Course Number: ComD 7860 (Spring 2012)

Course Number: ComD 7860 (Spring 2012)
Course Title: Practice Management in Audiology
Date and time: Tuesday 3:00-4:45 pm
Location: Lillywhite Conference Room
Instructor: Dr. John Ribera
Office hours: By appointment
Phone 797-7190
Email john.ribera@usu.edu
Required Text:
Hosford-Dunn, H., Roeser, R. & Valente. (2008). Audiology Practice
Management. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York, NewYork.
Other Resources (available for sign-out from instructor):
Dobie, R. (2001). Medical-Legal Evaluation of Hearing Loss. 2nd Ed. Singular Press, San
Diego, California
Johnson, C.E. & Danhauer, J.L. (2002). Handbook of Outcomes Measurement. Thomson
Delmar Learning.
Johnson, S. ((2002). Who moved my cheese? G.P.Putnam’s Sons, New York, New
York.
Roseberry-McKibbin, C. (1995). Multicultural Students with Special Language Needs.
Academic Communication Associates, Oceanside, California.
Silverman, F. (1983). Legal Aspects of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology: An
overview of law for clinicians, researchers, and teachers. Prentice-Hall,
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Silverman, F. (2003). Essentials of Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology
and Audiology. Waveland Press, Inc., Prospect Heights, Illinois.
Online resources:
www.smallbiz.com/resources/workshop/sba.htm
www.score.org_help
www.vainteractive.com/bankofamerica/resourcecenter/workshops/competition/competition.html?a
dlink=01790902966600005086
www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/usingplan.html
www.sba.gov/training/courses.html#busplan
Course Description:
This is a survey/seminar discovery-based course. The Practice Management course deals
with the business and forensic aspects of audiology services in a private practice setting. The
course is designed to be of assistance to emerging professionals who wish to be self-employed or
who wish to be involved in management of various types of professional practices in audiology.
Such topics as financing the business, legal business structure, housing of the practice,
instrumentation and equipment costs, amortization schedules, salaries and benefits, recordkeeping systems, accounting practices and services, taxes, insurance and 3rd party pay issues,
liabilities, employee relationships, fee structure, cash-flow problems, advertising and marketing,
burn out, and ethics will be treated during the semester.
The student will be responsible for out of class readings and assignments as described
below. Students will present findings from their readings and “real-world” experiences based on
assignments in class. There will be a project at the end of the semester that will be a culmination
of assignments and lessons learned. This will be a professional grade project (portfolio).
There will be no mid-term examinations. Each assignment will be graded as well the final
project. Assignments are due on the date specified (these are not suggested deadlines!). There
will be no final examination.
GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will gain factual knowledge relating to starting a small business
2. Students will learn fundamental principles in developing a private practice in audiology such
as business plans, finances, legal concerns, and marketing.
3. Students will learn how to apply course material in developing and managing a private
practice in audiology.
4. Students will learn how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving problems
PROJECT:
You will keep typed notes on all assignments. These will form the basis of your end-of-semester
project. You will want to develop a professional product that you will be able to use when and if
you go into private practice. Whether you go into private practice or not, is not the point of this
course. There are many principles of practice and management that you can and will incorporate
into your work setting, no matter where you finally land.
Use your text as the primary (first) resource, then explore other resources so that you get a broad
idea of the topic.
General Instructions
This course will be configured as a seminar where the students explore resources and steps to take
in order to start a small business (private practice) and report back their findings for a class-wide
discussion. Students will be ready to lead discussions (on a random basis) on the assigned topic(s)
for the day. Students will be divided into teams for most assignments (exception, Assignment 7).
It is expected that all students will be equally involved in the process of gathering, synthesizing
information, and in developing the end product (assignment).
All assignments (documents) are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated on the
schedule below unless otherwise instructed. The due date is a day when the material will be
covered by a presenter and/or will provide content for a class discussion. Students will likely find
that additional information will be presented during class that could be incorporated into the final
product (portfolio—see below for additional information on portfolio). The intent is for students
to find out what they can on their own, and then incorporate additional information into the
portfolio; this will likely mean modifying the initial assignment.
