ALLIED HEALTH CAREERS
The
term "allied health" came into use in the 1940’s to designate a
large cluster of health-related personnel who fulfill necessary roles in the
healthcare system, including assisting, facilitating and complementing the work
of physicians and other healthcare specialists. Many of these allied health
professions have developed in the last 30 years in response to rapid
advancements in health care technologies. Students aspiring to one of these
professions typically find an ideal balance in their working lives: their
profession provides both intellectual stimulation and economic security, and
they take pride in a service that they perform for society.
Health careers also offer great geographic mobility. Any community large
enough to support a hospital will contain a wide spectrum of health
professionals. More than 6.7 million workers are currently employed in medical
services; physicians make up only 8% of this number. The United States
Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that health services will continue to grow much
faster than the overall industrial average. The fastest growth (by percentage rate) will occur for
home health aides (96%), physical therapists (87%), medical assistants (77%), radiologic technicians (72%) and occupational therapists (65%). There are
currently critical shortages of epidemiologists, biostatisticians and
environmental health, health finance and economic specialists, as well as a
shortage of competent managers for health delivery systems.
or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing at http://www.aacn.nche.edu
http://www.allnursingschools.com
is a good resource also.
PHYSICAL THERAPY: As of January 1, 2002, master’s and clinical doctoral programs are the only entry level routes to physical therapy. A strong liberal arts education that encourages intellectual discovery, problem solving and critical thinking, and enhances maturity is viewed as ideal preparation for professional training in physical therapy. Minority groups are grossly underrepresented in the field. Contact: American Physical Therapy Association, 800-999-2782 or http://www.APTA.org
or at http://www.ptcentral.com
PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT: Physician assistants (PAs)
diagnose illnesses, order and interpret lab tests, establish and carry out
treatment plans, give physical exams, suture wounds, assist in surgery, and
provide preventive health care counseling.
PAs practice with supervision by licensed physicians and provide services
that would otherwise be provided by physicians. Approximately 60% of PAs
practice primary care medicine, and one-third work in communities with fewer
than 50,000 residents. Over 55% of all PAs are women. Contact: American Academy
of Physician Assistant Programs, 950 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA
22314; phone 703-836-2272; http://www.aapa.org
on the web.