Who are allied health professionals?

But if it does, here’s how Allied Health Professions will help you:

• First up, you’ll be seen by an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) who is a first responder on the scene of an accident.  The EMT will take your vital signs, administer first aid, put you onto a stretcher, and accompany you in an ambulance to a medical facility.
  
  Read up on EMT and Paramedic Careers
  
• Once you arrive at the clinic, you’ll be greeted by several people who will take your information and direct you to get the diagnosis and care that you need.  There are many occupational titles for the first professional you see in a clinic or hospital.  The job typically falls to a Medical Assistant, who keeps the office running, takes medical histories, and prepares patients for examination.  You may also meet a healthcare interpreter, who can explain clearly what is going on or interpret in the language that you feel comfortable speaking.
  
  Read up on Medical Assistants
  Read up on Health Care Interpreter jobs
  
• Since a skateboard accident involves a fall, a diagnosis usually includes a brain scan. That sounds serious, but after all you may have hurt your head, whether or not you were wearing your helmet.  To perform this task, a technician who is skilled at using specialized technology will do the scan, diagnose, and explain the results.
  
  Read up on Radiologic Technician or Neurodiagnostic Technologist
  
• Maybe you’ll need blood work.  A phlebotomist will draw your blood in a professional and safe manner, using sterilized equipment.  Your blood will be sent to a clinical lab for diagnosis.
  
  Read up Phlebotomist as a career. The job is not as difficult as its spelling.
  
• You have not been seriously injured.  The blood work and brainscan came back with nothing to be concerned about.  A nursing assistant, under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) can integrate your results and give the orders to discharge you.
  
  Read up on Nursing Assistant duties as a pathway to a career in nursing.
  
• You’re okay!  Maybe just some scrapes, bruises and a pounding headache.  Are you able to take pain medication? Just to make sure you’re not allergic to anything and to give the proper dose, you’ll meet a Pharmacy Technician who will fill the prescription ordered by the nursing assistant.
  
  Read up on the Pharmacy Technician role.
  
• But what if the person who had a skateboard accident is not okay? Even if they didn’t break any bones, they could have a sprained ankle or torn ligament.  This will need care from a physical therapist to relieve the pain and improve mobility. This will be outpatient treatment after being discharged from the clinic.
  
  Read up on Physical Therapy pathways
  
• One more stop before you leave the clinic.  The medical coder will input your treatments and create a bill for the health insurance company.  Health care can be expensive and medical billers and coders need to do an accurate job to ensure that the patient is not being overcharged.
  
  Read up on Medical Billing and Coding careers