If you’ve ever had an X-ray, received physical rehabilitation or had blood drawn, you’ve seen an allied health professional at work. Working alongside physicians and nurses in a hospital or health care facility, allied health professionals have many roles—whether interacting directly with patients or working behind the scenes.

In general, allied health is any health-related career, excluding nurses and physicians. Collectively, these professions, ranging from radiology and respiratory to pharmacy and health information management, comprise more than 100 different fields. In fact, the majority of people in health care are in an allied health role.

At LifeBridge Health, these medical professionals are an essential part of the health care team throughout the entire organization: Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital Center, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital and Jewish Convalescent & Nursing Home, as well as freestanding medical centers throughout the Baltimore region.

Our allied health professionals help support patient care and add an immeasurable amount to the picture of patient care,” explains Liz Dunne, R.N., M.S., director, Education Resource Center, the clinical training division for LifeBridge Health. “They add their specialty to the whole arena of services offered.”

For example, radiologic technicians provide the full range of X-ray services, from taking ultrasounds for expectant mothers and mammograms to detect the earliest signs of breast cancer to imaging broken bones in the ER and CT scans prior to surgery. Other professionals, such as physical and occupational therapists, help patients recover mobility and skills lost due to disease or injury.

Behind the scenes, health information technology professionals handle and analyze patient medical records, and pharmacy technologists deliver the right medications and products to patients.

What makes the LifeBridge Health approach so valuable to allied health professionals is its flexibility and breadth of experiences, points out Janice Lynn, coordinator of allied health recruiting for Sinai Hospital, a bustling, leading-edge teaching facility. Employees at Levindale gain expertise working with an older population. “Northwest Hospital employees work in an environment where private room general care areas follow the Friesen concept of architectural design for patient-centered personalized care. As needs and experiences evolve, it’s simple to make the transition to another facility, with all seniority and benefits in place, Lynn notes.

Because LifeBridge Health offers so many venues, medical professionals find it easy to build their skills. Respiratory therapists, for example, assist patients who have chronic illnesses at Levindale or help fragile infants just learning to breathe. “Often, our employees find that their skill levels increase exponentially as they learn in different environments,” says Liza Sullenbarger, recruiter, Northwest Hospital Center. “The opportunity to help such a cross-section of patients provides an extraordinary opportunity for career growth.”

For employees, the range of facilities offers welcome variety. “Our drawing card is our Eden Alternative. Employees love being a part of this dynamic program,” says Kate Walker, recruiter for Levindale. “Everything we do to help our residents feel involved has the benefit of keeping staff motivated and excited about their jobs as well.”

She points to the six cats and four dogs that live at Levindale. “The other day, two of our dogs, Rosie and Lincoln, got married. You should have seen the excitement. It was a fun-filled, memorable time for our residents and staff, and, of course, for the dogs,” she laughs.

On the other hand, other professionals thrive in the hectic pace of Sinai ER-7, featuring seven separate care centers and a nationally recognized Level II trauma center. Northwest Hospital employees work in an environment where private room general care areas follow the Friesen concept of architectural design for patient-centered personalized care.

How does one become an allied health professional? Most allied health professions require formal training and education. Typically, after researching and choosing a particular profession, students need to complete a two-year associate degree or four-year bachelor’s degree. The program should be accredited and lead to a national certification examination. Some professions also require state licensure.

As current LifeBridge Health employees already know, career development is an overarching goal throughout each institution. For example, twice a year, LifeBridge Health hosts Career Day, when area schools are invited to explain their allied health programs to employees. “We make it easy for our employees to further their education and move up the career ladder,” says Dunne. To support employees in their development, LifeBridge Health offers training, tuition assistance and certifications.

A patient care assistant or someone working in a non-related field can investigate an allied health career option and develop a new career path for a more rewarding, higher-paying job,” says Dunne.

Another benefit of an allied health career is its flexibility, ideal for today’s busy lifestyles that combine work and home, says Lynn. Many positions allow for working three 12-hour days at full-time benefits. Employees at LifeBridge Health have many options to choose their hours and locations. Various scheduling options are also available.

Possibly, there has never been a better time to enter the allied health profession or expand one’s knowledge and skills. Like the well-known nursing shortage, there simply aren’t enough trained allied health professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are eight million people working in allied health fields in the United States. What’s more, that figure is expected to soar to more than 11 million by 2008—the Bureau estimates the growth rate of new jobs in the health profession will be twice the rate of job growth in non-health care professions. To make matters even more challenging, the need for allied health workers is spiking just as the growing aging population requires more health care services.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the growth rate, in general, of new jobs in the health care professions to be about 30 percent until 2010. Specific professions are expected to rise even higher: health information technology, 49 percent; respiratory therapy technicians, 35 percent; and cardiovascular technology, 35 percent.

The payoff of an allied health career is great: a rewarding career, competitive salaries and the opportunity to help people, says Lynn. “The constant demand for health care ensures a high degree of job security and steady earning potential from the start.”

What’s more, allied health allows professionals to do what they do best— help others. “Today, individuals want to make a difference,” says Walker. “The beauty of allied health is that it also provides the flexibility and career options to let each employee design his or her own career path.”

Hot Jobs in Allied Health

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Related Links:
Job Opportunities at Lifebridge Health - www.LifeJobs.org
Sinai Hospital
Northwest Hospital Center
Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital
Jewish Convalescent & Nursing Home