Education in Audiology Practice Management

Specific Competency Areas in Practice Management

These areas are directly related to practice management and are suggested for inclusion in a model curriculum for a graduate level course in practice management in audiology. They are considered the minimum requirements for providing an adequate base of knowledge for managing a practice. Students should be encouraged to take additional classes in cognate areas such as accounting and marketing. Persons managing or directing audiology services should demonstrate knowledge of, and skills in, the following areas:

1. Basic Management, including:

   1. Preparation of feasibility studies, market surveys, business plans

   2. Account management, budgeting, billing & collections

   3. Knowledge of financial reports (balance sheet, income statement)

   4. Human resource management/staff recruiting

   5. Knowledge of health care models (e.g., PPO, HMO, fee for service, sliding scale)

   6. Marketing

   7. Contracts and negotiations

   8. Financial planning/retirement plans

2. Service Planning

   1. Physical plant

      1. Site selection

      2. Equipment selection

      3. Leasing space and/or equipment

      4. Automation

   2. Service structure

      1. Record keeping

      2. Establishing referral networks

      3. Scheduling patients

      4. Fee setting

3. Practice, Business, and Government Rules

   1. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility considerations

   2. Federal employment laws

   3. Accreditation requirements (e.g., Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO], ASHA Professional Services Board [PSB], Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities [CARF])

   4. Antitrust regulations

   5. Business entities: tax implications and government reporting regulations

   6. Requirements for nonprofit status

   7. Ethical codes of practice

   8. Licensing requirements

4. Computers and Office Automation

   1. Diagnostic applications

   2. Data storage/access

   3. Tracking patient outcomes and consumer satisfaction

   4. Professional correspondence

   5. Scheduling and billing

   6. Marketing applications

5. Quality Improvement Issues

   1. Personnel/leadership training

   2. Client satisfaction/functional assessment

   3. Supervision

   4. Multicultural issues

   5. Professionalism (interactions with competitors, colleagues, associates, agencies)

6. Risk Management and Professional Liability

   1. Insurance

   2. Best practice guidelines and preferred practice patterns

   3. Malpractice trends in the professions

   4. Infection control requirements