Health Workforce Research Center – Allied Health

Overview
In the Health Workforce Research Center (HWRC) on Allied Health, we provide high-quality and easily accessible research on the supply and distribution of a diverse, culturally competent allied health workforce, and identifying innovative models of education, training and integrative health care delivery that leverage the skills of that workforce. We conduct research studies with the goal of informing policy and practice recommendations that support an ecosystem where health workers can thrive. This HWRC is one part of a wider portfolio of research CHWS conducts on allied health (see our list of studies). UW CHWS 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 contents of publications resulting from research supported by the HRSA’s National Center for Health Workforce Analysis are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by HRSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

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.”

  • Build data and methodological resources that can be used to describe the supply, demand and distribution of allied health workers in the US.
  • Identify new models and innovations that can be used to promote allied health career pathway development and that attract a diverse workforce.
  • Conduct specific studies that deepen understanding of critical allied health workforce issues, including rapid response requests that address emerging policy questions.
  • Efficiently disseminate research findings in user-friendly, easily accessed formats to inform researchers, workforce planners, educators, and policymakers.

Examples include:

  • Behavioral health workforce
  • Clinical/medical laboratory workforce
  • Community paramedics
  • Emergency medical services
  • Health information workforce
  • Home care aides/health health aides
  • Long-term care workforce
  • Medical assistants
  • Medical billers and coders
  • Medical interpreters and translators
  • Nursing assistants
  • Occupational therapists
  • Occupational therapy assistants
  • Oral health workforce
  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Physical therapists
  • Physical therapy assistants
  • Physician assistants
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Identifying the roles of the allied health workforce and how these roles have been changing over time.
  • Understanding the demand for allied health occupations and how to ensure the demand is met.
  • Exploring whether and how these occupations should be regulated.
  • Examining career pathways and career lattices for allied health professions.

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.