Allied Health Professionals

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When one thinks of the healthcare industry, one immediately thinks of the professional doctors and nurses that everyone goes to see on a regular basis in order to stay healthy. Historically, that is what the healthcare system consisted of. Recently, however, as technology use has increased and increased time demands have been put on these original health care providers, a new class of health care professionals has evolved. These new professionals are called Allied Health Professionals. They assist physicians and nurses in providing care to their patients. Allied health professionals can be divided into four main categories: laboratory technologists and technicians, therapeutic science practitioners, behavioral scientists, and support services. Laboratory technologists and technicians have developed specifically to meet the increased use of technology in the medical field. These professionals have a major role in diagnosing disease, assessing the impact of medical interventions, and applying highly technical procedures. While these allied health professionals are not often personally involved with patients, laboratory technologists and technicians play a crucial role in the process of providing personalized care. They generate vitally important data for identifying and treating heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other health conditions. Clinical laboratory professionals examine and analyze bodily fluids, tissues, and cells to identify bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms. They analyze the chemical constituents of body fluids, cross-match blood for transfusions, and test blood for drug levels to measure the effectiveness of specific treatments. They also look at test results for accuracy and help make sense of them for the primary care physician. Examples of professionals from this category include radiological technologists and nuclear

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