Have an answer

 The 2022 World Cup is continuing now. So much soccer! So many Americans don't care about soccer, yet I do like what the game does to bring together fans from all nations, to keep the mind sharp, and to show that soccer is indeed a beautiful game. For example, top tier players run from 5 - 9 miles during a 90 - minute match. Insane fitness! Some athletic prowess is displayed at breakneck speed, with players making split - second decisions that often result in glorious celebrations.  

I'm building a sports analogy here. A sport that demands of elite players, high levels of energy expenditure, continual problem solving 'on the fly', and grand operatic waves of emotional release....soccer encourages you  to take the long view in life. The game seems to last so long (for many Americans, anyway), but a Major League Baseball game can go 3 or more hours. Soccer has almost no commercials! You're continually focused in a soccer match, so that if the score goes awry for your side, you need to have an answer. 

That idea - having an answer - is a critical tool in your toolbox for today's world, especially for those of us working in education or healthcare. Reality can change and change fast, as the last six years have taught us. Whoever is over you, may play favorites against you. Before you know it, time is running out! How does life imitate sport, colleagues? What are ways for CSD professionals to find an answer, as a team of 11 soccer players is forced to find an answer?

Reality changing? It might be that a  regulation was changed - as Medicare had declared at one time, a speech generating device for severely speech impaired persons might have its communication software active, but not its Internet connectibility.   The Steve Gleason Act, passed by Congress and signed by the President, did help resolve this issue. Gleason is the former NFL defensive player who has lived with ALS for over 10 years. Gleason's advocacy for himself and his peers, helped regulators see that making available a full range of speech technology services for consumers, was the best opportunity to increase their quality of life. 

My supervisors, managers and directors, for various jobs throughout the years, have occasionally made decisions about consumer referrals that seemed - from outer space! And  that doesn't account for the physicians who have either declined to refer to you as an SLP, or have declined to consider SLP involvement with a consumer in need. In a similar vein, a manager or administrator over a case will sometimes defer using SLP, saying "OT can do cognition". Yes, there is pressure to strictly manage utilization of services, because getting paid does depend on that good judgement. Ultimately, these leaders have to answer the question that might read, "If we're not using those services that often, why do we have them?". This dilemma is best met by - constant MARKETING. This is what we do; this is why SLP is the profession you should choose, to meet this need. https://ashacertified.org/ is an example of a website, that cab inform referral sources of the high standards YOU must meet. 

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are under constant pressure to achieve positive results for consumers, and do it more quickly than ever before. Guidelines for clinical practice have firmer timelines. When the professional keeps an eye on the clock, you're part of a wise team of professionals that can engage on a goal for maximum effect. Whether it's an eight-week episode of treatments, a 48 - hour time for turnaround of documentation, a weekly window to get in recommended visits, or a two - hour limit for a visit + documentation time; - be proactive, organized and observant. 

Have an answer.