Each student will hand in a portfolio on the last day of class, which will be comprised of:
1. All assignments to include a list of all outside resources used for assignments
(books, websites, etc.) – team
2. All class notes (typed) – individual
3. All handouts
4. Other pertinent information that was of value during the class – individual
Final grade for this course will be based on:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Attendance
Participation
Attitude
Most importantly on the portfolio (in a 3-ring binder) Use a separate tab for each section.
Place assignments in chronological order.
Schedule
Jan 10
Introduction/What is Private Practice?
Jan 17
Ethics (Jeff Larsen) Chapter 2 & Appendix I
Jan 24
Private Practice in Audiology—Lessons Learned (Heather Jensen)
Jan 31
The Entrepreneur (Becky Drebin) Do I have what it takes?
Assignment #1 (Resources) Team effort
Check out the Better Business Bureau, Small Business Administration, and other
resources (on or off-line) that you could use in gathering information about small business and
private clinical practice. List each source and evaluate for content and applicability to private
practice in audiology. Are there self-evaluation tools to help you decide whether you have what it
takes to be a success entrepreneur? If so, do a self-assessment and see how you do. Please report
the results of the self-assessment.
Feb 7
Business Plan (Mike Young) Chapter 13
Assignment #2 (Business Plan) Team Effort
What is a business plan? What are the components of a business plan? Between
your text, previous assignments, presentations and discussion in class, and the plethora of
information online, write up a draft business plan for your private practice.
Feb 14
Funding Your Business
Assignment #3 (How to get the money you need to start up a small business?) Team
Effort
Visit a loan company, credit union, or bank. This should be divided up among
students in the class so there is no duplication. Find out:
1. What interest rates are for business loans.
2. Required collateral
3. The amount that could be loaned for a new business that will need $250,000 for
startup.
4. See if the institution will run an amortization schedule for you (get print out if
possible.
5. Get a copy of the paperwork needed to apply for a loan. Fill out the paperwork
to the best of your ability. You will have to generate answers that are estimates.
6. What other information is the potential loaner seeking? In other words what
questions is the loan officer asking you?
NOTE: Be ready to compare the results from the various loaning institutions.
Feb 28
Legal Considerations (Brian Cannell)
Mar 6
Marketing (Mike Young) Chapter 5
Assignment #4 (Marketing Plan) Team Effort
Develop a marketing plan for your future small business (private practice) by:
1. Identifying consumers
2. Identifying competitors
3. Description of products and services
4. Promotional strategies
What is a SWOT analysis? What is its value to you? What else should you consider putting in your
marketing plan? Also develop a draft of your business card. What is ROI? How does it pertain to
small business.
Mar 20
Finances/accounting/taxes (Richard Ratliff) Chapter 15
Assignment #5 (Finances)Team Effort
Develop a “proforma” that will contain details of your capital investment
(equipment, furniture, receptionist office, audiology suite(s), hearing aid lab, etc.); detailed
income statement for the first 12 months (fees, sales, etc.), expense statement. Also include
various templates of financial forms needed for the business (e.g., balance sheet, etc.)
Mar 27
Billing, reimbursement (Liz Welker) Chapter 16
Apr 3
Location and Physical Facilities Chapter 14
Assignment #6 (Designing the clinic) Team Effort
Give your rationale for how you would determine the location for your new
business. Draw up a floor plan for an ideal office layout for your business. Indicate the
dimensions for the various rooms, hallways, etc. Justify reasons for the space you propose
to use. How much would you have to pay in Logan or wherever you choose to set up shop,
for the space you have designed? Please draw neatly and as close to scale as possible. Find
out what it would cost to have an architect do drawings for your company. Are there other
considerations such as zoning, building permits? If so, What do you need to do to comply?
What about building inspections (fire marshall? Others?). What about parking? Signage on
the front of the building?
Apr 10
Permits, license
Assignment #7 Individual Effort
Licensing. What does it take to get a license to practice in the state of your choice?
Get an application packet with laws and regulations pertaining to audiology. What is the
cost? What documentation must you provide? What are the requirements for continuing
education? How long does it take to process? Is there a need for obtaining a license to
practice and a separate license for dispensing? Are exams required? If so, what are the
requirements?
Apr 17
Customer Service (pp. 35-38), Outcome measures (pp. 190-191),
Time Management
Apr 24
Forensic/Investigative Audiology
Turn in completed portfolio
NOTE: There is no final exam. Grades will be based on the following percentages of the total
points possible:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
C-
93-100%
90-92%
86-89%
83-85%
80-82%
76-79%
73-75%
70-72%
Event
Classes Begin
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
President's Day
Monday Class Schedule
Spring Break
Classes End
Final Examination
Commencement
Day(s) of the week
Monday
Monday
Monday
Tuesday
Monday - Friday
Friday
Monday - Friday
Friday - Saturday
Date
Jan 09
Jan 16
Feb 20
Feb 21
Mar 12 - 16
Apr 27
Apr 30 - May 04
May 04 - 05
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICIES FOR UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
The University expects that students and faculty alike maintain the highest standards of
academic honesty. For the benefit of those who may not be aware of specific standards of the
University with regards to academic honesty, the following paragraph is quoted from the Article
V., University Regulations, and Article VI., Discipline, portions of the current Code of Policies
and Procedures manual for Utah State University Students:
Violations of University Standards (Section 3):
A. The following activities have been found to interfere with University functions or
threaten the well being and the educational purposes of students and are, therefore, specifically
prohibited and make the student subject to discipline. The following list of violations is not an
all-inclusive list; other misconduct may also subject the student to discipline.
1. Acts of Academic Dishonesty:
a. Cheating includes intentionally:
(1) using or attempting to use or providing others with any
unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, examinations, those
authorized by the instructor in writing papers,
preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other
assignments;
(2) substituting for another student, or permitting another
student to substitute for oneself, in taking an examination or preparing
academic work;
(3) acquiring tests or other academic material belonging to a
faculty member, staff member, or another student without express permission.
b. Falsification includes the intentional and unauthorized altering or
inventing of any information or citation in an academic exercise or
activity.
c. Plagiarism includes knowingly representing by paraphrase or direct
quotation, the published or unpublished work of another person as
one's own in any academic exercise or activity without full and clear
acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of
materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the
selling or term papers or other academic materials.
Penalties or Disciplinary Measures (Section 1):
A. The penalties or disciplinary measures which the University may impose
on a student are:
1. Warning or reprimand--written or verbal.
2. Grade adjustment--for either an assignment/test or the course.
3. Probation--continued attendance at the University predicated upon the
Student satisfying certain requirements as specified by the University.
Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability
of more severe disciplinary violating any University regulations during
the probationary period.
4. Suspension-- temporary dismissal from the University for a specified
time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for
readmission may be specified.
5. Expulsion-- permanent dismissal from the University.
6. Extra fee assessment.
7. Payment of restitution to the University or, when University interven is
deemed appropriate, to any other individual for damages or losses.
8. Withholding of transcripts for refusal to return University property, pay
University debts, or other violation of University Standards.
9. Denial or revocation of degrees.
10. Performance of community service.
11. Referral to psychological counseling or substance abuse office for
assessment, evaluation, education, and treatment, when necessary.
USU POLICY RELATIVE TO THREE FINALS ON THE SAME DAY.
A. Students who have three or more final examinations scheduled on one
day and who desire to have ONE of those tests moved to another day during the final exam
period must:
1. Obtain a copy of his/her registration form from the registrar that is
dated no more than 7 days prior to the beginning of the first test day.
2. Seek permission from one of the instructors to change the hour of
his/her examination.
B. Adverse decisions from all instructors may be appealed through the
Deans of the colleges involved .
C. This procedure is to be followed ONLY when a student has three or more
exams on the same day.
USU POLICY RELATIVE TO CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES.
Under the guidelines of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), the University is obligated to provide reasonable accommodations to
students with disabilities to enable them full participation in all University programs, services,
and activities. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is available to assist in the delivery of
services and materials needed for classroom or field experiences. The disability must be
documented by the DRC. In cooperation with the DRC, reasonable accommodation will be
provided for qualified students with disabilities. Please meet with the instructor during the first
week of class to make arrangements. Alternate format print materials (large print, audio, diskette
or Braille) will be available through the DRC.