|
This is a guest post written by Michelle Garcia of Rise Therapy in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I don’t know about you, but I love slow-cooked crockpot meals. They are simple and delicious and don’t require chef-level cooking skills! The key components are preparation and time, with lots of each. In a pinch, you could speed up the whole process by purchasing a ready-made microwavable meal but which would you rather eat? Which would you rather serve to your family and friends? Which would you rather be known for? I wish this was a microwave success story but like anything else worth doing, this is a story about preparation, effort, and time. This is how I started a private practice debt-free, the crockpot way.  Ingredients:
Recipe:Back in graduate school, I had big dreams. After getting my CCCs I was going to go to start a private practice, travel to Africa, and change the world. After working full-time in a school setting for 6 years and part-time for someone else’s private practice, I wasn’t any closer to my own private practice or Africa. On top of that, my husband and I had decided to start our family. So, in 2014 while pregnant, I bought the Independent Clinician’s Guide to Private Patients. The fire I felt in graduate school started to comeback (or maybe it was just heartburn from my pregnancy) but I began to make plans to transfer the clients I was working with to my own home-based private practice. One year later, I bravely did just that! I found myself working a full-time job, running my own part-time practice doing home visits, and caring for our baby. As life would have it, things starting to get more complicated. I began playing around with the idea of leaving my full-time school job for full-time private practice. Ironically, I talked myself out of it. My family needed insurance and benefits and a stable income, and, and……. Then in 2016, I got the push I needed. My school contract suddenly changed and I found myself working 50+ hours a week with a toddler at home! Things began to fall apart. I had to make a hard decision; do I close my private practice or do I grow it? The deepest satisfaction I felt with my work as an SLP was in my private practice. Seeing the progress and the difference I could make in my client’s lives was the answer I needed! After 8 years of working in schools, it was time to say goodbye. Preparation:6 months before I planned to resign from my position at the school, my husband and I began saving all the money we could. We began to “practice” living off my husband’s income. We cut our personal spending by 30%. We stopped eating out, shopping at high-end grocery stores, etc. I started researching and designing a business plan. Ultimately, I knew I felt more comfortable and happier in a clinical setting than doing home visits, so I devised a plan to find and lease a clinic space. I scoured the city to find a space that I could afford using the income I already had from my current home-based clients. After 6 months of saving, we had the $5,000 we determined through a business plan that we needed to start the clinic. We also saved an additional 6-9 months’ worth of expenses to supplement my husband’s income. The clinic savings would cover the first and last month’s rent, all furniture, materials, tests, a computer and printer, liability insurance premium changes, fire inspections, website design, and all other surprise and planned for expenses. To make this tight budget work, I bought all my furniture second-hand. I “borrowed” my son’s old toys and books. I made materials in my free time. I used coupons and reduced costs services like Canva for marketing graphics, Vistaprint for cards and flyers, Facebook to get the word out, a friend to build my website, I wrote articles for local parent magazines, etc. I found a shared clinic space that already had waiting room furniture, a microwave, and toilet paper. With everything purchased (and $5,013 spent), we celebrated opening day! Cook Time:3 years ago, I had the crazy idea to start a private practice. The idea cooked for a long time before it could happen debt-free and it was largely due to the strong backing of my husband, my family and my support network. In this time, I asked a smart, strong-minded friend from graduate school to be my accountability partner. She called and texted me regularly to make sure I was on track and gave me words of encouragement. I listened to as many podcasts as I could from Scott Harmon at Start a Therapy Private Practice and Paul Potter of Cash Therapy Practice from Scratch. I called my mom regularly. My husband and I prayed together. I bought all of Jena’s materials at the Independent Clinician. I signed up to receive free business coaching at my local Small Business Development Center (I highly recommend looking into your local SBDC!).  I read books including Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick, Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey, and On Fire by Paul Potter. I researched grants and local and national small business competitions. These free, nearly-free, and budget friendly resources helped me pull through when my crockpot was bubbling and I was unsure how this recipe was going to turn out. I am now two months into having a brick and mortar private practice and while I certainly still have room to grow and I am eager to get more clients, I am not stressed by the heavy burden of clinic debt. I can instead spend that energy being excited about growing my private practice and my family’s future. I have the time to do the things I love again, including running for charity. In fact, this September marks my first clinic-supported half-marathon. I am running for clean water for Africa! Not only has owning a debt-free private practice improved mine and my family’s quality of life, it has brought me closer to my dreams in ways I never thought possible. Oh, this crockpot meal will be so delicious when its ready to serve.
