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What Are Allied Health Careers?

Allied health careers include a broad category of health professions that provide therapeutic patient care. They don’t include independent practitioners like physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and psychiatrists. Instead, they apply to support staff like medical assistants, dental assistants, and patient care technicians. As an allied health professional, you play an important role in patient care and can build a very rewarding career. You may work in allied health at healthcare facilities like doctor’s offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, nursing homes, and clinics. And your work can span across disciplines such as sports exercise and medicine, dentistry, mental health, and rehabilitative care. Here are just a few examples of the allied health careers you could pursue:

Medical Assistant

As a medical assistant, you support a physician or group of physicians by managing the front office and assisting with clinical work. You schedule appointments, file insurance claims, and order supplies from vendors. You prepare exam rooms, clean and sterilize equipment, and pass instruments to the doctor during exams and minor surgical procedures. You also work directly with patients, taking vital signs, collecting specimens, and educating patients on follow-up care. And you can teach them about proper nutrition and exercise. With your help, physicians can focus on their most important duty, which is patient care. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade¹.

Dental Assistant

Like a medical assistant, a dental assistant handles both administrative and clinical duties. You work under the supervision of a dentist and ensure that the practice runs smoothly. You greet patients, handle insurance filings, answer phone calls, and manage the dentist’s calendar. You record dental histories and educate patients on proper oral care. You also assist the dentist during an oral exam or procedure, passing them tools or suctioning saliva from the patient’s mouth. And you may take dental X-rays and mouth impressions. Demand for dentals assistants is expected to grow faster than average through 2032².

Patient Care Technician

Patient care technicians work to ensure that patients are well cared for. In this position, you provide patient care under the supervision of a licensed nurse. You check vital signs, and assist with the collection of blood, urine, and stool samples. You may serve the patient meals, help them with exercise and mobility, and escort them to other rooms for exams or tests. At times, you might also be a source of emotional comfort and support for the patient and their family. If something seems off with a patient or a problem arises, you communicate with the nurse and follow their orders. Patient care techs often have other skills, training, and certifications, such EKG, phlebotomy, and AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider.

What Are the Benefits of an Allied Health Career?

If you want a rewarding job that allows you to make a difference in others’ lives, allied health is an excellent industry. You can feel good about having a positive impact on others. Your work can lead to better patient treatment and outcomes. But there are more benefits to an allied health career:

Allied Health Job Stability and Growth

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare workers have left or retired which has created more demand. Healthcare organizations need workers with skills in patient care, rehabilitation, phlebotomy, and medical administrative work. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, employment of allied health professionals is expected to grow steadily through 2036³.

Work Anywhere as an Allied Health Professional

You can find work in various settings, and in different locations. If you must move across the state or to a new state altogether, you can usually find work in the allied health field.

Are you ready for a rewarding healthcare career? Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ´óÈ« Technical Institute offers several health sciences training programs that can prepare you for entry-level work in allied health, including Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, and Patient Care. Our programs are taught by instructors who have years of experience in healthcare, and you can gain hands-on experience through our labs and internships. Several of our programs can also prepare you for certification. Fill out the form to learn more.

References:

¹ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024j, April 17). Medical assistants : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 5/06/2024 from

² U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024g, April 17). Dental assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 5/06/2024 from

³ Workforce Projections. HSRA Data. (n.d.). Retrieved 5/06/2024 from