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What is Allied Health?
Did you know you could have a career as a healthcare professional without being a doctor or a nurse? In fact, most people in healthcare belong to another group of healthcare providers called allied health professionals.
A better way of understanding what allied health encompasses is to picture a hospital and all those involved with patient care except for doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Allied health professionals, to name a few, include dietitians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, radiographers and speech language pathologists.
Allied health professionals are healthcare practitioners with formal education and clinical training who are credentialed through certification, registration and/or licensure. These professionals work to deliver high-quality patient care services for the identification, prevention and treatment of diseases, disabilities and disorders.
Education levels differ among allied health professions. A considerable amount of programs give specialized instruction for jobs in allied health services immediately following graduation from high school. Students anticipating a career in allied health services can enroll in programs heading to a certificate or a degree at the associate, baccalaureate, professional or grad level.
There are hundreds of allied health professions and over six million people in allied health related careers today, which represents approximately 60% of all healthcare providers. Working within allied health means you will be immersed in (directly or indirectly) patient care and you are distinguished as an expert in your profession. As an allied health provider you may work within a team, providing constant assessment and interpretation of patient needs; or you may practice independently.
Allied Health Professionals...
- Improve quality of patient care
- Typically attend 2 or 4 year educational programs in community & senior colleges
- Are educated in over 1000 programs in the U.S., which are staffed by 3000 allied health faculty and enroll over 30,000 students
- Are experiencing a workforce shortage greater than that currently seen in nursing
Healthcare is an ever present and important part of everyone's life. Because there is a critical shortage of health care providers, including nurses and allied health professionals - currently and predicted for years to come - there are numerous opportunities available for those looking for a career in allied health and beyond.
Learn more about travel allied health:
What is allied health?
What allied health careers are available?
What is travel allied health?
What does it take to be a travel allied health professional?
What is the allied healthcare shortage?
Allied Health and Tech Organizations
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