A podiatry assistant helps a podiatrist care for patients’ feet, including trimming toenails, applying dressings, and performing clerical work. Training is provided on the job, and the assistant must have knowledge of foot hygiene, pathology, and anatomy. Qualifications can be obtained through private practice, public hospitals, or colleges.
A podiatry assistant, sometimes known as a podiatry assistant, is a person who cares for the feet of others. This person is employed to assist a qualified podiatrist, an experienced doctor who specializes in feet and ankles. In some cases, an assistant will take on this role as part of their training to become a fully qualified podiatrist.
A major part of the podiatry assistant’s job is trimming toenails and applying dressings and bandages to the patient’s feet. He or she may be assigned patients who have already been seen by the podiatrist. This helps the clinician keep his or her workload clear for new patients and also contributes to the training of the assistant.
An assistant may also perform some clerical work as part of his or her duties. Updating customer records, billing and customer liaison can also form part of the role. He or she may also visit clients at their homes if they are unable to travel.
There are no formal qualifications required to become a podiatry assistant and training is usually provided on the job. The rules regarding the hours required to become a podiatrist differ from one area to another, but the expected hands-on training is usually around 500 hours.
Included in these training hours is the patient’s actual time in the clinic with the podiatrist. The podiatric assistant is also subject to routine assessments in the form of oral and theoretical exams from time to time. Hands-on work is an important part of becoming a qualified podiatrist.
The caregiver must be fully aware of all forms of foot hygiene. He or she must also undertake intensive study of a range of foot-related topics, including skin and nail pathology, microbiology, and anatomy. This person also needs to understand the circulatory problems that can affect the feet and lower legs. The correct sterilization of the instruments and the operating procedures will also be studied.
There are several locations where the Podiatry Assistant can acquire their training and qualifications. He or she can apply to study in private practice or in public hospitals. There are some colleges that offer courses to meet the qualifications needed to become a podiatrist or chiropodist. Information about these courses is available at local medical schools or through a public library.
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