Allied Health Definition Engagement Survey - Direct Service Allied Health Providers

BC's Provincial Allied Health Definition

The allied health workforce provides a range of preventative, diagnostic, technical, and therapeutic health-care and clinical support services across the lifespan and care continuum. They contribute specialized expertise, education, research and leadership, often working as integral members of a collaborative health-care team to improve the health and well-being of British Columbians. 

There are over 70 allied health disciplines comprised of regulated professions, technical, social/ community, clinical assisting occupations* and therapy. Members of the allied health workforce deliver, support or inform direct patient care and have completed occupation-specific education or training. Allied health does not include medical and nursing-related occupations, such as physicians, dentists, health-care assistants, midwives, nurse practitioners and nurses. 

*Adapted from the 2021 National Occupational Classification System. 

BC's Provincial Allied Health Definition Criteria

While all members of the health care team make valuable contributions to patient, client and resident care, the allied health workforce includes those who: 

  1. Complete occupation-specific education or training 
  2. Deliver or support direct patient/resident/client care, and 
  3. Develop, contribute to, or inform patient/resident/client care plans
Is the term "allied health" used in your organization or sector?
Do you consider yourself a part of the allied health workforce?
Do you agree with the listed criteria?

While all members of the health care team make valuable contributions to patient, client and resident care, the allied health workforce includes those who: 

  1. Complete occupation-specific education or training 
  2. Deliver or support direct patient/resident/client care, and 
  3. Develop, contribute to, or inform patient/resident/client care plans
What criteria should be considered in deciding what professions/occupations are in scope and out of scope for allied health policy development and support?
To what degree does the allied health definition resonate with you?
If you don't identify with the current provincial allied health definition, why not?
Which professions/occupations do you not consider part of the allied health workforce?
How would you improve the provincial allied health definition?
What professions/occupations should be added to the allied health workforce?
How can the provincial allied health definition strengthen the governments commitments to reconciliation and Indigenous-specific anti-racism?

Demographics

This section of the survey will support the Ministry in developing demographics profiles to help stratify and conduct targeted analysis of the collected findings.

What is your profession/occupation?
What region do you primarily work in?
The Vancouver Island/Coast economic region is located on the west coast of B.C. and includes all of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and some of the coastal regions of the Mainland, from the Powell River area up to the Central Coast. It includes Nanaimo and the provincial capital, Victoria.
The Mainland/Southwest economic region is located in the southwest corner of the B.C. mainland. It includes the Greater Vancouver area, the Fraser Valley and the Sunshine Coast, and stretches north to include Whistler, Pemberton and Lillooet.
The Thompson-Okanagan economic region is located in the interior of the province. It stretches from Princeton in the west to Golden and the Alberta border in the east, to Osoyoos and the Washington state border in the south. Kelowna and Kamloops are the largest cities in the region
The Kootenay economic region is located in the southeast corner of the province, between the Rocky Mountains to the east, the United States to the south and the Thompson-Okanagan region to the north and west. Cranbrook is the largest population centre in the region.
The Cariboo economic region covers much of the northern interior of the province, ranging from the Cariboo plateau in the west to the valleys of the Cariboo and Rocky Mountain ranges. It includes the city of Prince George, which acts as a major service centre for the northern half of the province.
North Coast covers the northern coastal areas of the province as well as Haida Gwaii. Prince Rupert, Terrace and Kitimat are the major centres in the region.
Nechako stretches from the B.C.–Yukon border in the north down to the central Lakes District of the province and is separated from the northeastern section of the province by the Rocky Mountain Trench.
The Northeast economic region shares a border with Alberta and the Yukon and is part of the Peace River Basin. It is separated from the northwestern part of the province by the Rocky Mountain Trench. The main population centres in the region are Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.
Is the region where you work classified as: Metro, Large Urban, Medium Urban, Small Urban, Rural, or Remote?
Metropolitan area (population 500,000* or greater) i.e., the Greater Vancouver Area
(population 100,000-499,999*) i.e. includes Abbotsford, Greater Victoria Area, Kelowna
(population 30,000-99,999*) i.e. includes Chilliwack, Prince George, Kamloops, Nanaimo, South Surrey, South Mission, Penticton, Courtenay-Comox, and others
Larger towns (population 10,000-29,000*) i.e. includes Ladysmith, Terrace, Cranbrook, Powell River, Quesnel, Trail, Duncan, Prince Rupert, Fort St. John, etc.
Smaller towns (population under 10,000*) i.e. includes Agassiz, Kitimat, Fernie, Summerland, Smithers, Mackenzie, Hope, Whistler, Port Hardy etc.
Most of the population you serve rural (living outside of any population centre) i.e. includes rural populations west of Nanaimo, outside Prince George, and in and around Grand Forks, Nelson, 100 Mile House, Vanderhoof, Chetwynd, the gulf islands, etc.
Most of the population you serve is rural (living outside of any population centre) and resides a significant distance from and/or experiences transportation barriers to key services i.e. includes Bella Coola, Haida Gwaii, Tofino/Ucluelet, McBride, Valemount, Stikine, etc
Do you work in: Public Sector, Private Sector?
(i.e. owned and operated by government. E.g. Health Authorities)
(i.e. owned and operated on a for-profit basis including self-employment. E.g. businesses and corporations)
(i.e. governed by board of directors. E.g. non-profit societies or charity)
If you work in the public sector, where in the public sector do you work?
What program area is your primary role associated with?
(hospital) (E.g. Intensive Care Unit, Surgical, Neurology, Cardiac)
(E.g. General Practice, Urgent and Primary Care Centre, Laboratory Services, Community Pharmacy, Diagnostic Services)
(E.g. BC Cancer Agency, BC Women’s and Children’s, Renal, Mental Health)
If you work outside of the public sector, where do you work?
How long have you worked as allied health?
How long have you been employed in your current primary role?
Have you been employed in your allied health position for less than 18 months?
What is the current employment status of your primary position (select all that apply)
What is your age
What is the highest level of education you have recieved?
Are you a person with disabilities?
Persons with disabilities are those that have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric or learning impairment and who (a) consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or (b) believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment. This also includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.
Are you Indigenous?
For the purposes of the Employee Equity Act an Indigenous person includes anyone who identifies as First Nations (North American Indian), Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), and/or those who report being Registered or Treaty Indians (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada), and/or those who have membership in a First Nation or Indian band.
Are you a racialized person?
For the purposes of the Employment Equity Act, members of racialized groups are persons who do not identify as primarily white in race, ethnicity, origin, and/or colour, regardless of their birthplace or citizenship.
What is your gender identity?
Gender identity is about a person's internal identification as a man, woman or another gender, regardless of their gender expression. It may or may not be consistent with a person’s legal gender marker that was assigned at birth based on that person’s physical appearance.
Do you have lived experience as a trans person (meaning your gender identity does not align with your gender assigned at birth)