This is a guest post by Liz Schwartz, MS CCC-SLP, who is a speech-language pathologist and private practitioner in Queens, NY.  "I just couldn't face having a boss anymore"After spending 25 years working with children with disabilities and supervising clinical fellows, being passed over for promotions and laid off, I was in my early 60’s and it was time to figure out what to do next. I just couldn’t face having a boss any more, especially one my own kids’ age or younger. What better way to solve this problem than open an accent reduction practice! No behavior problems, no boss, no rules and regulations except the ones I made for myself. (I also happen to live in the most ethnically diverse county in the country – Queens, NY). My love of languages and cultures led me in the right direction and Better Speech Now, LLC was born!  My Private Practice Took OffOnce I was sure this was I wanted to do, a series of lucky events fell into my lap. One day, while browsing in the public library, I was chatting with the librarian and telling her about the business I wanted to start. She suggested that I contact my local economic development organization. I attended their workshops, including some focusing on their annual small business startup competition. To make a long story short, my business actually won the competition that year along with a nice sum of money to help me get going. Then it was time to figure out where I was going to see my clients. Another incredible stroke of luck occurred when I walked into an arts and music center two blocks from my house and the extremely nice people running it offered to rent me a room at a very affordable price. Better Speech Now has taken off from there. Six years later, I have worked with great people whose problem is not a disability, but rather, an accent preventing them from achieving their goals in the US. Best of all, I make my own schedule and get to visit with my delicious grandkids whenever I want.  My Advice to Therapists Looking to Start Their Own Practice
And good luck!
The following is a guest post written by Tasha Rowell, M.S. CCC-SLP a speech-language pathologist and private practitioner from Saraland, AL.
So I Prayed For a Better FutureMy love for speech therapy was fading. My dream was to own my own practice by the age of 35; the rate I was going, it was going to be more like 55! A great friend and I had, what seemed like monthly, talks of co-owning a place in our small community. The need was there; however, the faith to leap was wavering. Situations arose at the hospital allowing me to think and pray harder about my future. Many prayers, many conversations with my husband, and many long nights lying awake brought me to realize, it could be done. Then I Took Action and Formed My BusinessThe next three months were a whirlwind. With every prayer came a question but shortly after came a new open door. The small town I live in was quickly becoming the new place to live. Businesses were opening quickly which left few open buildings within my budget. A great office space literally fell into my lap and the lease was signed within a few weeks. With the help of great friends and family, it was made into a pediatric SLPs dream! The business was formed and named and the logo was designed. My notice at the hospital was put in but once families got wind of my leaving, they began asking where I was going, which led to four families leaving with me! And I Went from "Just Starting" to 20 Filled Spots!As word got out about my new little business venture, calls, Facebook messages, and text messages came rolling in. I would work my shift at the hospital during the day, and build my business at night. My dream that became reality took all of 3 months. My husband and I had prayed that I would have 10 patients within the first 6 months. I started with 12! My faith was tested and still is; however, I have been blessed with this opportunity and look forward to helping as many sweet kiddos communicate as I can. Within a month, I have 20 spots filled and I am booking an average of 1-2 evaluations a week with hopes to bring on that sweet friend of mine within the next 2 years!
Fiction Speech-Language Pathology Books
|
|
Jena H. Castro-Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist, private practice consultant and member ASHA and the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients, The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice and Grow Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
Disclosure: These links in this article are affiliate links.
If you click a link and then make a purchase, I get a small "thank you" payment from Amazon. This does not cost YOU any more money and helps me cover operating costs.
If you click a link and then make a purchase, I get a small "thank you" payment from Amazon. This does not cost YOU any more money and helps me cover operating costs.
| Don't treat private clients without the proper forms filled out and signed by your client / their families. In order to protect yourself and your speech therapy private practice, you need to have various forms signed my clients to grant permission to evaluate and treat, as well as signed acknowledgements of various policies. It's important to be organized and diligent about having the proper client information / permission / acknowledgement forms signed before treatment begins. Here are the top 10 most important forms to make sure you have filled out before treating any clients! |  |
1. Intake / Case History Form (Pediatric & Adult)
The intake form allows you to collect information about the client's developmental, educational, vocational, speech/language/cognition/feeding/swallow etc. history. Ideally, you would send this form to the client in advance and have it filled out and returned before their evaluation.
