Health policy implications of health promotion and disease prevention for allied health.

Regardless of the direction health policies in this country may take, allied health professionals seem uniquely positioned to meet the health promotion needs of a variety of clients, such as patients, families, other providers, employees, and members of communities. If allied health professionals choose to respond to health promotion as an area of clinical expertise, they will have to accept the challenge presented by the numerous complex issues associated with implementing a new discipline. However, the successful application of energy and resources to resolving these problems would allow allied health professionals to provide significant interventions in meeting national health goals. This article reviews the history of health promotion in the United States, discusses current practices in health promotion, and suggests some future trends.