[Dysphagia] Options as dsphagia specialists

[lovdatsoap at gmail.com (donna w)]

 To a CFY:

To be blunt--don't go for contract work/high pay as yet    It places
you and your pts at risk and gives you no time to do the best job that
they deserve

Contract workers make the most because they are hired at the top rate
because they can literally handle anything because they have seen
it all  and they can deal wtih it quickly and effectively They are
worth the top pay  They also have more risk and liablity because there
is no layer between lawsuits and their license but the  required skill
level which
gives the the subtle skills in those grey areas that come up so  often
in dysphagia Contract work is feast
or famine and there are months  when there is way to much to do and
too many places to go to and it demands great time skills and
organizational skills to pull it all off plus
personality/salesmanship/PR skills  to keep everyone ( MDs
Administrators) convinced you are worth more than the new interviewee
who will work for nothing
They dont get paid for paper but they have done it for years and can do it fast
Usually - they have 5-10 yrs exp or more

Most contract workers demand flat minimums
ie  a 2 hour minimum  or give options
 one rate for  a 4 hr minimun day
or a lesser rate for a min of an 8 hr  day
Most have a min of 4 hr or 2 hr min so you wont get there and the pt
is ill or gone or off to a test or d/cd and you are NOT paid anything

PRN/Float pool / resource pool-- have  less pay  but are called in
more often because it is a bit cheaper for the facility They are
actual employees ( pay in lieu of benefits)  After one year and an avg
of 20-24 hr week
they are eligible for benefits-usually 401 or some type of pension
option under the ERISHA law
but on  paper it could be building  PTO time as well --pretty unheard
of but possible.. Anything is negotiable
PRN also can have minimums   Some have a 10 hr week min Some have
a 20 hr min for a week and balance it out over the week  Most who have this
arrangements cover 2-3 small hospitals and balance it carefully and have a
small core of backup SLPs ( your friends) in case of illness or
vacation  so you wont get replaced because the place is without a SLP
when you are ill or on a trip
 The minimums insure that you have core income that is steady so the
higher paying contract work fluctuating places won't do your income in
when the facilty which pays more has a low census ( no referrals for you)
Neither of these options have medical and self pay medical is pricey
unless you go for the cheap version that wont pay if you are  really
really hurt----
 better to have a
spouse with medical coverage for you both if you go PRN
There is NO job security and one
can go off the call list without notice despite verbal promises or verbal
plans--
(Yes you can be co-manager in September so I can be home with my baby
3 days a week..   OOPs no I changed my mind and we wont need you after
tomorrow until about 3-4 months from now...)
  So you have to really
save up for the famine moments
It is great for those with small kids who have a spouse who can
subsidize benefits


Do not let companies treat you with such lack of respect as to accept
the job offer as they delivered to you

  All other professionals need paper time  Carpenters need time to look at
blueprints  Even haristylists get  to study  new
techniques on company time
 Stand tough and demand a job  that will
pay you for paper  /prep and followup

Non billables make a quality service-- period

 For now work on building
your skill sets and there will be great ooportunities always for our
field- dont go for high pay yet
Dont let the appeal of money suck you into a position that puts your
license at risk
EX-
Folks who hire on and find they are responsible for a huge caseload
and are limited as to how many hrs they can work -leaving cases
inadequately covered  and increased risk for poor outcome and your
license tangled in lawsuit   The high pay in nursing homes
only thinly covers the fact that SLPs are responsible for pt
deteriorations in so many areas and guess who has deep pockets in the
lawyers eyes with our million dollar liability coverage   Read about
FL SNF  lawsuits  --itis very sobering  I stick to hospitals
Be very careful  and speak to those who worked at a place before you
--before you hire on
I  told one place that I would work as PRN  as I checked out a place
(You dont know if  management has good ethics--)   I quit on the spot when
I found out how they billed for my time an called ASHA and Medicare on
them (Kept my reg  24 hr week job and only worked 6 hrs a week initially)

Sometimes if it sounds too good to be true....

Donna W
PS   sorry for my typing  I have limited sensation in my fingertips
and never was a very good typist  :(