Question
Does performing a screening and then writing on the screen/report, “No skilled ST services are necessary” suffice as a discharge of a standing order?
Answer
No it does not. You have to recommend another order that says, “Please D/C speech pathology eval order,” and then write on your screening, “No skilled ST services are necessary as patient is at baseline status.” I would state the reason why no skilled ST services are necessary. Make sure that is in your documentation. Then, I would get another order that discharges the eval order.
Michelle L. Tristani, M.S., CCC-SLP is the National Rehab Clinical Specialist for Speech Pathology with RehabCare. Michelle holds a B.A. in English and Communication Disorders from Boston College and an M.S. in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Rhode Island. She has delivered communication, cognition and swallowing diagnostic and therapeutic services within the adult and geriatric populations since 1991.
