The term "allied health" is used to identify a cluster of health professions, encompassing as many as 100 occupational titles. Approximately two million allied health professionals are employed in the United States and taken as a group, comprise 60% of the health care workforce.
Allied health professionals are involved with the delivery of health care or related services pertaining to: the identification, evaluation, and prevention of diseases and disorders; dietary and nutritional services; and rehabilitation and health systems management. Allied health professionals include but are not limited to: audiologists, art therapists, dental hygenists, diagnostic medical sonographers, dietitians, cytotechnologists, medical technologists, music therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, radiographers, recreational therapists, respiratory therapists, rehabilitation counselors, and speech-language pathologists.
