AB Staffing Solutions provided this article.
The answer to whether you can take a travel contract as an Allied Health Professional is YES. In fact, there are open positions available across the country.
Allied Health Professionals are the backbone of the healthcare system. You’re in the trenches with frontline workers such as pharmacists, Certified Nursing Assistants, diagnostic technicians, rehabilitation professionals, and more.
If you’re looking for a new career, Allied Health Professionals are in demand. While some specialties require 2 years of education, others may require more or less education and training. These are the people who provide assistance to doctors and nurses, and they are the educators of healthy living and nutrition.
Categories of Allied Health Professionals
Allied health positions are those that are distinct from medicine and nursing. It is estimated that as many as 60% of the healthcare workforce in the United States are in this field. While there are many types of professionals in this field, we can categorize them as these:
- Primary Care Provider. These are the people who see patients, such as dental hygienists, pharmacists, health care technicians, and Certified Nursing Assistants.
- Diagnostic Professionals. Allied health professionals who work with diagnostic machines like X-ray and MRI technicians, radiologists, ultrasound technicians, and cardiovascular technicians.
- Rehabilitative Professionals. These are the allied health professionals who help patients with mind, body, and soul. This includes physical therapists, operational therapists, prosthetists, physiotherapists, and speech pathologists.
- Health Promotion. These are professionals who educate patients about having a healthy lifestyle, such as community centers or nonprofit organizations. They may work for government organizations or be hired by businesses to share healthy habits with employees. They include health educators, dieticians or nutritionists, and health coordinators.
As far as travel positions go, we have many opportunities. The benefits of taking an Allied Health travel contract include higher pay, experiencing new areas and cultures, a flexible schedule, and building your resume. The specialties listed below are the most in-demand travel positions for Allied Health Providers.
Most in-demand Allied Health travel positions
- Medical Technologist or Med Tech (MT). As a Travel Med Tech, you have the opportunity to take your 4-year degree, live in a new place, and learn new skills. We see a lot of travel positions for this specialty. MLTs are required to have an Associate of Science degree, whereas MTs earn a Bachelor of Science degree. Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) requires a Bachelor of Science degree plus a one-year internship.
- Pharmacist. As a pharmacist, you are responsible for dispensing medication prescribed by doctors. You also educate patients about their medications and are responsible for storing and handling medicine in the pharmacy. You earn a four-year degree to become a pharmacist, plus pharmacy school. You can begin as a pharmacy tech while completing undergraduate work.
- Ultrasound technicians. You are responsible for taking ultrasounds of patients as prescribed by their doctors to diagnose or rule out specific conditions.
- Imaging Professionals – X-Ray Techs, CT Techs, MRI Techs, and Rad Techs. These positions are responsible for getting the right imaging for the doctors to diagnose conditions.
- Surgical Technologist. You are responsible for preparing the operating room for nurses and surgeons.
- Respiratory Therapist. This specialty is in demand due to COVID-19 and cold and flu season, as you are the ones who assist patients in getting their lung function back to normal.
- Sterile Processing Technicians. You play a critical role in preventing infection by sterilizing, cleaning, processing, assembling, storing, and distributing medical supplies.
As you can see, Allied Health Professionals are an integral part of the healthcare system and are in high demand. If you’re interested in open positions or learning more about becoming a traveler, we’d love to talk to you! Check the AB Staffing Job Boards for your specialty.
Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.
