RE: Speech Therapy Coverage

[Guest guest]

At our facility we have acute care and inpatient rehab unit. We have 2

SLPs on the weekend days ideally, but sometimes only one, covering both

services. We require that one SLP be available until 3pm for new

swallow evaluations. If there are no patients and the SLP leaves early,

she/he is put on standby until 3pm for possible call back. Our SLPs

have trained the nursing staff on how to complete a swallow screen as

well. Since we have 7 day/week coverage, we would only have to have

someone wait from 3pm until 8am, if need be.

Brownrigg

Inpatient Therapy Manager

Acute Care and Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Therapies

PeaceHealth St. ph Medical Center

2901Squalicum Parkway

Bellingham, WA 98225

sbrownrigg@...

www.peacehealth.org

our success is in the being, not just the doing

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On

Behalf Of tara.shank@...

Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 7:04 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Speech Therapy Coverage

Good Evening!

Just have a quick question for the group regarding ST coverage in the

hospital setting. We use a contract service to provide ST in our

hospital. We have 1 full-time and 2 part-time SLPs that staff during the

week and 1 SLP on the weekends. Because our volumes flucuate so greatly

and we are paying a contracted fee for their service I have required

them

to stay until 2 pm on week days to make sure any evaluations up until

that

point are covered. If they have no patients they will then go home after

checking with our receptionist to make sure nothing is needed. On

weekends they will check their messages which indicate if they have new

evaluations from 8-12 both Sat and Sunday and come in to see those

patients along with any others that were already scheduled.

Our nurses would like to see a call back policy if they leave early for

the day or receive orders after the noon hour on the weekends for

swallow

studies because they don't want to have patients or families upset if

they

have to wait to eat until the evaluation is complete. My fear if we

would

modify our contract is that they would be calling our SLPs in at any

hour

of the day or night and expect someone to come in. When we have had

instances occur like this in the past the patient has typically been on

the floor or in the hospital the entire day but the physician just wrote

orders late in the day.

Just wondering what other hospitals are doing for coverage primarily for

swallow studies on weekends and if your SLPs maybe leave early for the

day. Our patients would never go more than 20 hours without that

evaluation being completed. Any input is appreciated.

Tara Shank

Bellin Hospital

Green Bay WI

This message is intended solely for the use of the individual and entity to whom

it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential,

and exempt from disclosure under applicable state and federal laws. If you are

not the addressee, or are not authorized to receive for the intended addressee,

you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, distribute, or disclose to

anyone this message or the information contained herein. If you have received

this message in error, immediately advise the sender by reply email and destroy

this message.

[Guest guest]

At our facility we have acute care and inpatient rehab unit. We have 2

SLPs on the weekend days ideally, but sometimes only one, covering both

services. We require that one SLP be available until 3pm for new

swallow evaluations. If there are no patients and the SLP leaves early,

she/he is put on standby until 3pm for possible call back. Our SLPs

have trained the nursing staff on how to complete a swallow screen as

well. Since we have 7 day/week coverage, we would only have to have

someone wait from 3pm until 8am, if need be.

Brownrigg

Inpatient Therapy Manager

Acute Care and Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Therapies

PeaceHealth St. ph Medical Center

2901Squalicum Parkway

Bellingham, WA 98225

sbrownrigg@...

www.peacehealth.org

our success is in the being, not just the doing

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On

Behalf Of tara.shank@...

Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 7:04 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Speech Therapy Coverage

Good Evening!

Just have a quick question for the group regarding ST coverage in the

hospital setting. We use a contract service to provide ST in our

hospital. We have 1 full-time and 2 part-time SLPs that staff during the

week and 1 SLP on the weekends. Because our volumes flucuate so greatly

and we are paying a contracted fee for their service I have required

them

to stay until 2 pm on week days to make sure any evaluations up until

that

point are covered. If they have no patients they will then go home after

checking with our receptionist to make sure nothing is needed. On

weekends they will check their messages which indicate if they have new

evaluations from 8-12 both Sat and Sunday and come in to see those

patients along with any others that were already scheduled.

Our nurses would like to see a call back policy if they leave early for

the day or receive orders after the noon hour on the weekends for

swallow

studies because they don't want to have patients or families upset if

they

have to wait to eat until the evaluation is complete. My fear if we

would

modify our contract is that they would be calling our SLPs in at any

hour

of the day or night and expect someone to come in. When we have had

instances occur like this in the past the patient has typically been on

the floor or in the hospital the entire day but the physician just wrote

orders late in the day.

Just wondering what other hospitals are doing for coverage primarily for

swallow studies on weekends and if your SLPs maybe leave early for the

day. Our patients would never go more than 20 hours without that

evaluation being completed. Any input is appreciated.

