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www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
Speak Out
April 2015
21
professional practice news
Do you ever
read the
fine print when you agree
to the terms and conditions
related to a transaction or
service? How many times
have you inadvertently
signed up for a newsletter
or ongoing communications?
Do you ever think to yourself
I wish I had known that
that was going to happen
because I wouldn’t have
agreed to that? When
clients access a speech
pathology service there is
no place for fine print.
Every aspect of the
service should be
discussed either before
it occurs or as it occurs,
and information should
preferably be also made
available to the client in
writing. It is risky to assume
that just because the client
is attending a speech
pathology session,
they fully understand
and have consented to
what is going to happen,
the costs, and the
potential outcomes. This
assumption often leads to
misunderstandings and
reduced client satisfaction,
and in the worst case
scenario, complaints and
claims being made against
the speech pathologist.
Over the coming months
we will present a series of
articles discussing how
to avoid “fine print” and
ensure your clients are
making fully informed
decisions. The articles will
cover five main topics:
1.
Intake
2.
Assessment
3.
Communications
4.
Interventions
5.
Client feedback.
Assessment
I know and understand:
•
why an assessment
is needed
•
what I need to bring to
the assessment
•
what the assessment
session will involve and
how long it will take
•
what the assessment
report will look like.
Interventions
I know and understand:
•
why treatment is recommended
•
how long the course of treatment
will be for
•
what are the goals
•
how outcomes are measured
•
what is best practice
•
how the decision for
treatment to be discontinued
will be made.
Client Feedback
I know and understand:
•
how to provide feedback
•
who to complain to
•
how my complaint will
be handled.
Speech pathology practice – no place for fine print
Communications
I know and understand:
•
if someone will be
contacted about me
(or my child)
•
who will be contacted
•
why they will be contacted
•
what will be discussed
•
that I can specify what
I don’t want discussed.
YES, I CONSENT
Intake
I know and understand:
•
what a speech
pathologist does
•
where I can find out more
information about speech
pathology
•
what other speech
pathology services are
available.
Fees
I know and understand:
•
what the fee will be
•
how and when to pay
the fee
•
if I am eligible for a rebate
and how to claim the
rebate
•
report writing fees
•
cancellation fee policy.
Please see overleaf for
Intake
– Point of referral or initial
contact with a potential client