Question
Where can I find info. about beginning a private practice?
Answer
It is critical that you obtain information about private practice prior to making the decision to enter that service delivery setting. Private practice has the lure of independence and the potential for significant income, but it also has a great many obvious and hidden pitfalls. You should consider some basic questions and your answers in at least two areas--personal and business as you make your decision about becoming a private practitioner.
Ask yourself:
Do I enjoy working alone, or do I enjoy collaborative working environments?
Do I have the knowledge and skills to work independently, or do I need some professional support and supervision?
Do I have the skills to manage the stress of owning a private practice?
Do I have an understanding of the people and the community in which I would operate a private practice?
Some business questions should include:
Do I know the need for private practice services in the community in which I would operate?
What is the financial climate of the community in which I would operate a private practice? Are there small business support groups and advisors in the community to whom I could turn for advice?
What are the financial requirements for starting and maintaining a private practice? What types of payments and reimbursement schedules could the practice support?
What are my long-range financial needs, including retirement and benefits?
These are only a few of the questions a prospective private practitioner should ask him/herself. Luckily, there are many resources available to professionals who are considering the venture. Here are a few resources that provide additional information and references on private practice:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, www.asha.org
Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology, www.aappspa.org
BioSketch: Dr. Paula S. Currie has been a speech-language pathologist for more than 25 years. She is currently the Head of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Southeastern Louisiana University. She co-owned and managed in large, metropolitan private practice for 12 years. Her areas of expertise include language and literacy, augmentative communication, and evaluation of communication disorders. She can be reached at pcurrie@selu.edu.
Paula S. Currie, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Head/Program Director Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders Southeastern Louisiana University P.O. Box 10879 500 Western Ave. Hammond, La 70402 Voice 985-549-2214; FAX 985-549-5030 https://www.selu.edu/csd
Margaret Fish, MS, CCC-SLP
Margaret is a speech-language pathologist working in private practice in Highland Park, Illinois, with over 30 years experience as a pediatric SLP. Her primary professional interests are in the areas of children’s speech sound disorders, language disorders, and social language development. Margaret is the author of the book, Here’s How to Treat Childhood Apraxia of Speech, now in its Second Edition. She is a frequently invited speaker at local, state, and national workshops. Her workshops and writing focus on providing practical, evidence-based ideas to support clinicians working with children with CAS. Margaret serves on the Professional Advisory Board for the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) and is a topic area advisor for the SpeechPathology.com Advisory Board.
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