Allied health professionals play a crucial role in the healthcare system of every country. They cover a wide spectrum of positions in the medical field and in hospital settings, but we rarely perceive them as people working in the “healthcare” industry.
What is allied healthcare?
Allied health is the holistic term used to refer to health professionals other than the doctors, dentists, or nurses. It includes a wide range of professions which support and work together with the traditional healthcare professionals in the diagnosis, therapy, and direct patient care for the successful treatment and recovery of patients. They aid patients to improve their quality of life by providing services depending on their specialties.
Who are allied health professionals?
The first person you meet at a healthcare institution, hospital, or clinic is quite probably an allied healthcare professional. Allied health professionals who can be hired through a healthcare staffing solutions in Fort Wayne, Indiana are people who consist of the backbone of the health institutions and they are the:
- technologists (medical laboratory technologist, radiologic & MRI technologist, cardiovascular technologist)
- medical billing & coding specialists
- dental hygienists
- dietitians
- speech-language pathologists and audiologists
- therapists (physical therapist, occupational therapist)
- administrators
- medical assistants and managers
They assist traditional health professionals, but they also play a distinct role in the healthcare system. Each type of allied health professional in Pace Medical Staffing, Inc. handles a specific health problem within the system and each of them has been comprehensively trained in specific areas to aid the smooth flow of healthcare services.
Will we thrive in the allied health industry?
Sixty percent (60%) of the healthcare workforce is composed of allied health professions (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK215247/#_ddd00015_). The healthcare system of the country needs allied health professionals who would complete this big portion of the workforce. However, there is a shortage of professionals who work in this field.
As stated in the website of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2015, the United States will need 81,000 additional clinical laboratory technologists to replace retiring staff, and another 68,000 to fill newly created positions.” Despite this, only a few institutions have allied healthcare education programs. Hence, there is great demand for this profession but only a few individuals qualify.
How can you become an allied health professional?
Since every job description of each type of allied health profession is different, education requirements for a type of profession will vary. The timeline or period for programs, depending on the type of profession you aim to become, would range from months to years. Some only require certificates, while other allied health professions need you to have an associate or bachelor’s degree.
If you want to thrive in a career where you will earn while being able to help others, the field of allied health care is for you. If you are interested to get a career in the medical field or the healthcare industry but don’t want to become a doctor or nurse, you may choose to work as an allied health professional and get hired through a healthcare staffing in Indiana.
