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Health science professionals
Behind every successful medical treatment is a team of highly trained professionals who are intimately involved in every step of your care. The following are descriptions of some of the larger health science professions represented by HSA, along with links to their professional associations:
Medical laboratory technologists
HSA represents almost 2,400 of these health care professionals, who work in a variety of specialized fields (such as clinical chemistry, microbiology, hematology, cytotechnology and histotechnology) in BC's public laboratories. They conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments, and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.
Medical radiation technologists
HSA represents more than 1,900 medical radiation technologists employed in public health care facilities. Included within this profession:
1) radiological (X-ray) technologists who perform a wide range of procedures and specialties, including radiography, mammography, angiography, fluoroscopy, and computerized tomography (CT scans);
2) nuclear medicine technologists who carry out diagnostic imaging using radioactive drugs, called tracers, that concentrate in specific organs;
3) radiation therapists who administer radiation treatment in cancer clinics and hospitals; and
4) magnetic resonance technologists who operate MRI scanners to acquire images of soft tissues using magnetism, radio waves and computer technology.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapy is a health care profession directed at evaluating, restoring and maintaining physical function. Physiotherapists, also known as physical therapists, have a detailed understanding of how the body works and are university-educated and trained to assess and improve movement and function and relieve pain. HSA represents 1,300 physiotherapists in acute-care, long-term care and community-based facilities.
Social workers
Social work is a profession concerned with helping and empowering individuals, families, groups and communities to resolve problems that affect their well being on an individual or collective basis. HSA represents 1,100 social workers working both in hospitals and in the community health care sector.
Occupational therapists
Occupational therapists are health professionals who plan and carry out individually designed programs of activity for patients with physical or mental health problems, in order to help them work, play, care for themselves and do everyday activities. HSA represents approximately 950 occupational therapists.
Pharmacists
The practice of pharmacy includes interpreting and evaluating prescriptions, dispensing drugs, monitoring drug therapy, and advising on the therapeutic values, content and hazards of drugs and devices. HSA represents approximately 800 hospital pharmacists.
Respiratory therapists
Respiratory therapists are health care professionals who assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. This may include performing diagnostic tests, operating and monitoring respiratory equipment, and performing artificial respiration and external cardiac massage. HSA represents approximately 700 respiratory therapists.
Dietitians
HSA's 580 dietitians (sometimes known as nutritionists) are university-trained food and nutrition professionals with knowledge and skills in both normal and therapeutic nutrition, as well as food service systems management.
Health records administrators
There are more than 400 health records administrators represented by HSA. These health care professionals work with confidential health records and manage health information systems, using computer technologies to capture, manage and analyse data. They may also compile statistics for use in health care delivery and planning.
Diagnostic medical sonographers
Diagnostic medical sonographers (or ultrasound technologists) operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of various parts of the body. Using sound waves, they aid physicians in monitoring pregnancies and in diagnosing cardiac, vascular and other disorders. HSA represents more than 400 diagnostic medical sonographers.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists
HSA represents more than 300 of these university-educated communication and hearing health care professionals. Speech-language pathologists diagnose, evaluate and treat a wide range of communication and speech-language disorders in infants, children, and adults. Audiologists diagnose, evaluate, treat and provide education on hearing, balance and related disorders.
Other health science professionals represented by HSA
- Cardiology technologists (Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists, Cardiology Technologists Association of BC)
- Biomedical engineering technologists (Institute of Biomedical Engineering Technology)
- Psychologists (Canadian Psychological Association, British Columbia Psychological Association, College of Psychologists of British Columbia)
- Clinical counsellors, rehabilitation counsellors and counselling therapists
- Electroneurophysiology (ENP) technologists, including technologists specialized in electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), evoked potentials (EP), electronystagmography (ENG) and polysomnography (Canadian Association of Electroneurophysiology Technologists)
- Cardiovascular / cardiopulmonary technologists (Canadian Society of Cardio-Pulmonary Technologists)
- Cardiology / electrocardiogram (ECG) technologists (Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists)
- Clinical perfusionists (Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion)
- Prosthetists and orthotists (Canadian Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists)
- Recreation therapists (Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association, British Columbia Therapeutic Recreation Association)
- Music therapists (Canadian Association for Music Therapy, Music Therapy Association of British Columbia)
- Health librarians (Canadian Health Libraries Association, Health Libraries Association of British Columbia)
- Special-needs preschool teachers and early childhood educators
- Supported child care consultants
- Child life specialists
- Infant development (IDP) consultants
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