Tara Shank

Bellin Hospital

Green Bay WI

This message is intended solely for the use of the individual and entity to whom

it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential,

and exempt from disclosure under applicable state and federal laws. If you are

not the addressee, or are not authorized to receive for the intended addressee,

you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, distribute, or disclose to

anyone this message or the information contained herein. If you have received

this message in error, immediately advise the sender by reply email and destroy

this message.

[Guest guest]

At our facility we have acute care and inpatient rehab unit. We have 2

SLPs on the weekend days ideally, but sometimes only one, covering both

services. We require that one SLP be available until 3pm for new

swallow evaluations. If there are no patients and the SLP leaves early,

she/he is put on standby until 3pm for possible call back. Our SLPs

have trained the nursing staff on how to complete a swallow screen as

well. Since we have 7 day/week coverage, we would only have to have

someone wait from 3pm until 8am, if need be.

Brownrigg

Inpatient Therapy Manager

Acute Care and Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Therapies

PeaceHealth St. ph Medical Center

2901Squalicum Parkway

Bellingham, WA 98225

sbrownrigg@...

www.peacehealth.org

our success is in the being, not just the doing

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On

Behalf Of tara.shank@...

Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 7:04 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Speech Therapy Coverage

Good Evening!

Just have a quick question for the group regarding ST coverage in the

hospital setting. We use a contract service to provide ST in our

hospital. We have 1 full-time and 2 part-time SLPs that staff during the

week and 1 SLP on the weekends. Because our volumes flucuate so greatly

and we are paying a contracted fee for their service I have required

them

to stay until 2 pm on week days to make sure any evaluations up until

that

point are covered. If they have no patients they will then go home after

checking with our receptionist to make sure nothing is needed. On

weekends they will check their messages which indicate if they have new

evaluations from 8-12 both Sat and Sunday and come in to see those

patients along with any others that were already scheduled.

Our nurses would like to see a call back policy if they leave early for

the day or receive orders after the noon hour on the weekends for

swallow

studies because they don't want to have patients or families upset if

they

have to wait to eat until the evaluation is complete. My fear if we

would

modify our contract is that they would be calling our SLPs in at any

hour

of the day or night and expect someone to come in. When we have had

instances occur like this in the past the patient has typically been on

the floor or in the hospital the entire day but the physician just wrote

orders late in the day.

Just wondering what other hospitals are doing for coverage primarily for

swallow studies on weekends and if your SLPs maybe leave early for the

day. Our patients would never go more than 20 hours without that

evaluation being completed. Any input is appreciated.

Tara Shank

Bellin Hospital

Green Bay WI

This message is intended solely for the use of the individual and entity to whom

it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential,

and exempt from disclosure under applicable state and federal laws. If you are

not the addressee, or are not authorized to receive for the intended addressee,

you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, distribute, or disclose to

anyone this message or the information contained herein. If you have received

this message in error, immediately advise the sender by reply email and destroy

this message.

[Guest guest]

Our SLP's are on-call on Saturdays and Sundays from 8-12. Our policy is

to complete all Speech orders within 24 hours of receiving the referral.

Hyde, PT, MBA

Providence Medical Center

Kansas City, KS

This electronic message is from Providence Health and the contents may

be attorney-client privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from

disclosure. The information is intended to be for the addressee only.

If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, copy, distribution, or use

of its contents is prohibited. If you have received this message in

error, please notify the sender immediately.

________________________________

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On

Behalf Of tara.shank@...

Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9:04 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Speech Therapy Coverage

Good Evening!

Just have a quick question for the group regarding ST coverage in the

hospital setting. We use a contract service to provide ST in our

hospital. We have 1 full-time and 2 part-time SLPs that staff during the

week and 1 SLP on the weekends. Because our volumes flucuate so greatly

and we are paying a contracted fee for their service I have required

them

to stay until 2 pm on week days to make sure any evaluations up until

that

point are covered. If they have no patients they will then go home after

checking with our receptionist to make sure nothing is needed. On

weekends they will check their messages which indicate if they have new

evaluations from 8-12 both Sat and Sunday and come in to see those

patients along with any others that were already scheduled.

Our nurses would like to see a call back policy if they leave early for

the day or receive orders after the noon hour on the weekends for

swallow

studies because they don't want to have patients or families upset if

they

have to wait to eat until the evaluation is complete. My fear if we

would

modify our contract is that they would be calling our SLPs in at any

hour

of the day or night and expect someone to come in. When we have had

instances occur like this in the past the patient has typically been on

the floor or in the hospital the entire day but the physician just wrote

orders late in the day.

Just wondering what other hospitals are doing for coverage primarily for

swallow studies on weekends and if your SLPs maybe leave early for the

day. Our patients would never go more than 20 hours without that

evaluation being completed. Any input is appreciated.

Tara Shank

Bellin Hospital

Green Bay WI

[Guest guest]

Our SLP's are on-call on Saturdays and Sundays from 8-12. Our policy is

to complete all Speech orders within 24 hours of receiving the referral.

