16 Speak Out
June 2014
Speech Pathology Australia
professional practice news
Over the past
six months National
Office has received a steady stream of
emails and calls from members seeking
advice about setting up a private
practice. The members enquiring fit into
three categories:
•
New graduates – by far the most
numerous;
•
Early career speech pathologists
who are wanting to branch out on
their own; and
•
Mid or late career members who
see an opportunity to work privately
in their area of experience or
interest or whose current position
is ceasing or under threat due to
funding cuts or restrictions.
Some enquiries and subsequent
conversations have highlighted
examples of misinformation and/or
misperceptions. We know that running
a business takes a lot of time and
effort and that it’s not for everyone.
We also know that some of you feel
like you have no other option but to go
into private practice. Most importantly,
however, we know that if we want to
continue to be respected as an ethical,
high quality, evidence based and
professional allied health service then
all private practitioners have to uphold
very high standards. The onus to
achieve these standards rests
squarely with the individual
practitioner or business owner and
no matter how many hours you work,
or how few or how many clients
you see, your legal, ethical and
professional responsibilities are the
same. Hence the reference in the title
to dabblers, charities and cottage
industries – there is no place in private
speech pathology for any of these
types of businesses. The mindset
from the outset has to be that you are
now running a business and that your
customers deserve the same quality of
service no matter how large or small
your business is.
Speech Pathology Australia plays a vital
and active role in supporting members
to achieve high standards in private
practice. We do that by providing
guidelines, resources, seminars,
Conference sessions, professional
development and internal and external
support. Here’s a range of queries that
we have received and a summary of the
advice provided.
Private practice speech pathology – no place for
dabblers, charities or cottage industries
PP query:
There is already a private
practitioner working at the school
or nursing home I want to work at.
Can I offer my services too?
SPA’s response:
It is a free market,
however, how you approach a
business to offer your service has to
be respectful and courteous to your
colleague and should not deliberately
undermine their business in any way.
You can provide an overview of your
service and fee schedule. Do not
say disparaging things about the
other business or comment on the
other businesses’ fees. The school
or nursing home is free to make a
decision based on the facts and
should not be coerced in any way
to change practitioners. If you ever
have concerns about a businesses’
practices they should be discussed
with the business owner or SPA.
Resources:
Read SPA’s Code
of Ethics (2010) or contact
Christina Wilson, SPA’s Senior
Advisor Professional Issues
1300 368 835 or
.
PP query:
I can’t afford to buy
assessment tools. Is there
anywhere I can loan or hire
assessment tools from? And
what do I do about record forms.
I know that other people
photocopy them, is that legal?
SPA’s response:
Pearson and
ACER assessment tools cannot be
on-sold, loaned or gifted so you
need to buy them if you need them.
Purchasing the necessary tools
and equipment to run a business is
essential. It is illegal to photocopy
record forms. SPA does not endorse
this practice at all. SPs loaning
or hiring out assessment tools or
photocopying record forms should
be reported to the supplier of the
assessment tool.
Resources:
Pearson and ACER
Terms and Conditions of Sale;
SPA’s Information Sheet – Minimum
Standards for Speech Pathology
Equipment, Resources and Tools.
PP query:
I’m not going to charge
for my service or I’m going to
charge a nominal fee because I’m
a new graduate and I want to gain
experience but what do I do about
clients who have a Medicare referral
or want to claim from their private
health fund (PHF).
SPA’s response:
Not charging for
a service is not illegal, however, SPA
strongly recommends against this
practice. You should not be using private
practice as an opportunity to gain
experience. You should be charging a
fee commensurate with what it costs
to provide the service and the amount
of profit you need to make to gain an
income. Your clients cannot claim a
Medicare or PHF rebate unless they have
paid a fee the same or greater than the
rebate claimable and you must have a
Medicare and/or PHF provider number.
SPs must have their own Medicare
provider number if they are going to
provide a service to Medicare clients.
Resources:
SPA’s Guide to Establishing
a Fee Schedule; SPA’s Information
Sheet – Medicare Provider Numbers.
