Allied Health: The Professionals Behind Your Care

Athletic Therapists are experts in the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal Injuries —particularly those related to physical activity and sport. Their expertise extends beyond working with high-performance athletes; they treat active individuals and people recovering from injuries in everyday life.

Athletic Therapists also focus on injury prevention by developing and implementing conditioning programs to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance.

MAHCP is proud to represent 14 Athletic Therapists (also called Orthopaedic Technologists) working at Pan Am Clinic.

Audiologists specialize in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders in people of all ages—from infants to older adults.

Audiologists work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and community settings, and support Manitobans by creating individualized treatment plans to improve communication abilities. They conduct hearing tests using specialized equipment to evaluate hearing ability and diagnose hearing loss; they screen newborns, children, adults, and seniors for hearing issues; and they recommend, fit, and program hearing aids or cochlear implants to suit an individual’s hearing needs and coach these clients how to use, maintain, and care for the devices.

Vestibular Technicians (often members of Dental programs) work in conjunction with Audiologists, conducting and coordinating clinical vestibular tests that measure and analyze the body’s inner ear responses to a variety of stimuli. These tests more accurately diagnose and treat inner ear disorders, such as vertigo and balance issues. 

MAHCP is proud to represent 20 Audiologists and three Vestibular Technicians in Manitoba’s healthcare system. 

Biomedical Technology is at the intersection of health care, engineering, and science, and focuses on developing and using tools, equipment, software, and systems to diagnose, treat, and monitor medical conditions.

MAHCP is proud to represent two Biomedical Technologists working at Canadian Blood Services.

Allied health professionals working in Cardiology focus on diagnosing, monitoring, and treating heart-related diseases, working closely with Cardiologists and other healthcare professionals. These specialized professionals perform diagnostic tests and operate equipment to evaluate the heart’s function and structure. Tests include:

• Electrocardiograms (ECG/EKG), which measure the electrical activity of the heart (e.g., too slow or too fast, irregular heart rhythms)
• Stress Tests, which record heart activity while a patient exercises.
• Holter Monitoring, which sets up wearable devices to monitor heart rhythms.
• Echocardiography (Echo), which uses ultrasound to create images of the heart’s structure and blood flow. (Note: MAHCP members working in Echo are classified under Ultrasound.)

Cardiac Technologists may assist in procedures such as catheterization, angioplasty, and stent placement to open blocked arteries. They may perform monitoring of pacemakers/ defibrillators during testing, and of patient vital signs and equipment functioning during procedures.

MAHCP is proud to represent 135 professionals working in a variety of classifications in Cardiology, as Exercise Lab Technologists, Cardiac Technologists and Technicians, EKG Technologists and Technicians, Pediatric CVP Technologists, and Echocardiography Technologists.

Critical Equipment Specialization refers to the use of specialized equipment and devices that are essential for patient care and safety. This includes life-support devices, monitoring equipment, and other devices whose failure could result in serious injury or death to patients or staff. Equipment maintenance and operation require a high level of expertise and adherence to strict safety standards.

MAHCP is proud to represent five Critical Equipment Specialists working at Health Sciences Centre.

Echocardiographers (also known as Cardiac Sonographers) use ultrasound to create moving pictures of the heart’s structure and blood flow. They perform tests called echocardiograms using sound waves to show how the heart pumps and how well the valves work, measure the size and shape of the heart, check communication between the left and right sides of the heart, and test the speed of blood leaving the heart.

MAHCP is proud to represent roughly 40 Cardiac Sonographers working in Manitoba hospital cardiac departments.

Electroencephalographers measure electrical activity in the brain using a test called an EEG. The EEG uses small, metal discs called electrodes that attach to the scalp to measure brain activity, which shows up as wavy lines on a recording.

An EEG can find changes in brain activity that may aid in diagnosing brain conditions, especially epilepsy or another seizure condition, as well as brain tumors, inflammation of the brain, stroke, sleep conditions, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, brain damage from a head injury, or other brain diseases.

MAHCP is proud to represent 17 General Duty, Senior, and Charge EEG Technologists working at St. Boniface Hospital and Health Sciences Centre.

Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure used to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them (motor neurons). EMG results can reveal nerve dysfunction, muscle dysfunction or problems with nerve-to-muscle signal transmission.

Electromyographers use electrodes to translate signals into graphs, sounds, or numerical values which can then be interpreted by a specialist.

EMG results are often necessary to help diagnose or rule out a number of conditions like muscle disorders, diseases affecting the connection between the nerve and the muscle, disorders of nerves outside the spinal cord, disorders that affect the motor neurons in the brain or spinal cord, and disorders that affect the nerve root.

MAHCP currently represents just one EMG Technologist in the public system working at Riverview Health Centre.

Genetic Counsellors and Assistants work alongside Medical Geneticists (medical doctors) to assist individuals and families in understanding the natural history of birth defects and genetic conditions, and assess the risk of recurrence or occurrence of a condition.

Counsellors are Masters trained and certified, and determine available testing options, interpret test results, discuss prevention, medical management, and options for prenatal diagnosis. They also provide supportive counselling with sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, and address potential ethical issues.

Genetic Assistants support communication with patients, families, and other health care professionals by facilitating requests for testing, managing results, and ensuring appropriate consultations. Genetic Assistants have a Bachelor of Science, and may have other related degrees including Masters of Science, Education, and Counselling.

MAHCP is proud to represent 21 members working in Genetics, including counsellors and assistants, as well as two Cytogenetics Technologists, and a Clinical Service Leader (Genetics and Metabolism).  

Home Care teams are multi-disciplinary and critically important to Manitobans’ well-being. Case Coordinators, supported by Occupational Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Social Workers, and more allied health health professions, help meet the needs of those living in community.

Clients may include patients discharged after a surgery, or clients living with a serious chronic disease like severe mental illness, kidney disease, or a degenerative disease (e.g.,, ALS, Parkinson’s, or dementia). Clients may be in the primary care of a loved one and in need of supplemental medical care, or they may be living alone and requiring daily care as well as support and guidance related to housing, disability management, mental health, and more.

MAHCP is proud to represent 130 Home Care Case Coordinators who help connect Manitobans with a variety of vital resources to support their safety and well-being at home – while keeping them out of hospital.

The Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) team keeps patients, residents, and clients – as well as facility staff and visitors – safe by preventing and controlling the spread of infections in health-care settings. They deliver education, develop evidence-based policies and procedures, conduct infection surveillance, and manage outbreaks.

MAHCP is proud to represent 14 IP&C Support Associates working in hospitals and long-term care facilities to protect against outbreaks.

Professionals in the field of Kinesiology work to increase physical activity participation, enhance sport performance, develop physical literacy, and promote the positive long-term effects of physical activity for every individual throughout their lifespan. 

MAHCP is proud to represent 20 Kinesiologists, helping clients to manage chronic disease and adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours.

MRI Technologists are a specialized group of professionals working in the field of Medical Radiation Technology. Critical members of any healthcare team, MRI Technologists play an essential role in diagnostics.  

An MRI is a diagnostic test that provides physicians with detailed images of the body using a strong magnetic field and radio waves. Technologists’ skill in the use of MRI is vital to collecting the information that care providers need to know what is going on inside the body and make decisions for care.

MAHCP is proud to represent roughly 110 General Duty, Senior, and Charge MRI Technologists working throughout the system, as well as 22 Mammographers, MRI Technologists who have taken additional training to specialize in screening and diagnostic MRI of breast tissue.

Medical Physics is physics applied to health care, and members working in this field focus on ensuring safety, quality, and the implementation of technology in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine.

Medical Physics encompasses various applications, including diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, ultrasound imaging, and medical informatics. Most Medical Physicists work in hospital diagnostic imaging departments, cancer treatment facilities, or hospital-based research establishments.

MAHCP is proud to represent one medical physicist working at CancerCare Manitoba in Brandon.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists conduct important diagnostic tests focusing on the function of organs and tissues. Technologists assess bodily functions and diagnose various medical conditions including cancer, heart conditions, and thyroid disorders using SPECT and PET scans, which allow for earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) provides three-dimensional images of of the distribution of radioactive tracers within the body. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an imaging test which uses radioactive material to create 3D colour images that show how a body’s cells are working by gathering in cells that are using a lot of energy, such as cancer cells.

