Select and profile (a) a high-level job position you aspire to secure in your chosen allied health field and (b) a same-level position in a different and unrelated allied health care field. What educational and professional qualifications must an individual in each of these positions possess? What is the typical career path to arrive at each position? Compare and contrast the responsibilities of each position with regard to workplace safety, risk management, and/or quality of service, and identify one element from each career path that might benefit the other.

Solution

An example of two high-level professions in allied health care fields are a laboratory manager and an occupational therapy manager. For a laboratory manager, an individual must have a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field like biology or something related. They must also have lab experience, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of business strategies. For an occupational therapy manager, an individual must have a master’s degree in occupational therapy and be licensed to practice occupational therapy. They must also have clinical experience, business skills, and communication skills. A typical career path for a laboratory manager would be a phlebotomist, a clinical lab assistant, a medical lab technician, a medical technologist, a lab supervisor, and then a lab manager (Honor Health, 2019). A typical career path for an occupational therapy manager would be an occupational therapy assistant, an entry-level occupational therapist, a mid-level occupational therapist. a senior level occupational therapist, a clinical specialist occupational therapist, and then an occupational therapy manager (Tripod Partners, 2024). Both positions have the responsibility to maintain safety, reduce risk, and work to improve quality of service. Laboratory managers do so by coordinating the lab team and equipment in a way that aligns with these values, while occupational therapy managers do so by coordinating the clinical team and treatment plans in a way that aligns with these values. One element from the laboratory management career path that could benefit occupational therapy management career path would be having an entry level that does not require a degree. One element from the occupational therapy management career path that could benefit the laboratory management career path would be having an advanced degree.

Honor Health. (2019). Laboratory Career Path.

      https://www.honorhealth.com/sites/default/files/careers/honorhealth-careers-LAB.pdf

Tripod Partners. (2024). Occupational Therapy Career Paths: From Entry-Level to Advanced Roles.

      https://www.tripodpartners.com/blog/career-advice/allied-healthcare/occupational-therapy-career-paths-from-entry-level-to-advanced-roles/

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