Feldsher

Paramedical practitioners provide advisory, diagnostic, curative and preventive services to people that are more limited in scope and complexity than those of medical doctors. They work autonomously or under limited supervision of physicians, applying modern clinical procedures for the treatment and prevention of illness, injury and other physical or mental disorders common to particular communities.

• conducting physical examinations of patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status, and recording this information;
• performing basic medical and surgical procedures, including prescribing treatment and other preventive or curative measures, especially for common diseases;
• ordering diagnostic tests – X-ray, electrocardiogram and laboratory tests;
• performing therapeutic procedures such as injections, immunisations, wound cleaning, disinfection and dressing;
• assisting physicians with complex surgical procedures;
• monitoring patients' condition and the body's responses to treatment and, where necessary, alerting a physician;
• advising patients and families on diet, exercise and other habits that help prevent or treat a disease or disorder;
• identifying and recognising complex cases that require the intervention of physicians, hospitals or other specialised care facilities;
• reporting births, deaths, notifiable diseases and other health indicators to government authorities to meet legal and professional requirements.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Feldsher (medical assistant)
• Feldsher, with a specialty in the health care system
• Feldsher, resident (specialising)