ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Allied health professional

Allied health professionals are people who work in the healthcare industry but are not doctors or nurses. They can do different things to help take care of people's health. For example, some allied health professionals help people if they have trouble talking or communicating, some help people exercise and move their bodies, and some work with people who need help with their mental health or emotions.

Allied health professionals have special training and education to do their jobs. They have learned about the different parts of the body, how they work, and what they need to stay healthy. They also learn about medical equipment and tools, and how to use them to help people feel better.

Allied health professionals work in many different settings, like hospitals, doctors' offices, schools, and even people's homes. They work with all kinds of people, including babies, kids, adults, and elderly people.

Some examples of allied health professions are:

- Speech therapists: These people help you learn how to talk or communicate better if you have trouble.
- Physical therapists: These people help you exercise and move your body after an injury, surgery, or illness.
- Occupational therapists: These people help you learn skills so you can do things like dressing yourself, cooking, and working.
- Psychologists: These people help you understand and cope with your emotions and mental health.
- Nutritionists: These people teach you about healthy food and make plans for you to eat better.
- Medical technologists: These people do tests on blood or other body fluids to find out if there is something wrong with your health.

Allied health professionals are an important part of healthcare, because they help people in many different ways to stay healthy, recover from injuries or illnesses, and live a better life.