How can the BAMS Course Help you Become a Medical Assistant?

Medical science has come a long way since the olden days – when medicine used to be mixed with prayers. However, the ancient science of medicine that originated in our country, Ayurveda, is gaining a lot of traction within the country and even internationally. This has only been made possible by the efforts of the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Ministry of the Government.

With the support of the government bolstering the popularity of the holistic approach to health and welfare propagated by Ayurveda, it is no surprise that educational institutions have started offering courses specifically to train Ayurvedic medical professionals. This course is called BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) and is now offered in many colleges throughout the country.

Students who opt for a BAMS course learn a mix of Ayurvedic knowledge and modern medicine. This enables them to work side by side with doctors and other medical specialists and as such BAMS graduates are highly respected and valued in the medical field. Graduating from a BAMS college in Bhopal opens up the doors to various professions in the medical and wellness area, including that of a medical assistant. Read on to find out how.

All About BAMS

BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) was launched by the AYUSH ministry as an alternative to undergraduate courses in western medicine (Allopathy). This undergraduate course teaches students all about practicing Ayurveda on a foundational level and imparts them with various skills.

Eligibility Criteria

To get into a BAMS course in an Ayurvedic college in Bhopal like Mansarovar Ayurvedic Medical College, students have to fulfill the following criteria:

• Senior Secondary School Certificate (10+2) with at least 50% marks
• Pass marks in NEET (National Entrance cum Eligibility Test)
• Applicants should not be over 17 years of age

Duration

4.5 years and one year of rotatory internship.

Fees

The fee of a BAMS course in an Ayurvedic hospital in Bhopal is currently around 2.5 Lakhs per annum.

Syllabus

The BAMS syllabus as set forth by the AYUSH ministry is divided into four parts referred to as professionals. Let us take a look at the subjects commonly taught in the syllabus of a typical BAMS course:

Various Job Roles After Completing BAMS

BAMS graduates are now fully certified Ayurvedic doctors that can practice medicine thanks to the efforts of the government to standardize this holistic approach to health and wellness that has served us for ages. Here are a few of the main career paths that a BAMS graduate can choose to walk on.

• Clinical Practice: Starting their own clinical practice is one of the most popular career choices for BAMS graduates. Before they can do that though, they have to gain experience – which they do by working under senior practicing physicians for a couple of years.
• Academics and Research: After completing the BAMS course, graduates need to pursue a postgraduate degree to get into academia and research in institutions across the country.
• Drug Manufacturing: Graduates from BAMS college in Bhopal can also get into drug manufacturing at one of the various companies that make and sell Ayurvedic medicines, supplements, and cosmetics.

How BAMS Teaches Skills Necessary to Become a Medical Assistant

As you might have noticed in the previous section, to become a medical practitioner, a graduate from a BAMS college in MP needs to work under a more experienced doctor first. For a few years, aspiring doctors look to set up their own practice work as medical assistants upon completing their BAMS degree so that they can gain more experience.

Medical Assistants, as the name implies, assist doctors in performing their duties. But that is not all as they also:

• Greet patients and establish rapport with them
• Review their medical history
• Check their vitals
• Perform blood work
• Schedule appointments
• Sanitise and restock examination rooms
• Update patient charts
• Call patients to remind them about their appointments

Let us look at some of the skills that these graduates learn during their BAMS course that helps them become good medical assistants.

Communication

The first skill that any medical professional has to master is communication. As a medical assistant, you will have the duty to make the patient feel comfortable. As you establish rapport with them, they will relax and this will help you perform medical procedures much more easily. Communication is also important as you will be the point of contact between the patient, your senior doctors, and other medical or insurance staff.

Attention to Detail

Along with great communication skills, a BAMS course teaches you to pay attention to details – a skill that will serve you well when working as a medical assistant. Ayurvedic drugs can be toxic if not prepared in the right way and the Bhaisajya Kalpana classes will teach you those painstaking processes when you study in an Ayurvedic college in Bhopal.

This pain will directly translate into increased attention to detail as you work as a medical assistant, updating patient charts, reviewing prescriptions, preparing formulas, and performing minor medical procedures.

Knowledge of Basic Medical Procedures

You will also learn how to perform basic medical procedures which you will have to perform as a medical assistant during your BAMS course. The mix of Ayurveda and modern medicine in a BAMS course will prepare you for the following.

• Colling lab specimens
• Administering medication through different routes
• Taking vital signs
• Drawing blood
• Administering vaccinations
• Changing dressings
• Assisting doctors with exams

Conclusion

BAMS courses teach a lot of skills that a medical assistant in the field of Ayurvedic medicine might need through their unique mix of ancient Ayurvedic knowledge and modern medical procedures. If you graduate from a BAMS college in Bhopal, for example, you can rest assured that the unique skills and knowledge that you have learned through the course will make you the ideal candidate for companies looking for medical assistants.

FAQs

1. Are there any other skills that are useful as a medical assistant?

Yes. Soft skills like organization, time management, administrative skills, and computer literacy are also useful when working as a medical assistant.

2. What higher education options are available after BAMS in the field of Ayurveda?

You can go for an MD or MS in Ayurveda after completing your BAMS degree.

3. Is there any entrance exam like NEET to get into an MD/MS course?

Yes. You need to qualify for the AIA-PGET to be eligible for admission to an MD or MS course in a teaching hospital in Bhopal.

4. What does Ayurveda mean?

Ayurveda literally translates to the “science of life.”

5. Can I perform surgery after completing a BAMS degree?

No. While you can perform basic surgical procedures like lancing a boil, you need to have an MS to be qualified to perform surgery.