Allied health

Professionals in the healthcare industry are oftenthey must adhere to national training and
referred to as allied health professionals whicheducaton standards, their professional scope of
usually need formal training before they are hired,practice, and often prove their skills through
for example, medical assistants , dental hygienistsdiplomas and certified credentials.Professionals in
and assistants, phlebotomists , physical therapiststhe healthcare industry are often referred to as
and physical therapy assistants, hemodialysisallied health professionals which usually need formal
technicians, laboratory technicians,training before they are hired, for example,
electrocardiographic technicians, x-ray technicians,medical assistants , dental hygienists and
medical secretaries, and medical coders and billersassistants, phlebotomists , physical therapists and
all belong to the ever growing group of alliedphysical therapy assistants, hemodialysis
health professionals, and their subspecialties.technicians, laboratory technicians,
The explosion of scientific knowledge thatelectrocardiographic technicians, x-ray technicians,
followed World War II brought increasinglymedical secretaries, and medical coders and billers
sophisticated and complex diagnostic andall belong to the ever growing group of allied
treatment procedures to the science of medicine.health professionals, and their subspecialties. All
In additon, increasing medical and health caremembers of the allied health professions must be
costs have created a trend away from treatingproficient in the use of medical terminology and
patients in hospitals toward the provision of carespelling, basics of medical law and ethics,
in physician's private and group practices, andunderstand human relations, possess excellent
ambulatory medical and emergency clinics. Whatinterpersonal communication skills, be computer
followed was an increase in the need for expertlyliterate, able to document healthcare information,
trained healthcare delivering personnel.have telephone skills, and be proficient in typing,
As their job descriptions become more specialised,electronic dictation, and word processing.