Allied Health: Everything you Need to Know
What is Allied Health?
According to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP), “Allied health professionals are concerned with the identification, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of acute and chronic diseases and disorders; provision of dietary and nutrition services; rehabilitation services; and the management and operation of health systems.” Allied health plays a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare services. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of the healthcare workforce in the United States is classified as allied health.
What are Allied Health Professions?
Allied health covers a broad range of healthcare professionals. Some allied health workers provide direct support to physicians, nurses and dentists by helping them to evaluate patient needs or provide care to patients. Others work independently as specialists such as nutritionists, athletic trainers and speech therapists. Most allied health professions fall into one of two broad categories: therapists/technologists and technicians (assistants).
Here are some examples of allied health professions:
- Anesthesia Technicians
- Cardiac Catheterization Technicians
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants
- CT Technologists
- CVOR Surgical Technicians
- Medical Lab Technicians
- MRI Technologists
- Nuclear Medicine Technicians
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Radiology Technologists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Surgical Technicians
- Ultrasound Technicians
How to Become an Allied Health Professional
Depending on the role you’re interested in, starting your allied health career may require as little as two years of education. For example, technician roles such as dental assistants and pharmacy technicians require two years of education or less. Technicians are required to work under the supervision of therapists and technologists.
Therapist and technologist roles require more intensive education in order to evaluate patients, diagnose conditions and develop treatment plans. For example, an anesthesiologist assistant requires six years of education including a bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, and certification.
Find an Allied Health Assignment Today
Are you an experienced Allied Health Professional looking for a local or travel contract assignment? Take a look at our allied health opportunities.