Allied Health: Practice Issues And Trends In The New Millenni

Description: Allied Health is a comprehensive look at present and future concerns in the allied health care field. Leading experts in allied health practice and education address practice and policy issues that have developed as technology and a changing health care environment have created new and expanded roles for allied heath professionals. With the allied health field projected to add an estimated four million new jobs by 2005 in the United States alone, this book is an essential resource for maximizing the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver safe, efficient, effective, and equitable care. Allied Health presents an overview of the concerns facing the largest and most diverse pool of health workers as they provide disease detection, prevention, dietary, health promotion, rehabilitation and health management services at all levels of health care delivery. This unique book addresses critical issues that affect allied health practice, including managed health care, computer technology, drug information, and demographic trends in society, with an emphasis on implications for education. The book also includes appendices listing allied health organizations, accrediting agencies, and descriptions of federally recognized allied health professions. Allied Health presents information on: public policy; research needs; new directions for accreditation; interprofessional collaborative alliances; employment opportunities; practice directions. Allied health professionals play a critical role in health care delivery, comprising a significant portion of the health care work force with tremendous potential for addressing issues of health care cost, quality, and access within the health care system. Allied Health is an essential resource for the future of health care and a must read for allied health care educators and students, and health care policymakers.