As part of my routine, I often check Facebook Groups, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. to see the recent chatter about telepractice. Frequently, I see clinicians of all stripes (young, experienced, retired, school-based, private practitioners, etc.) who are looking for a change, or looking to do something part-time. The two biggest questions that are asked are: 1) how do I get started?, and 2) Isn’t telepractice easier than in-person service provision?

 

Let’s start with the 2nd question first as I think this is important to know and understand before jumping into telepractice. Currently, most telepractice sessions are done in a school setting. While there are many private practices adding telepractice to their repertoire of services, it is not growing quite as fast as services in the public schools. I believe the reason for this primarily due to shortages.

 

My colleagues in private practice tend to begin offering telepractice services when they have a long term client whose family is moving, but they are wanting to stay with the same clinician. This makes the transition to telepractice a bit easier on both parties (clinician and client). A relationship has been established, they know each well and they’ve developed a trust so that adding a new mode of service delivery is not a big step. I believe in this scenario, it does make telepractice a bit easier.

 

However, in a school setting, clinicians must have a knowledge of the school culture first prior to engaging in telepractice, in order to be successful.  It is very difficult to transition to a new mode of service delivery ( telepractice) and have limited knowledge of school culture where you will be providing services. In addition, school culture is different from one city to the next, so you need a good working knowledge of the basics of how schools operate (the I.E.P. process, how to work with school staff, how to successfully work with parents, eligibility criteria, the difference between working in a private practice or medical setting and schools, etc.), then you must research the area where your school site is located. Having provided services in many different areas across the United States, I can tell that working in Dodge City, Kansas is very different from Santa Fe, New Mexico which is different than Miami, Florida!

 

Often, new telepractice clinicians believe that if they are providing services to schools, they are somehow absolved of all the required paperwork. These clinicians often state “I just want to do therapy”!  When you work in the schools, whether in-person or via telepractice, you still need to provide quarterly progress reports, hold annual I.E.P.s, meet with parents and teachers, evaluate/assess students for eligibility, file Medicaid paperwork, write legally defensible reports and I.E.P.s, etc.  If you are working in a school setting via telepractice and not providing these additional services, then some other person (SLP, teacher, administrator) is doing this which adds to their workload.  It does not make this individual very happy and can derail a telepractice program.

 

So, if you are looking into telepractice, please understand, that you will be continuing to do all the the things mentioned above as part of your job as an SLP.  If you understand this going in, then you will be a much happier clinician having gone into something new with your eyes wide open! This is not to discourage you at all, as great telepractitioners are needed just as much as in-person clinicians. Just make sure you know what you are getting into and understand the job requirements before you leave your current job.

 

Happy telepracticing!!