| Many allied medical professions such as the | | | | medical sonographers, opticians, radiologic |
| medical assistant are seeing a rise in growth | | | | technologists and many other related |
| as a result of the current healthcare crisis | | | | positions.With an increased number of |
| in the United States. As major medical | | | | physicians and nurses, competition will |
| insurance companies try to cut their costs an | | | | increase, and salaries will certainly go down |
| increasing number of procedures once | | | | (law of supply and demand). However allied |
| performed by physician, nurses and other | | | | health care salaries are most likely to |
| higher trained healthcare professionals are | | | | increase over the next few years. In fact, |
| now being done by less costly allied health | | | | the quality will probably actually increase, |
| professionals. This would include the medical | | | | since the motivation to become a physician or |
| assistant, medical technologists and related | | | | nurse will be an interest in the field, and |
| positions. Of course this shift in patient | | | | desire to help others, rather than just a way |
| care has created a greater need for trained | | | | to get a high-paying job and for those |
| allied care professionals. In the past most | | | | interested in other healthcare fields it is a |
| of these allied professionals were trained on | | | | good idea to investigate the availability of |
| the job by physicians, nurses and other | | | | jobs before you decide to enter any field. |
| medical staff members. However now more of | | | | You will be investing a considerable amount |
| these allied health care aids are now | | | | of time and money in anticipation of getting |
| receiving additional training via internet | | | | a good position upon completion of your |
| based distance education programs or | | | | training.Currently the St. Augustine Medical |
| traditional training programs.The current | | | | Assistant School is providing an innovative |
| acceptance into medical, nursing, and other | | | | distance education experience for students |
| schools in the health care field is often | | | | who wish to learn healthcare basics via |
| very competitive. For example, there are | | | | virtual online teach techniques. Additional |
| probably 10-20 qualified applicants for every | | | | information about these programs can be found |
| vacancy in medical school. Most nursing | | | | on their website at training in medical |
| schools have 2-3 year waiting periods | | | | assisting and many other related positions, |
| (despite an alleged chronic shortage of | | | | while generally preferred, is not always |
| nurses). Many highly motivated and talented | | | | required. Some medical assistants and allied |
| people wind up going into other fields. Often | | | | professionals are trained on the job, |
| are career in a basic allied healthcare | | | | although this practice is less common than in |
| profession such as a medical assistant is an | | | | the past. Applicants usually need a high |
| excellent fit for these students.The term | | | | school diploma or the equivalent. Recommended |
| 'allied health' is used to identify a cluster | | | | high school courses include mathematics, |
| of health professions and covers many | | | | health, biology, typing, bookkeeping, |
| occupational titles, exclusive of physicians, | | | | computers, and office skills. Volunteer |
| nurses, and a handful of others." Allied | | | | experience in the health care field also is |
| Healthcare jobs may include medical | | | | helpfulSince allied professionals deal with |
| assistants, cardiovascular technologists and | | | | the public they must be neat and well groomed |
| technicians, dental hygienists, diagnostic | | | | and have a courteous, pleasant manner. |