Hyde, PT, MBA

Providence Medical Center

Kansas City, KS

This electronic message is from Providence Health and the contents may

be attorney-client privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from

disclosure. The information is intended to be for the addressee only.

If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, copy, distribution, or use

of its contents is prohibited. If you have received this message in

error, please notify the sender immediately.

________________________________

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On

Behalf Of tara.shank@...

Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9:04 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Speech Therapy Coverage

Good Evening!

Just have a quick question for the group regarding ST coverage in the

hospital setting. We use a contract service to provide ST in our

hospital. We have 1 full-time and 2 part-time SLPs that staff during the

week and 1 SLP on the weekends. Because our volumes flucuate so greatly

and we are paying a contracted fee for their service I have required

them

to stay until 2 pm on week days to make sure any evaluations up until

that

point are covered. If they have no patients they will then go home after

checking with our receptionist to make sure nothing is needed. On

weekends they will check their messages which indicate if they have new

evaluations from 8-12 both Sat and Sunday and come in to see those

patients along with any others that were already scheduled.

Our nurses would like to see a call back policy if they leave early for

the day or receive orders after the noon hour on the weekends for

swallow

studies because they don't want to have patients or families upset if

they

have to wait to eat until the evaluation is complete. My fear if we

would

modify our contract is that they would be calling our SLPs in at any

hour

of the day or night and expect someone to come in. When we have had

instances occur like this in the past the patient has typically been on

the floor or in the hospital the entire day but the physician just wrote

orders late in the day.

Just wondering what other hospitals are doing for coverage primarily for

swallow studies on weekends and if your SLPs maybe leave early for the

day. Our patients would never go more than 20 hours without that

evaluation being completed. Any input is appreciated.

Tara Shank

Bellin Hospital

Green Bay WI

[Guest guest]

Hello,

We provide SLP six days a week. Our Medical Director's opinion, no need not

too!

We have OT and PT also six days a week, and rotate OT and PT through Sunday

coverage to assist with initial evals and make up hours for 15 hour rule.

Our billing system is automated and parallels our EMR for daily documentation.

It has report features like a " Seven Day Report. "

I complete a Seven Day Report and analysis our 15 hour compliance daily and

weekly.

It has been a very positive change with creating an awareness for the IRF rules

with the Rehab Team...we are all " singing the same song. "

Similar to how minutes are " near and dear to RUG levels in SA/LTC. "

We also contract with an outside consultant to come in and audit our hours of

therapy on past admissions.

Hope this helps.

E. Lynn MS PT

Director of Rehabilitation

Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital

92 Brick Rd.

Marlton, NJ 08055

ext 4204

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of

Hyde,

Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 12:28 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: RE: Speech Therapy Coverage

Our SLP's are on-call on Saturdays and Sundays from 8-12. Our policy is

to complete all Speech orders within 24 hours of receiving the referral.

Hyde, PT, MBA

Providence Medical Center

Kansas City, KS

This electronic message is from Providence Health and the contents may

be attorney-client privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from

disclosure. The information is intended to be for the addressee only.

If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, copy, distribution, or use

of its contents is prohibited. If you have received this message in

error, please notify the sender immediately.

________________________________

From: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com>

[mailto:PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com>] On

Behalf Of tara.shank@...<mailto:tara.shank%40greenbaynet.com>

Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9:04 PM

To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com>

Subject: Speech Therapy Coverage

Good Evening!

Just have a quick question for the group regarding ST coverage in the

hospital setting. We use a contract service to provide ST in our

hospital. We have 1 full-time and 2 part-time SLPs that staff during the

week and 1 SLP on the weekends. Because our volumes flucuate so greatly

and we are paying a contracted fee for their service I have required

them

to stay until 2 pm on week days to make sure any evaluations up until

that

point are covered. If they have no patients they will then go home after

checking with our receptionist to make sure nothing is needed. On

weekends they will check their messages which indicate if they have new

evaluations from 8-12 both Sat and Sunday and come in to see those

patients along with any others that were already scheduled.

Our nurses would like to see a call back policy if they leave early for

the day or receive orders after the noon hour on the weekends for

swallow

studies because they don't want to have patients or families upset if

they

have to wait to eat until the evaluation is complete. My fear if we

would

modify our contract is that they would be calling our SLPs in at any

hour

of the day or night and expect someone to come in. When we have had

instances occur like this in the past the patient has typically been on

the floor or in the hospital the entire day but the physician just wrote

orders late in the day.

Just wondering what other hospitals are doing for coverage primarily for

swallow studies on weekends and if your SLPs maybe leave early for the

day. Our patients would never go more than 20 hours without that

evaluation being completed. Any input is appreciated.

Tara Shank

Bellin Hospital

Green Bay WI