2. HIPAA Notice (aka Notice of Privacy Practices) and Acknowledgement of Receiving HIPAA Privacy Notice
The first sheet clearly states the responsibilities of the private practice, the uses and disclosures of protected health information as well as the patient's rights to privacy. The second sheet is a form for the patient to sign that acknowledges that they have seen the HIPAA notice and understand its contents.
3. Authorization to Exchange, Obtain or Release Information Form
This form allows you to share and receive information with other professionals for evaluation and treatment planning purposes.
4. Consent For Services Form
This form gives permission to the private practitioner to complete an evaluation and render appropriate therapy services.
5. Attendance Agreement / Cancellation Policy
This form clearly outlines the attendance, tardiness, cancellation, bad weather, illness, etc. policies, as well as any fees that the client may be responsible for as a result of a missed session.
The intake form allows you to collect information about the client's developmental, educational, vocational, speech/language/cognition/feeding/swallow etc. history. Ideally, you would send this form to the client in advance and have it filled out and returned before their evaluation.
2. HIPAA Notice (aka Notice of Privacy Practices) and Acknowledgement of Receiving HIPAA Privacy Notice
The first sheet clearly states the responsibilities of the private practice, the uses and disclosures of protected health information as well as the patient's rights to privacy. The second sheet is a form for the patient to sign that acknowledges that they have seen the HIPAA notice and understand its contents.
3. Authorization to Exchange, Obtain or Release Information Form
This form allows you to share and receive information with other professionals for evaluation and treatment planning purposes.
4. Consent For Services Form
This form gives permission to the private practitioner to complete an evaluation and render appropriate therapy services.
5. Attendance Agreement / Cancellation Policy
This form clearly outlines the attendance, tardiness, cancellation, bad weather, illness, etc. policies, as well as any fees that the client may be responsible for as a result of a missed session.
6. Screening Permission Form
This form provides consent from parents for you to conduct a screening with their child (to see if they are within normal limits or should be evaluated further).
7. Payment Policy
Detailed form explaining the client's financial responsibility and payment terms including your fees / rates and payment options.
8. Record of Contacts
This form provides a record of phone calls, e-mails, etc. as well as details about the interaction.
9. Attendance Log (optional - with Payment Information)
This form provides a record of all attended sessions as well as who the payor source for the session was and whether the session was paid or if the payment is pending.
10. Insurance Verification Form
This form collects information about the client's health insurance, including their primary insurer, secondary insurer, subscriber number(s), co-pay, etc.
This form provides consent from parents for you to conduct a screening with their child (to see if they are within normal limits or should be evaluated further).
7. Payment Policy
Detailed form explaining the client's financial responsibility and payment terms including your fees / rates and payment options.
8. Record of Contacts
This form provides a record of phone calls, e-mails, etc. as well as details about the interaction.
9. Attendance Log (optional - with Payment Information)
This form provides a record of all attended sessions as well as who the payor source for the session was and whether the session was paid or if the payment is pending.
10. Insurance Verification Form
This form collects information about the client's health insurance, including their primary insurer, secondary insurer, subscriber number(s), co-pay, etc.
Unfortunately, we live in a litigious society and it's important to have all of your legal bases covered. Having these forms signed by clients will help protect yourself and your private practice in case of a legal battle.
If you're looking for customizable, fillable Word and PDF versions of essential clinic forms for your private practice, click here.
If you're looking for customizable, fillable Word and PDF versions of essential clinic forms for your private practice, click here.
 | Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist, private practice consultant and member ASHA and the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients, The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice and Grow Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
Resources
You Are NOT Alone!
Connect with Fellow Clinicians on Facebook!
Connect with Fellow Clinicians on Facebook!
Need More? Choose Your Path Below
|
|
|
|
|
About Jena:Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a private practice consultant who helps SLPs, OTs and PTs start their own private practices. She is the author of two books: The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence For Your Private Practice and an online course, Grow Your Private Practice.
Click here to learn more about Jena. |
