Allied Health Careers

So, what are Allied Health Professions? They include all medical professions except physicians, nurses and pharmacists. There are actually over 100 different Allied Health professions with more than 8 million workers.

Some healthcare professionals whose career falls in the category of Allied Health include Art Therapists, Home Health Aides, Dietetic Technicians, Physical Therapists, Medical Transcriptionists, Pharmacy Technicians, Prosthetic Technicians and so on. In spite of such a high number of healthcare professionals, the supply is not keeping up with the demand. That demand is increasing because of the aging population in the United States.
Graduates from Allied Health education programs that are trained in geriatric care as well cultural diversity will be greatly needed by hospitals, clinics, physician offices and rehabilitation centers.

Let's follow a patient through a possible scenario of care involving a variety of Allied Health professionals. A young man training for an upcoming cycling competition is practicing one day on an unfamiliar road. A motorist traveling on that same road looks away to dial a number on his cellular phone and the unexpected happens. He accidentally hits the cyclist. His traveling speed was low enough that the injury to the cyclist is not life threatening, but he does appear to have a broken arm. The motorist calls 911 on his cellular phone. An ambulance arrives with EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) that perform an assessment of the patient, splints his arm and transports him to a nearby hospital. In the Emergency Room a Physician Assistant (PA) examines the patient and orders various diagnostic tests. The Phlebotomist arrives and draws blood samples and takes them to the laboratory for analysis by the Medical Technologist. The Radiologic Technologist x-rays the broken arm and the Orthopedic Technician stabilizes it in a portable splint.

Surgery will be required to correct the broken arm. The Medical Assistant collects relevant insurance information and obtains medical clearance for the procedure. The Surgical Technologist prepares the operating room and assists the surgeon. After an adequate recovery period following the surgery, a Physical Therapist will provide treatment and instruction on rebuilding mobility and strength in the arm. While in the hospital, a Dietetic Technician assists in the preparation of a proper diet plan for surgical patients. A Patient Advocate visits him to address any problems or concerns he may have about his treatment as a patient within the hospital or special needs he may have when he leaves the facility. Upon being discharged, a Health Information Technologist has collected data relevant to the patient's hospitalization and begins the process of submitting appropriate information to his insurance company for reimbursement.

These are only a few of the Allied Health professionals that make a difference in our healthcare system. Do you have what it takes to be a part of such a team? Do you get personal satisfaction from helping others? Would you like to combine technical skills with your people skills? Do you enjoy working with computers, but not necessarily sitting in front of one all day? If so, a career in an Allied Health profession may be just the ticket for your personal growth and life achievement.

Educational programs providing the necessary training for Allied Health careers can vary greatly. There are programs that may provide certificates of completion in a 6-month period of training up to institutions of higher education providing doctoral degrees. Two-year colleges throughout the United States, awarding Associate degrees, provide our country with the highest percentage of graduates in the field of Allied Health. As with the majority of professions, healthcare related or not, the more education and experience an individual acquires, the higher the salary.

The demand is there for trained, qualified workers in the Allied Health field. Opportunities abound; research your future and join the ranks of the healthcare professionals.

Editorial provided by Cassandra Wheeler, Science and Technology Division at Tarrant County College.