Allied health professions
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Allied health professions are clinical healthcare professions distinct from the medical and nursing. As the name implies, they are allies in a healthcare team, working together to make the healthcare system function.
Depending on the country and local healthcare system, some of the following professions (professional areas) may be represented, and may be regulated:
- athletic training,
- audiology,
- bioengineering,
- biomedical science,
- chiropody,
- dental hygiene,
- diagnostic medical sonography,
- electrocardiographic technicians,
- hemodialysis technicians,
- kinesiotherapy,
- massage therapy,
- medical assistants ,
- medical coders and billers,
- Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT),
- medical physics,
- medical secretaries,
- Medical Technologists (MT),
- nuclear medicine technology,
- nutrition and dietetics,
- occupational therapy,
- optometry,
- phlebotomy,
- physical therapy,
- radiation therapy,
- radiography,
- radiological technology,
- respiratory therapy,
- speech therapy, and
- ultrasound.
- Medical Transcription
All professionals/professional areas ascribed before belong to the ever growing group of allied health professionals and their subspecialties. The precise titles and roles in the allied health professions may vary considerably from country to country.
The explosion of scientific knowledge that followed World War II brought increasingly sophisticated and complex medical diagnostic and treatment procedures. In addition, increasing medical and healthcare costs provoked a trend away from treating patients in hospitals toward the provision of care in physician's private and group practices, and ambulatory medical and emergency clinics. What followed was an increase in the need for expertly trained healthcare delivery personnel.
Because their job descriptions become more specialized, they must adhere to national training and education standards, their professional scope of practice, and often prove their skills through diplomas, certified credentials, and continuing education. Members of the allied health professions must be proficient in the use of many skills. Some of which are medical terminology, acronym and spelling, basics of medical law and ethics, understanding of human relations, interpersonal communication skills, counseling skills, computer literacy, ability to document healthcare information, interviewing skills, and proficiency in word processing, database management and electronic dictation.
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