Definition and list of health professionals (2024)

Definition of health professionals

Health professionals maintain health in humans through the application of the principles and procedures of evidence-based medicine and caring. Health professionals study, diagnose, treat and prevent human illness, injury and other physical and mental impairments in accordance with the needs of the populations they serve. They advise on or apply preventive and curative measures, and promote health with the ultimate goal of meeting the health needs and expectations of individuals and populations, and improving population health outcomes. They also conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories and operational methods to advance evidence-based health care. Their duties may include the supervision of other health workers (adapted from ILO 2008; WHO 2010; Gupta 2011).

List of health professionals considered within the literature review

Occupations in this sub-major group are classified into several minor groups. To facilitate the development of the WHO guidelines for transforming and scaling up health professionals' education and training, the literature review will focus on the following list of health professionals, as defined by the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) (ILO 2008; WHO 2010).

Medical Doctors – both Generalist and Specialist Practitioners, including Public Health Doctors (ISCO-08 minor group 221).

Nursing Professionals, including Public Health Nurses (ISCO-08 minor group 222, unit 2221).

Midwifery Professionals, including Public Health Midwives (ISCO-08 minor group 222, unit 2222).

Dentists (ISCO-08 minor group 226, unit 2261).

Pharmacists (ISCO-08 minor group 226, unit 2262).

To simplify and streamline the literature review, this list excludes several groups under the ISCO-08 definition of health professionals, such as traditional and complementary medicine professionals (ISCO-08 minor group 223) , paramedical practitioners (ISCO-08 minor group 224), dieticians and nutritionists (ISCO-08 minor group 226, unit 2265), physiotherapists (ISCO-08 minor group 226, unit 2264), and several other therapy-related occupations.

Definition and list of health professionals (2024)

FAQs

How would you define a health professional? ›

A health professional is a person trained to work in a health or health-related field. In most cases, a health professional will have received training to work in a specific mental or physical health field. Examples of health professionals include physicians, therapists and lab technicians.

What are 5 health care professionals? ›

Health Care Professionals
  • Certified Nurse Assistant. ...
  • Home Health Aide. ...
  • Certified Hemodialysis Technician. ...
  • Training Providers.
  • Nursing Home Administrator.

What is the definition of a health care profession? ›

A health professional, healthcare professional, or healthcare worker (sometimes abbreviated HCW) is a provider of health care treatment and advice based on formal training and experience.

How many types of healthcare professionals are there? ›

Your health—and your money—depend on it. Entities of the California Department of Consumer Affairs license and regulate more than 19 different types of healthcare professionals, from doctors and nurses to hearing aid dispensers, psychologists, and others.

Who counts as a health professional? ›

Under federal regulations, a "health care provider" is defined as: a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, podiatrist, dentist, chiropractor, clinical psychologist, optometrist, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, or a clinical social worker who is authorized to practice by the State and performing within the scope of their ...

What is the legal definition of a health professional? ›

Healthcare Professional means any member of the medical, pharmacy or nursing professions or any other person who in the course of his or her professional activities may prescribe, administer or dispense to an end-user a medicinal product.

What are the 4 important characteristics of a healthcare professional? ›

Qualities of a Good Health Care Professional
  • Service Oriented. Good health care professionals are motivated by a desire to serve and help others. ...
  • Empathy and Compassion. ...
  • Hardworking. ...
  • Passion for the Field. ...
  • Strong Communication Skills. ...
  • Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle. ...
  • The Ability to Multitask. ...
  • Strong Problem-Solving Skills.
Sep 20, 2023

Who are the primary health care professionals? ›

The most common of these are outlined in more detail below.
  • Primary Care Physician. The primary care physician is the first entry point for much of the general population. ...
  • Nurse Practitioners. ...
  • Family Practice Doctors. ...
  • Internal Medicine Doctors. ...
  • Gynecologist or Obstetrician. ...
  • Geriatricians. ...
  • Pediatricians. ...
  • References.

Who is a qualified health care professional? ›

A “physician or other qualified health care professional” is an individual who is qualified by education, training, licensure/regulation (when applicable), and facility privileging (when applicable) who performs a professional service within his/her scope of practice and independently reports that professional service. ...

What is the role of health professionals in healthcare? ›

Health is a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living; it is a positive concept, emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities." Thus, health referred to the ability to maintain homeostasis and recover from adverse events.

What is the difference between medical and health professionals? ›

CNAs and LPNs are considered allied health professionals due to their limited educational scope and abilities. RNs and APRNs, on the other hand, are considered medical professionals because of their thorough, rigorous training and degrees.

What is a healthcare professional responsibility? ›

• Demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity; a responsiveness to the needs of patients and society that supersedes self-interest; accountability to patients, society, and the profession; and a commitment to excellence and on-going professional development.

What is the largest category of health professionals? ›

Nurses comprise the largest component of the healthcare workforce, are the primary providers of hospital patient care, and deliver most of the nation's long-term care. Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 5% from 2021 to 2031.

What is the largest professional group in healthcare? ›

Nurses and midwives are the largest group in the registered health workforce, with about 353,000 registered and almost 301,000 nurses and midwives employed in 2014 (Table 2.3. 1).

What is considered a qualified health professional? ›

A “physician or other qualified health care professional” is an individual who is qualified by education, training, licensure/regulation (when applicable), and facility privileging (when applicable) who performs a professional service within his/her scope of practice and independently reports that professional service. ...

What is the definition of professionalism in health? ›

Professionalism comprises those attributes and behaviors that serve to maintain patient interests above physician self-interest. Professionalism extends beyond interactions with patients and their families, however.

What is considered to be a medical professional? ›

Medical professional means any person licensed or certified to provide health care services to natural persons, including a chiropractor, clinical dietician dietitian, clinical psychologist, dentist, nurse, occupational therapist, optometrist, pharmacist, physical therapist, physician, podiatrist, psychiatric social ...

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