Allied Health Is Often Defined By What It Is Not

When we think of health care, we first think of doctors and nurses, but did you know that allied health professionals make up nearly 50-60% of the health care workforce?

Allied health professionals are crucial members of the health care system, yet they are often defined by what they are not rather than the invaluable roles they play. Professions under the allied health categorization include dietitians, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and radiographers, all of whom provide vital services to patient care and the health care system. 

Allied health is commonly defined by exclusion, encompassing all health professions other than medicine and nursing. This can often detract from the vital diagnostic, therapeutic, and direct care services these professions contribute to.

Allied health professionals provide specialized expertise that complements the work of doctors and nurses to enhance patient outcomes and contribute to robust team-based health care. This, in turn, infuses relief into the health care system, providing the specialized care necessary for a patient’s overall well-being and allowing doctors and nurses to focus on patient management and treatment.

Take, for example, an individual who has experienced a car accident and needs medical assistance. A radiographer and sonographer might be involved in providing images of the patient to the doctor to support the diagnosis and treatment plan. The patient may later be seen by a physical therapist to assist in regaining mobility during recovery and by an occupational therapist to evaluate the patient’s ability to perform daily activities and provide a treatment plan to regain their independence.

If the patient experienced a loss of hearing or complications in their ability to communicate, an audiologist and speech-language pathologist would provide their expertise toward recovery. The speech-language pathologist may also be brought in to assist in treating dysphagia, the difficulty in swallowing foods or liquids, resulting from the accident and may work closely with a dietitian to ensure that the patient receives adequate nutrition during recovery. All these specialized areas provide a vital part of the patient’s overall health care journey, contributing to a more comprehensive quality of care.

The inclusion and recognition of allied health professionals' contributions to the healthcare system are vital as multidisciplinary team-based health care becomes a more prominent topic in education and the system. Enhanced collaboration between doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and other health care professionals in a holistic, team-based approach leads to better patient outcomes. This is a critical focus on patient management and treatment at a time when the need for quality health care is expanding. Allied health’s growing importance in health care is increasingly needed in an aging population requiring specialized and preventative care to meet the increased need.

Allied Health professionals are indispensable to the health care system, providing essential services that enhance patient care and outcomes. Their expertise and devotion to strengthening the delivery of health care alongside their professional partners anchor them as vital members of a patient’s health care journey. Next time you think of health care, remember the crucial contributions of allied health professionals. Advocate for their recognition and support by sharing their stories and supporting policies highlighting their importance.

Written by, Wade Hensley, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs in the College of Allied Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences