ST Utilization in Home Health – Recorded Version

Resource Tool: ST Referral Checklist, recording of webinar is provided after completion of live event

References: American Speech & Hearing Association (ASHA) guidelines; Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 7 – Home Health Services

Date: May 7, 2015 12:00 EST

Overview:
Identification of the need for Speech Language Pathology services in the home health setting is often minimized due to limited availability of this specific therapy clinician. Currently, physical therapy accounts for approximately 75% of the therapy provided to patients in the home health environment –with occupational therapy (OT) and speech language pathology (SLP), collectively, comprising the remaining 15%. Based on this limited supply of SLP’s, most referrals for speech therapy services are restricted to the “typical” patients treated for language and swallowing impairments resulting from neurological events, such as stroke, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease.

This webinar will provide participants with an enhanced understanding of the role of Speech Language Pathology as a critical member of the interdisciplinary care team. Specific examples of appropriate utilization of SLP services will be provided, as well as baseline documentation expectations to ensure defensibility of SLP services in the home health setting is established. In addition to this, all participants will be introduced to how & when to refer to Speech Language Pathologists for their home health patient for “non-traditional” patients through a review of the American Speech & Hearing Association’s (ASHA) standards and scope of practice guidelines. A ST Referral Checklist tool will be provided to assist other members of the patient care team in appropriate identification of speech language pathology services.
 
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define the skill set of the Speech Language Pathologist under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit.
2. Identify key OASIS items that can and should be utilized for identification of and referral to Speech Language Pathology in the home health setting.
3. Discuss critical components of the ST evaluation and care planning process.
4. Determine patient populations that would benefit from a referral for Speech Language Pathology services.

Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologist