Health Workforce Research Center – Allied Health

Overview
UW received our first competitive grant to support research on the allied health workforce from 2014 to 2017, a second round from 2017 to 2022, and a third round from 2022 to 2027. The most recent round of funding is approximately $2.25 million.

What is Allied Health?
The term “allied health” was first popularized when the federal Allied Health Professions Personnel Training Act was passed in 1967. While it is generally accepted that allied health professions do not include physicians, dentists, or nurses, there is not general agreement on a single list of occupations covered under this broad term. An allied health professional is defined within the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) simply as “an individual who graduated with an allied health professions degree or certificate, and is employed as an allied health professional in a health care setting” and references the Public Health Service Act, which defines allied health as trained professionals, other than registered nurses or physician assistants, who share “in the responsibility for the delivery of healthcare services or related services, including services relating to the identification, evaluation, and prevention of disease and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, health promotion services, rehabilitation services, or health systems management services.”

These studies are supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.