14. Professional Issues

Question 1

Certification and Liscensure

Answer 1

• An SLP can hold a state license, a state credential, an ASHA certificate, or all three
• The necessity of holding any of these depends on a)the individual state and b)the professional setting

Question 2

Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) Requires:

Answer 2

• Earned master’s degree in speech-language pathology at an accredited institution and have fulfilled clinical practicum and fellowship requirements; A minimum of 75 semester hours of coursework w/ a minimum of 36 of the 75 hours at the graduate level
• Demonstrate acquisition of knowledge and clinical skill adequate for entry into professional practice; Knowledge and Skills Aquisition (KASA) form to facilitate this task for grad students
• Completed their clinical practicum with a minimum of 400 hours (incl. 25 preclinical observation)
• Passing score on the PRAXIS
• Completed a supervised clinical fellowship within 4 years of the date when the academic courseword and clinical practicum were completed; 36 weeks full-time (30 hrs/wk) or 72 weeks part-time (15-19 hrs/week)
• Clinical certificates are renewable every 3 years; need 30 hours of CEUs over the 3 year period

Question 3

ASHA’s Code of Ethics

[Not updated; book was published in 2011; COMPARE UPDATED VERSION TO THIS LATER]

Answer 3

4 Principles of Ethics and several Rules of Ethics under each principle

Question 4

ASHA’s Code of Ethics: Principle of Ethics I

and its 6 rules

Answer 4

Principle I: States that clinicians shall hold the welfare of persons they serve paramount by making sure that they a) are well prepared to serve their cts; b) make appropriate referrals when necessary; c) do not discriminate…; d) obtain informed consent on all aspects of service delivery and research; e) offer treatments that are evidence-based; and f) maintain confidentiality of their clients and research participants

Question 5

ASHA’s Code of Ethics: Principle of Ethics II

and its 4 rules

Answer 5

Principle II: States that clinicians shall maintain the highest level of professional competence by a) understanding their strengths and limitations, b) obtaining continuing education; c) providing adequate supervision to clinicians working with them; d) being knowledgeable in using assessment and treatment instruments

Question 6

ASHA’s Code of Ethics: Principle of Ethics III

and its 3 rules

Answer 6

Principle III: States that clinicians shall honor their responsibility to the public by a) promoting an understanding of the profession and its services; b) offering services that are needed; and c) providing accurate info about the profession, its services, and research

Question 7

ASHA’s Code of Ethics: Principle of Ethics IV

and its 5 rules

Answer 7

Principle IV: States that clinicians shall honor their responsibilities to their profession, colleagues, students, and members of related professionals by a) taking adequate supervisory responsibilities; b) giving clinical or authorship credits to others when they are due; c) using professional judgement (not extraneous considerations) in offering services; d) maintaining professional demeanor; and e) upholding the standards of the profession

Question 8

Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs):

What They CAN Do (5)

Answer 8

• Implement treatment plans developed and supervised by SLPs
• Assist with screenings and assessments; perform clerical duties; and assist in conducting research, in-service training, and public relations programs
• Document client performance (prepare charts, records, and graphs)
• Check and maintain equipment
• Collect and document data for quality improvement

Question 9

SLPAs: What They CANNOT Do (6)

Answer 9

• Administer standardized or nonstandardized tests or interpret the results; screen or diagnose patients for feeding or swallowing disorders
• Participate in parent or case conferences, nor can they counsel parents or clients unless supervised by SLP
• Write or modify treatment plans; offer treatment that is not developed by a SLP; offer any treatment w/o supervision; sign treatment plans or assessment reports
• Select, refer, or discharge patients
• Disclose confidential information
• Demonstrate swallowing strategies or precautions

Question 10

State Regulation of the Profession

Answer 10

• State dept. of edu. give credentials to their SLPs working in public schools; Requirements are usu similar to ASHA’s except some state regulations require coursework in edu
• A few states also combine a teaching credential w/ a credential in speech-language pathology, resulting in more courseword in edu, b/c the professional in this case is both a teacher and an SLP. State credentials may or may not transfer to another’s state’s public schools . State public school credentials are specific to the public school setting only and don’t allow private practice, hospital or clinic work, or supervision of clinical practice in university speech-hearing centers
• Professional settings other than public schools (e.g., hospitals, private clinics) usu. require either ASHA CCC, state licensure if it exists, or both.
• By meeting requirements of ASHA, graduates in most states also meet requirements for a credential to work in schools and license to practice in non-school settings
• An important difference bet. a license and an ASHA certificate is that only the license carries the force of law; the state licensure is administered by a board or committee created by the state legislature

Question 11

Legislative Regulation of the Profession: Federal Legislation Affecting School Settings

Answer 11

• Public Law 94-142: Free and appropriate education for disabled students from ages 3-21 (in least restrictive environment); requires IEPs for special edu students
• Public Law 99-457: intended to provide EI to reduce number of kids req. special edu in later years; also req. all school service providers to meet their state’s highest requirement for their discipline (e.g., master’s degree); included IFSP (review IFSP at least every 6 mos); multidisciplinary programming; no longer needed to report preschool kids by disability category; at-risk preschoolers eligible for special edu services

Question 12

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer 12

• Pts must have access to their medical records (pts should be able to request corrections); Providers must provide access to these records w/in 30 days
• Providers must provide a notice to their pts (to sign) about how they may use personal medical info as well as pt’s rights under the new privacy regulation
• Covered entities may share info with eachother related to pt’s treatment; cannot share personal health info for reasons unrelated to health care w/o pt’s authorization
• Pts may request covered entities take reasonable steps to make sure their communications w/ pt are confidential (E.g., asking to be called at home vs work)