Coming together, moving apart: a history of the term allied health in education, accreditation, and practice.
In recent years, several groups, including the physician assistant, health information management, ophthalmic medical technician/technologist, and athletic training review committees, have left the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) system to form their own, profession-specific accrediting bodies. Their motivation was typically a desire for greater professional visibility and autonomy. Combined, these professions represented one third of the CAAHEP's programs. This article reviews the history of allied health and examines current attempts to bring cohesion and identity to this increasingly fractured segment of the U.S. health care system.
Donini-Lenhoff
Fred G
FG
Department of Medical Education Products, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL 60610, USA. fred.lenhoff@ama-assn.org
D000068:Accreditation; D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000193:education / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States