your job as a
PCT would also be to overlook patients as for all their less or more urgent
needs they will first resort to you as the first link between themselves and
doctors. Not everyone has skills and abilities to do such a demanding job. And
it's not about how helping you are, it's more about your ability to do job of a
PCT the way patients would like.
Medical Office Assistant doesn't require much technical
skills and their job doesn't entitle much stress. Also have in mind that there
are some medical fields and facilities which don't always need PCT's but still
need medical office assistants - such as dentist and psychiatrist practices.
That's why there are much more jobs available for Medical Assistants than for
PCT's.
Academy of Learning College offers a Medical Office Assistant program, which will make you get a Medical
Office Assistant diploma in 40 weeks delivering you all knowledge relevant for
this profession and a practicum within a certified medical facility. In 40
weeks you will become eligible for Certified Medical Assisting Professional
license.