MAHCP is proud to represent 50 Nuclear Medicine Technologists working in major hospitals throughout Manitoba.

Orthopaedic Technologists are board certified professionals who support patients with musculoskeletal injuries, complex wounds, and related conditions such as diabetic neuropathy.

Working under physician’s direction or standing orders, Technologists create and apply casts, splints, and traction devices; manage wounds care; and deliver specialized peri-operative and clinic-based care that helps patients transition from surgery to recovery.As clinical educators, Orthopaedic Technologists teach patients and families how to care for devices, monitor skin health, follow weight-bearing precautions, and mobilize safely.

MAHCP is proud to represent 40 Orthopaedic Technicians, Technologists, and Educators working in clinics and hospitals. 

Orthotists are recognized healthcare specialists who treat conditions of the neuro-muscular skeletal systems of the body with custom-made or custom-fit orthoses (braces).

Orthotists work closely with physicians, surgeons, physical and occupational therapists to ensure the best results for patients by evaluating, designing, fabricating, fitting and delivering a supportive brace or orthotic device. They also provide important follow-up care to help optimize functional outcomes, including independence, safety and comfort.

MAHCP is proud to represent five members working in Orthotics, including two Orthotists, a Clinical Service Lead, and an Orthotics Resident.

Members working in Patient Transport are highly specialized and trained in EMS and Respiratory Therapy.

Primary Care Paramedics and Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapists (specialized for adult and pediatric patients) ensure the safe transport of patients between facilities.

Modes of transportation include fixed wing aircraft, HEMS, rural EMS, boats, barges, and medical vans, and destinations include Health Sciences Centre’s ER and ICU, as well as Children’s Hospital ER, PICU, NICU; Stollery Hospital in Edmonton; SickKids Hospital in Toronto, and more.

MAHCP is proud to represent 26 members working on the Patient Transport team.

Perfusionists are highly specialized health professionals working in Cardiology who step in to temporarily do a heart’s job by operating the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and other surgeries that require cardiopulmonary  bypass.

Perfusionists monitor a patient’s vitals and then select appropriate equipment and technique to manage normal blood flow, body temperature, and other respiratory functions.

As vital members of the cardiothoracic surgical team, perfusionists support the physiological and metabolic needs of cardiac surgical patients so surgeons may operate on still, un-beating hearts.

MAHCP is proud to represent 11 perfusionists working in St. Boniface Hospital’s cardiac surgery department.

Physiotherapists help people improve movement, manage pain, and recover from injuries or illnesses that affect their muscles, joints, or nerves. They work with people of all ages — from children to seniors — and can assess, diagnose, treat, and monitor physical problems caused by accidents, surgeries, sports injuries, or long-term conditions.

Physiotherapists use exercises, stretches, hands-on therapy, and education to treat patients, helping them build strength and mobility, regain independence and quality of life, and avoid future injury.

MAHCP is proud to represent 400+ Physiotherapists working in hospitals, health centres, long-term care, and community throughout Manitoba.

Polysomnography is the study of sleep and includes tests to diagnose sleep disorders. A Polysomnographic Technologist studies a patient’s sleep patterns and supports medical professionals in treating or managing sleep conditions. The Technologist records clinical data such as heart rate, breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, brain activity, as well as eye and leg movements, during sleep.

Patients may be referred for a sleep study if a healthcare provider suspects a sleep-related disorder such as Sleep Apnea, Periodic limb movement disorder, Narcolepsy, REM sleep behaviour disorder, behaviours during sleep, or if a patient complains of long-lasting insomnia. 

MAHCP is proud to represent 17 Polysomnography Technicians and Technologists working in Misericordia Health Centre’s sleep lab.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour, and which includes sub-fields such as human development, sports, health, clinical, social behaviour, and cognitive processes.

Licensed psychologists in Canada are highly educated, and have a Master’s degree or a PhD. They may focus their research and practice on mental health problems; neurological, genetic, psychological and social determinants of behaviour; cognitive functions; developmental and behavioural abilities and problems across the lifespan; addictions, substance use and abuse, among many other areas.

