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Select an allied health care profession and provide a description of the jobs and services provided by that profession. Research regulatory or professional organizations that serve the profession you chose, and describe an area in which the profession seeks to improve or expand. In what other ways might the profession grow to better serve the ever-changing health care population?
An excellent example of an allied health profession is physical therapy. Physical therapists, often called "movement experts," are licensed healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals with medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities.
Physical therapists, or PTs, work with patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly, to restore, maintain, and promote optimal physical function. Their services include:
Diagnosing and developing treatment plans: They examine a patient's medical history and physical abilities to create an individualized care plan.
Therapeutic exercises and manual therapy: PTs use a combination of exercises, stretches, hands-on techniques (like massage or joint mobilization), and specialized equipment to help patients improve strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination.
Pain management: They utilize a range of modalities such as heat, cold, electrical stimulation, or ultrasound to reduce pain and inflammation.
Patient education: A critical part of their job is educating patients on how to manage their condition, prevent future injuries, and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
Rehabilitation: They are vital in helping patients recover from surgery, strokes, injuries, or chronic conditions, often helping them avoid the need for surgery or long-term medication.
Physical therapists work in diverse settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practices, nursing homes, and patients' homes.
The main professional organization for physical therapists in the United States is the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The APTA's mission is to improve the health of society by advancing physical therapist practice, education, and research.
An area where the profession seeks to improve and expand, according to the APTA and recent trends, is the shift to a population health and public health approach. Traditionally, PTs have focused on one-on-one, reactive care for individuals with an injury or chronic condition. The profession is now advocating for a proactive role in addressing health disparities and promoting wellness on a larger, community-wide scale. This means moving beyond the clinic to implement population-level interventions to prevent diseases and disabilities, rather than just treating them after they occur.
The physical therapy profession can grow in several ways to better serve the ever-changing healthcare population:
Expanded use of telehealth: The rise of telehealth allows PTs to provide remote consultations, making services more accessible to patients in rural areas or those with mobility issues. This also enables better patient monitoring and support for at-home exercise programs.
Adoption of technology: Integrating wearable devices, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance patient engagement and treatment effectiveness. For example, VR can be used to simulate real-world environments for rehabilitation, while wearable sensors can provide real-time data on a patient's progress.
Greater emphasis on preventative care: As the population ages and chronic diseases become more prevalent, PTs can expand their role in preventative care by designing wellness programs and fitness plans to help people manage conditions like obesity and diabetes before they lead to more serious physical impairments.