Are you looking for a new career in Allied health? Perhaps you’re already a healthcare hero interested in a change or you’re considering a job in a hospital environment but aren’t sure of your options. I4 Search Group is a leader in permanent placement healthcare, and we can help you find your next dream career using our wide network of team members.
What are allied health careers?
Allied health careers make up over 50% of the healthcare industry. Allied occupations are vast and varied, but a simple way to begin to narrow down the definition is that they are healthcare professions that are not medicine or nursing. Allied healthcare professionals work alongside doctors and nurses, provide therapy and treatment, work to prevent disease, rehabilitate patients, and often serve as experts in many fields, like dentistry, occupational therapy, nutrition, and more.
Allied Healthcare is very people and patient-focused, and Allied health careers within hospitals are in great demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations; this increase is expected to result in about 2 million new jobs over the decade.”
Read on for some of the fastest-growing allied health careers within hospitals.
Respiratory Therapist
If a hospitalized patient needs help breathing, a respiratory therapist is assigned to their care. Respiratory therapists are allied health professionals in high demand as they treat patients ranging from infants to the growing population of older adults, who often suffer from illnesses like COPD, lung cancer, and other complications. Respiratory therapists interview patients and work with physicians and nurses to provide diagnoses, therapy, and care plans. Therapists will check oxygen levels, provide breathing treatments, and perform actions such as connecting patients to ventilators. Often this can be in emergency situations, so those who work in this field must be able to think and act fast.
To become a respiratory therapist, you’ll usually need an Associate’s degree from an AMA-approved certification program and maintain a license in most states.
Surgical Technologist
A surgical technologist is a vital part of a hospital environment. They help surgeons with many tasks, including setting up operating rooms and maintaining sterile environments, transporting patients to surgery and recovery, and even attending surgeons during the actual surgical proceedures.
To become a surgical technologist, you will likely need an Associate’s degree level of education though some hospitals, schools, and vocational programs offer non-degree certification. A Surgical Assistant sometimes requires certification as they often have a more specialized, hands-on role during the surgery itself. This requirement can vary from state to state.
Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapy is an exciting, ever-changing field that pays well. Radiation therapists work with oncologists to provide radiation treatment to cancer patients. They consult with patients about the treatment, answer essential questions about what to expect, and make sure that the complex and powerful machines are calibrated and used correctly, targeting the right area of the body with the right amount of radiation.
Hospitals may require an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree on top of certification through an accredited program, but some entry-level positions might only require certification.
Contact Us
These are just a small sampling of the potential allied healthcare jobs available in the field. So are you ready to take the next step toward an Allied Health career within a hospital setting? We are an expert permanent placement healthcare firm and would love to assist you in your journey! At i4 Search Group, we work hard to match allied healthcare professionals with hospitals in need. You can search our job listings or contact us to get started.