Psychometrists administer and score psychological and neuropsychological tests under the supervision of a licensed professional. Psychometrists may share their data, with patient permission, to help build statistical information.

MAHCP is proud to represent five members working in Mental Health & Addictions in Manitoba as Psychologists, Psychological Assistants, and Psychometrists.

Radiopharmacy is a healthcare specialty that deals with the preparation and use of radiopharmaceuticals, drugs that contain radioactive isotopes. Nuclear Medicine Technologists use these drugs to diagnose and treat many diseases and conditions.

When used for diagnosis, radiopharmaceuticals are put into the body before an imaging test. The medicine builds up in the area of concern and a camera in the imaging machine detects the radiation. When used for treatment, radiopharmaceuticals with stronger radiation are put into the body and travel to the part of the body that needs the radiation as medicine.

MAHCP is proud to represent 18 members working as Radiation Protection and Radiation Safety Officers, Radiopharmacy Technologists, and Cyclotronic Technologists.

Recreational Therapists use leisure activities and therapeutic interventions to help individuals with disabilities, injuries, or illness improve their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning.

These professionals work to enhance patient and resident quality of life through various activity-based therapeutic techniques. The approaches provide patients with ways to manage physical and psychological pain or discomfort, and promote well-being. Techniques such as animal exposure, sports, games, arts and crafts, social outings, music and dance, help recreation therapists achieve results.

MAHCP is proud to represent approximately 30 Recreational Coordinators, Specialists and Therapists.

MAHCP is proud to represent two researchers working at Health Sciences Centre.

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are specialized frontline healthcare providers who help diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic conditions that affect lungs and breathing, including cardiopulmonary issues.

RTs provide life-saving treatments including oxygen therapy; airway management and breathing support in ICUs, emergency rooms, and operating rooms, as well as mechanical ventilation for patients who are no longer able to breathe for themselves. They collaborate with other healthcare providers, serving as integral members of anesthesia care teams, critical care teams, and primary care teams, and they play a vital role in safely transporting patients who need breathing support.

Pulmonary Technologists utilize advanced diagnostic equipment to assess lung function and identify abnormalities like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory conditions. Pulmonary Technologists gather essential data to help measure the severity and progression of pulmonary conditions.

MAHCP is proud to represent more than 350 members working in Respiratory, including Respiratory Therapists, Senior RTs, Charge RTs, Clinical Service Leaders and Advanced Practice RTs, as well as Pulmonary Technologists.

Speech-language Pathologists (SLPs) identify, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan.

SLPs work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres, and long-term care facilities providing a range of services, including assessments, interventions, and education for individuals with speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing problems.

To practice as an SLP in Manitoba, a Master’s degree is required, and these allied health professionals must be registered with their college.

MAHCP is proud to represent 110 members working in Speech-language Pathology in Manitoba.

As part of care teams, Spiritual Care Practitioners assist patients, families, and healthcare employees to connect with inner-strength and hope in the face of illness, fear, discouragement and loss, or threat of loss.

Spiritual health services offer counsel, comfort, spiritual guidance, and psychosocial support for those struggling to cope, experiencing grief/bereavement, lacking community or family, and requesting services such as ceremonies, sacraments, and rituals, or specific religious guidance (e.g., from a priest, elder, rabbi, imam).

MAHCP is proud to represent 62 Spiritual Care Practitioners including Roman Catholic Priests, Elders, and Chaplains, as well as coordinators and clinical service leads (CSLs) , working in hospitals, mental health centres, and personal care homes.

Tissue Recovery and Transplant Coordinators work to save and heal lives through the gift of donation.

In Manitoba, pregnant donors who give birth by Caesarean section can donate birth tissue (from placentas and umbilical cords); tissues such as skin, corneas, and bone can be removed from deceased persons for transplant; and organs including heart, lungs, and kidneys, can be transplanted into a living person upon removal within 24 hours of death. For every person or family who decides to share life through tissue donation, as many as 100 lives can be saved or enhanced.

MAHCP is proud to represent six Tissue Recovery and Transplant Coordinators working in Manitoba’s Tissue Bank.