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Attachment B: Health Care Occupations <br />1. Allied Health <br />The Affordable Care Act (ACA) defines the term "allied health professional" as meaning <br />an individual who graduated with an allied health professions degree or ceriificate,*and is <br />employed as an allied health professional in a health care setting. • The' Association of Schools <br />of Allied Health Professionals expands upon its definition to include a cluster of health <br />professions that covers as many as 100 occupational titles, and employment growth is seen for <br />medical assistants, respiratory therapists, pharmacy technicians, emergency medical <br />technicians, and clinical lab technologists working in hospitals, home health care, medical <br />laboratories, and ambulatory care settings. <br />Allied health specialties are likely to evolve over the next several years, and occupations <br />in this complex sub - sector will continue to grow with the rest of the health care industry. <br />Changes in the way that medical care is provided are producing substantial demand for <br />technicians who can operate. advanced medical equipment. This Increasing demand will involve <br />not only new facilities and services, but more employees needed. across a wide range of <br />occupations requiring varying levels of education and training. <br />_ — -1n- 201-0, -in- response -to - public.- comments - solicited . in -a- 2008- F- ederal- R-egiste"— oticerthe --� <br />Bureau of Labor Statistics .(BLS) added Community Health Workers (CHWs) to the Standard <br />Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Community health workers, also known as <br />promo oras -or promo ores,. asses m vvi ua s an commune ies o a opt ea y e aviors, <br />particularly in areas where substantial health hazards exist. Occupational growth for community <br />health workers•is also projected as communities seek to build effective linkages with the health <br />care system to provide health education and information, advocate for underserved individuals <br />to receive appropriate services, and' build the capacity of the community in addressing health <br />issues. <br />ii. Nursing <br />Recent trends in the delivery of health care services increasingly rely on highly skilled <br />nurses working with allied health professionals in supporting clinical roles. Nursing roles range <br />from primary patient care to case management and directing complex health care systems. <br />Career pathway programs with articulated credit agreements can ease transitions for graduates <br />of nursing education and training programs at community colleges, and help transfer students <br />qualify for entry-level and mid -level nursing positions. <br />Increasing demand for medical care, rehabilitation, nursing, and long -term care will <br />broaden the range of healthcare occupations and require varying levels of education and <br />training. With further education and training, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), direct support <br />professionals; home health aides, medical assistants, and personal apd home care aldes may <br />advance to higher -level positions or transfer to new occupations within healthcare industry <br />settings. Skill certifications and credentials may include licenses, certificates, and degrees from <br />accredited nursing programs that lead to the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) or vocational <br />licensure for Licensed Practical Nurses, and positions as CNAs. Career pathway programs can <br />help individuals develop competencies that are relevant across a number of occupations <br />enabling incumbent workers to advance from an ADN to the bachelor's degree in nursing <br />(BSN). <br />Iii. Health information Technology <br />Health information technology (HIT) makes it possible for health care providers to better <br />manage patient care through secure use and sharing of health information. Health IT includes <br />the use of electronic health records (EHRs) instead of paper medical records to maintain <br />people's health information. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical <br />Health (HITECH),Act seeks to improve American health care delivery and patient care through <br />32 20A -43 <br />