Training now available for Professionals Allied to Medicine (PAMs)

By: maxwebsolutions | Posted on: 16 Feb 2018

We are pleased to announce that we are now offering training in Beginner's Botox and Beginner's Dermal Filler for certain HCPC registered professionals (namely paramedics, physiotherapists and ODPs) who meet our specific criteria, in addition to doctors, dentists and nurses.

At Facethetics Training we are very serious about training only those professionals who have the appropriate skills and qualifications to perform non-surgical aesthetic treatments safely and successfully. We feel very strongly that there are some professions within the medical industry, which don't come under the category of "doctors, dentists or nurses", but who still exhibit extensive medical knowledge and understanding which they have gained through many years of training. These professions work with patients on a daily basis, medically assessing and treating them and, as such, we feel that they very clearly demonstrate the vital skills and competence required to practice aesthetics safely.

The Health and Care Professions Council has been quoted as saying that it recognizes that non-surgical cosmetic treatments fall within the scope of practice for many PAMs and that it is supportive of them undertaking appropriate training in this area.

Why Paramedics?

A Paramedic is educated to perform some of the duties of a physician and is a highly trained and skilled medical professional. Paramedics can examine, evaluate and treat patients with equipment and medications usually only found in the emergency department of a hospital.

Paramedics are trained in all aspects of urgent and emergency care, ranging from problems such as cardiac arrest, heart attacks, strokes, spinal injuries and major trauma, to minor illnesses and injuries.

A modern day paramedic assesses patients, can provide treatment through diagnosis and can often do this in a patient’s own home with a comprehensive mobile healthcare service.

Full clinical assessments are also undertaken in GP practices, minor injury units, urgent care centres, A & E and walk-in centres and there are advanced consultant paramedics who have progressed to become a specialist.

Why Physiotherapists?

Physiotherapists have a significant range of skills and knowledge, including full clinical autonomy, as well as being regulated by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and supported by quality assurance standards and other evidence based resources by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

Undergraduate skills include human anatomy and physiology; biomechanics and kinesiology; assessments and diagnostic capabilities; massage; muscle imbalance assessments and corrections etc. while extended postgraduate skills include independent non-medical prescribing qualifications; needling skills such as cannulations/joint aspirations and injections/acupuncture; and managing adverse reactions, health complications & infections to name just a few.

Many of these skills are essential, but ALL are very appropriate skills for aesthetic practitioners to have. Indeed diagnostic physiotherapy skills in these similar first contact roles enable a full pre-intervention consultation and assessment for consideration of suitability in relation to the problem presented against other health issues, medications interactions, a full post procedural follow up, and with an ability to refer on to other specialist professionals should this be necessary.

Physiotherapists, as autonomous registered practitioners, are and should be supported to contribute positively to improving public safety and health and well-being for those people choosing aesthetic treatments.

Why ODPs?

ODPs are healthcare professionals who are registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). An ODP is accountable for their own practice and work as part of a multi disciplinary team which includes surgeon’s anaesthetists and nurses. Although primarily employed to work within the surgical suite, ODPs can be found working in many different areas within hospitals.

ODPs are directly involved with the overall planning and delivery of peri-operative care which can be broadly categorised as three distinct areas of peri-operative care. ODPs are trained to work in all three areas but tend to specialise in one particular area;

  • Anaesthetic Stage
  • Surgical Stage
  • Recovery Stage

All registered ODPs must provide evidence of Continuous Professional Development (to the HCPC) in the form of a professional portfolio.

ODPs have evolved as a profession in an effort to address the shortage of nurses within the peri-operative area. Traditionally these nurses were either ‘surgical’ or ‘anaesthetic’ nurses who were trained to provide specialist care in one particular peri-operative area. The role of the ODP seeks to address a generic practitioner who can work within any peri-operative area.

Since the disbanding of the English National Board (ENB), there has been no nationally recognised qualification for surgical nurses, although many universities offer post-registration studies for nurses wishing to specialise and pursue a career in the operating department. Many of these courses are benchmarked against competencies required to become an ODP.