Allied health personnel

Allied health personnel are a distinct group of health professionals who apply their expertise to prevent disease transmission, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate people of all ages and all specialties. Together with a range of technical and support staff, they may deliver direct patient care, rehabilitation, treatment, diagnostics and health improvement interventions to restore and maintain optimal physical, sensory, psychological, cognitive, and social functions.

Definition

The term Allied health personnel is used to label a cluster of health professions and covers as many as 100 different jobs (excluding doctors and nurses). These professionals work in many different settings, including health services and social care settings, education and research sectors, and the voluntary sector.

Roles and Responsibilities

Allied health personnel work in a healthcare team to make the healthcare system function by providing a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic, and direct patient care and support services that are critical to the other health professionals they work with and the patients they serve.

Education and Training

The educational requirements for allied health personnel vary greatly, ranging from on-the-job training and certification to advanced university degrees. Most allied health professions require certification or licensure.

Types of Allied Health Personnel

There are many different types of allied health personnel, including, but not limited to:

• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech language pathologists
• Medical laboratory scientists
• Respiratory therapists
• Dietitians
• Pharmacists
• Radiographers

See Also

• Healthcare team
• Health professional
• Healthcare industry