The World of Medical Professions PREPARED BY-RAJVEER SINH PARMAR Medical representative •Role of medical representative is to create demand for an existing product or launch new product ensuring availability at retailers and stockiest. •The role of Medical Representative is very challenging. They represent the total company in a given territory. They have to work hard from morning to midnight at different hospitals, clinics, doctor's chambers, pharmacies etc. They have to meet with different types of people doctors, nurses, pharmacy owners, clinic’s managers and even sometimes with general people. They have to achieve their target by generating prescriptions. They need to earn knowledge regarding the human body and microbiology. They need to be master in product knowledge, selling skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and time management to become a good Medical Representative. •Medical Representatives are the building blocks of a company. They form the platform of the company in front of customers and share the vision, promote the products of the company and achieves the given objectives, in turn, which get converted into revenue for the company. •. . Medical representatives are the key point of contact between pharmaceutical and medical companies and health care professionals, promoting product awareness, answering queries, providing advice and introducing new products. Excellent sales skills are a key requirement for medical representatives Roles and Responsibilities •Launching new products in the market •Sales Achievement •Customer Support and Customer Service •Pharma Product Promotion •Market Feedback about the product •Company Representation •Record Keeping and Reporting Who is eligible to apply? •Candidates who have pursued the higher secondary education with biology and mathematics from any reputed schools/institutions can join for the bachelor’s degree in related field. Some top universities offer the related programs like pharmacy, biosciences, healthcare, and business of four years duration. The admission to the schools/institutions will be based on entrance tests organized by them. Medical coding •Medical coding is the transformation of healthcare diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment into universal medical alphanumeric codes. The diagnoses and procedure codes are taken from medical record documentation, such as transcription of physician's notes, laboratory and radiologic results, etc. Medical coding professionals help ensure the codes are applied correctly during the medical billing process, which includes abstracting the information from documentation, assigning the appropriate codes, and creating a claim to be paid by insurance carriers. •Medical coding happens every time you see a healthcare provider. The healthcare provider reviews your complaint and medical history, makes an expert assessment of what’s wrong and how to treat you, and documents your visit. That documentation is not only the patient’s ongoing record, it’s how the healthcare provider gets paid. Roles and Responsibilities •One of the core responsibilities of a medical coder is to ensure the accuracy of the medical records you transcribe and the codes you use. Other medical coder job requirements include proficiency in a variety of medical codes and adherence to the medical coding code of ethics. • Some of the day-to-day responsibilities of medical coding jobs include: •Transcribing patient information into appropriate medical codes •Examining medical documents and records for missing information •Conducting chart audits •Collecting, researching, and filing patient medical information •Ensuring all documents are grammatically correct •Complying with medical coding guidelines and policies Medical Billing •A billing and coding specialist helps the healthcare facility manage insurance claims, invoices, and payments. The day-to-day work of a medical coding and billing specialist includes: •Properly coding services, procedures, diagnoses, and treatments •Preparing and sending invoices or claims for payment •Correcting rejected claims •Tracking payments •Following up with patients and insurance companies about outstanding bills •While these workers often work in the same healthcare facility where patients go for treatment, this is primarily an office job as opposed to patient-facing clinical work. A medical billing and coding specialist will spend a large amount of time at the computer, reviewing, entering, and updating information. •Medical coding is the act of taking a provider’s diagnostic and procedural notes and converting them into the correct codes for record-tracking and billing purposes. The codes are industry-standard alphanumeric combinations used to identify the services being provided and billed. This will require knowledge of the different codes used: •Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) – These codes are used to identify specific procedures and examinations performed. •International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) – These classification codes are used for medical diagnoses. •Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) – This system includes codes not covered in the previous two sets, such as codes for specific medical devices or supplies and non-physician services. •Each of these codes is used in insurance billing, and the coder must follow specific guidelines for proper use and placement in the billing software. •Codes may be entered as soon as the patient makes an appointment. There will be codes for the type of visit and the symptoms reported by the patient. Further codes will be applied for the symptoms observed by medical staff, tests and procedures performed, diagnoses, and treatments recommended. Roles and Responsibilities •After the coding is completed, medical billing specialists generate invoices and send the claims to patients’ insurance providers (or other payers). Based on these codes, insurance companies will approve or deny the requests for payment. Any remaining amount not covered by insurance will then be sent to the patient for payment. •The billing process often begins as soon as the patient makes an appointment with the medical office, as codes may be entered and submitted to an insurer for pre-approval. This helps determine what the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses will be, so the office can charge the patient for that amount at the time of the visit. Medical Tourism Medical tourism can be defined as the process of traveling outside the country of residence for the purpose of receiving medical care. Growth in the popularity of medical tourism has captured the attention of policy-makers, researchers and the media. Originally, the term referred to the travel of patients from less-developed countries to developed nations in pursuit of the treatments not available in their homeland. Today we are experiencing both qualitative and quantitative shifts in patient mobility, as people travel from richer to less-developed countries in order to access health services. Such shift is mostly driven by the relative low-cost of treatments in less developed nations, the availability of inexpensive flights and increased marketing and online consumer information about the availability of medical services. What really puts the word "tourism" in medical tourism concept is that people often stay in the foreign country after the medical procedure. Travelers can thus take advantage of their visit by sightseeing, taking day trips or participating in any other traditional tourism activities. Roles and Responsibilities •Specially-trained travel planner and logistics coordinator for travelers with very special needs •Destination management organizer •Evaluator of clinical quality and safety and hospitality provider appropriateness •Medical records transfer agent •Appointment scheduler/agenda manager •Paid advocate and unbiased adviser of treatment provider solutions and destination options Nutritionist Nutritionists can help people create eating plans that are realistic, sustainable, and healthy. Instead of recommending crash diets, detoxes, or quick fixes, nutritionists teach people new ways to eat and understand food. Plus, nutritionists work with each client individually to create plans specifically for their situation. There are many different educational paths for those interested in this career. After all, the healthiest food choices for a child recovering from cancer, a college athlete, an older adult with prediabetes, or someone who just wants to feel healthier, will all look very different. Nutritionists also consider factors like religious and cultural dietary needs, food allergies, and personal tastes. Working as a nutritionist can be a great career choice for people who are passionate about food and wellness and who want to help others meet their goals. The role allows you to share your knowledge and educate your clients so they can lead healthier lives. Roles and Responsibilities Meeting with first-time clients to determine their overall health Establishing short-term and long-term health goals Creating a care plan that is realistic and appropriate Ensuring plans meet health, weight, and nutritional goals Counseling clients about what to expect from their eating plan Educating clients about food and nutritional choices Creating menus and meal plans Researching or developing recipes Nutritionist vs Dietitian: What’s the Difference? There are many similarities between nutritionists and dietitians. In fact, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, the roles are not exactly the same. Generally, dietitians typically work in clinical settings. They use nutrition as part of a care plan to treat and manage disease. For example, dietitians may help patients who receive dialysis treatments due to kidney disease maintain a specialized renal diet. Conversely, nutritionists tend to focus more on teaching patients or clients about food and nutrition. They help their clients learn to make healthier choices by educating them on the nutrition their bodies need. Education There are several educational options available to nutritionists. You’ll find everything from quick certificate programs to doctoral-level degrees. All those paths can help you work in the field. However, your best bet is to start by pursuing a bachelor’s degree. It will build the educational foundation you need for your career and give you the knowledge you need to help patients and clients. Plus, a bachelor’s degree is a good way to make sure you’re on the path to licensure and certification.
