Allied Health Professionals

Source: my-benefits health®

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan

Novus Health

Allied Health Professionals: Expand your health network

Provincial health care plans are relying more and more on Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to increase access to health care. AHPs are practitioners with specialized education and training in health care, but who do not have a medical degree. Common examples of AHPs include chiropractors, massage therapists and psychologists. Learning more about AHPs can help you expand your health network.

How is an AHP different from a doctor?

Unlike doctors, AHPs cannot diagnose you with a particular condition. However, they can help identify, treat and prevent illnesses by suggesting therapies or health products to support a treatment plan recommended by your doctor. For instance, if your doctor identifies that you have a digestive problem, seeing a dietitian may help you understand which foods promote digestive health and which ones don’t.

Like medical doctors, many AHPs are regulated, which means they are required by law to deliver competent, ethical and professional services. The governing body (professional college) of each profession defines the scope of these requirements and holds practitioners accountable for their practice.

Remember that some AHPs may be unregulated, depending on the province or territory and the scope of their practice. An unregulated practitioner could have any level of knowledge and/or training, so the treatment they provide may not be accurate or beneficial. You may also have little recourse for adverse effects following treatment from an unregulated practitioner. Always make sure that the health practitioner you see is regulated before you seek care from them. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and for a practitioner’s regulatory status.

What services can an AHP provide?

Services offered by AHPs vary according to the specialty of that AHP. Treatments can include therapies such as chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy or mental health counselling, and/or health products such as rehabilitative exercise equipment and traditional medicines.

While many therapies offered by AHPs (such as acupuncture and chiropractics) show clinically proven health benefits, not all therapies have concrete medical evidence to support their effectiveness or widespread use. Always research your chosen treatment and the practitioner offering it.

How do I find an AHP?

Use the chart below to find regulatory and contact information for the specific AHP you are looking for. Keep in mind that while a profession may be regulated nationally, not all provinces have regulatory bodies. The chart displays in which provinces particular professions are regulated.

Profession	Regulated in	Find a practitioner	Notes
Acupuncture	AB, BC, QC	http://www.cmaac.ca/members	Regulatory body currently in development for Ontario
Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologist	AB, BC, MB, NB, ON, QC, SK	http://www.speechandhearing.ca/en/find-a-professional/find-a-professional-search-form
Chiropractor	All provinces and territories	http://www.chiropracticcanada.ca/en-us/LocateaChiropractor.aspx
Chiropodist/ Podiatrist	AB, BC, MB, NB, ON, QC, SK	http://www.podiatrycanada.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=3 (see the 'How can I find a podiatrist near where I live?' section)
Dental Assistant	AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, PEI, SK, YT	http://www.cdaa.ca/e (follow Provincial Associations link)
Dental Hygienist	All provinces and territories	http://www.ndhcb.ca/en/authorities.php
Dietitian	All provinces and territories	http://www.dietitians.ca/Find-A-Dietitian/Search-for-a-Dietitian.aspx
Massage Therapist	BC, NL, ON	https://www.cmto.com/imis_eseries/source/Members/publicregister.cfm
Midwife	AB, BC, MB, NT, NS, ON, QC, SK	http://cmrc-ccosf.ca/node/21
Naturopath and Naturopathic Doctor/Physician	BC, MB, NS, ON, SK	http://www.cand.ca/index.php?findnd&L=0	Regulatory body currently in development for Alberta
Occupational Therapist	AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PEI, QC, SK	http://www.otworks.ca/otfinder.cfm	An occupational therapist from the Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut may write a national qualifying exam to be eligible to register with another provincial college.
Optician	All provinces and territories	http://www.licensedoptician.ca/cms.Where_do_I_find_an_Optician.aspx
Optometrist	All provinces and territories	http://mrms.opto.ca/findOpto.php
Psychologist	All provinces and territories	http://www.crhspp.ca/findlist.php
Physiotherapist	AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PEI, QC, SK, YT	http://thesehands.ca/index.php/site/Finding_a_Physiotherapist
Respiratory Therapist	AB, MB, NB, NS, ON, PEI, QC, SK	http://www.csrt.com/en/about/regulatory_bodies.asp
Social Worker	AB, BC, MB, NB NL, NS, ON, PEI, QC, SK	http://www.casw-acts.ca/canada/prov_e.html
Traditional Chinese Medicine	AB, BC, QC	http://www.cmaac.ca/members	Regulatory body currently in development for Ontario

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