Speech-language pathologists and audiologists in health care work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and patients' homes. They provide services for both children and adults. Many work part-time. Some are in private practice. There are as many variations of workplace, schedule, caseload, and salary as there are clinicians.
This issue of The ASHA Leader focuses on issues related to health-care settings. It includes information about ASHA's recent health care survey, dysphagia treatment, treatment in a Bolivian hospital, negotiating with payers, and supervision.
As part of the Focused Initiative on Personnel Issues in Health Care and Education, ASHA engaged in discussion with leaders and members at state association meetings. In some states, a focus on clinical and reimbursement issues in health care was evident. However, few states had a formal mechanism with which to track health care issues or resources in the state or at a national level.
To make resources more accessible, ASHA has developed a health care Web page that states can add to their existing Web sites. To date, 11 states (Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington) are using the resource, with others expressing interest. The page provides local contact information for the state health department, labor department, and early intervention services. In addition, the page contains links to frequently asked questions about issues that affect SLPs in health care. The reaction has been positive. As Monique Kay, president of the New Jersey Speech and Hearing Association, said, "More states should take this opportunity to post because the information is priceless."
All ASHA members can access this information. SLPs can visit member Web pages to find:
- Health-care setting information, as well as recruitment and retention of SLPs in health care
- Swallowing and feeding disorders resources
- Information about documentation
- Links to reimbursement and billing resources
Audiology
Audiologists can access visit member Web pages to find:
- Information on audiologists in health care
- Audiologic rehabilitation resources
- Archived issues of Access Audiology (an e-zine that highlights specific topics of interest to audiologists)
- Other audiology practice setting resources (pediatric/educational, occupational/hearing conservation, private practice)
To learn more about the information available to state associations, contact healthservices@asha.org.
ASHA Health Care 2008 and Business Institute
Don't miss ASHA's annual Health Care Conference and Business Institute April 5-6, 2008, in St. Louis. For one registration fee, you can move freely between the two events. Get cutting-edge health care information in three tracks: adult dysphagia, adult neurogenics, and pediatrics/early intervention. At the institute, business-savvy SLPs and university faculty will present on coding and reimbursement, documentation, contracts, negotiation, pricing, stress, time management, and more. Roundtable discussions will address specific questions. For more information, visit Convention, Conferences & Events.