The other day, I was interviewing someone from Canada, and they had never heard of Allied Health professionals.

I was shocked to realize that countries utilize different industries and healthcare terms.

Still, I know that companies in the UK use the same term as us Americans, “allied health care.”
But what was even more shocking to me was just how big the field of allied health professions in America is and how rapidly it is growing—and they had never heard of it.

I would have thought that everyone was aware of allied health care around the globe, but I guess not.
So, in this post, I will share 5 reasons that allied health professions are booming in the United States right now.

First, a quick definition of allied health, taken from Allied Health professionals, is that it is the beating heart of healthcare, makes up about 60% of our healthcare workforce, and is a critical system component. Allied health jobs may be in administrative, therapeutic, technological, or support professions. 

There are over 50 allied health positions, including medical assistants, physical therapist assistants and aides, pharmacy technicians, medical coding and billing employees, dental assistants, and many more.”

1. Baby Boomers

My parents are baby boomers, and the frequency at which they require healthcare services has been increasing annually for years now.

The same applies to their 77 million baby boomer buddies in the US.
As this vast segment of our population ages, more allied healthcare professionals must treat and care for them.

2. Technology

As more specialized technologies emerge, more technicians and technologists are required to learn these tools.

For example, medical imaging tools, radiology equipment, and ultrasound machines are all rapidly evolving into newer technologies.

Each time these technologies change, new positions may be created for allied health professionals to assist with managing and maintaining them.

3. Rise in Obesity and Other Diseases

In the US, we have a tremendous rise in obesity and various other conditions and diseases that are requiring more and more healthcare professionals.

In fact, over 70 million Americans suffer from obesity, which means that nearly 40% of our population is obese.

4. Growing Population

It isn’t just baby boomers who require more healthcare services. Our entire population requires healthcare services, and that population is growing.

With over 325 Million US residents, our population will continue to require more and more healthcare services in the future. Even as technology progresses and healthcare laws change, service demand will continue to increase.

5. Growth in Alternative and Natural Healing

Allied health professionals working in massage therapy and nutrition have seen dramatic increases in their markets over the past 20 years in the US. As obesity from lack of exercise and poor diet has begun to plague Americans, more and more people are coming around to the idea of eating healthy, exercising, and taking good care of their bodies as a means of both healing and preventative care.
Even physical therapy has grown tremendously in recent years, creating many new positions for allied health professionals, such as physical therapy assistants.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, the 5 main reasons allied health careers are proliferating.
If you enjoy caring for others and have an interest in health, pursuing an allied health program could be a very rewarding career path.

You can learn more about allied health jobs and schools at alliedhealthprograms.com.