L. B. E. S. P. A.

Spring 2003

Table of Contents

NEW BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR

Suzanne H. Kimball, Ph.D., L-AUD and Natalie H. Robottom, M.A., L-SLP were appointed to fill the vacancies left by Annie Mouton, and Glenn M. Waguespack., whose term of office recently expired.

Suzanne H. Kimball received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 2001 and is currently an Assistant Professor at Nicholls State University, adjunct Instructor at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Clinical Audiologist at the Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Thibodaux, LA.. Dr. Kimball is a current member of the American Academy of Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Louisiana Speech-Language Hearing Association. She has received several grants and presented at state conferences.

Natalie H. Robottom, received her Master’s degree at the Louisiana State University in 1985, and is presently the Speech-Language Coordinator in the St. John the Baptist Parish Schools in Reserve, Louisiana. She is certified as a Speech, Language and Hearing Specialist, Supervisor of Student Teaching and Child Search Coordinator. Ms. Robottom, past president of SPAL, currently holds the office of secretary and is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She has presented for SPALS, LSHA and the Louisiana Department of Education. Ms. Robottom holds many positions within community church organizations

CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS

MEETING DATES REMAINING IN 2003

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ON-LINE LICENSE RENEWAL IS HERE !

Full Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiolgists have been approved to renew on-line beginning April 15, 2003, the same time renewal notices and forms will be mailed to all licensees. Dual Licensees and all licensees in supervision will be required to submit renewals in the regular manner. Licensees eligible to renew on-line will have to complete several screens of information, including directory information, impaired professional questions, and continuing education verification. Credit cards authorized for payment will be: Discover, Visa, and Mastercard. If you encounter any problems, please contact the Board office.

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Accepting Orders For Service by Kerri Phillips

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IMPAIRED PRACTITIONERS PROGRAM

National statistics indicate that 10% of the professional population is addicted to either alcohol, drugs or both. The members of the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (LBESPA) recognize that impairments in the functioning of persons licensed to practice under the auspices of the LBESPA can affect competent delivery of services and impair professional judgment. In an effort to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare and to protect the public from incompetent and unprofessional conduct by speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech-language pathology assistants, LBESPA added questions to the initial application for license and the renewal application to determine if an individual has an addiction problem. If an individual answers yes to one of the questions, s/he is required to attach a notarized explanation and in some cases, must appear before the Board for a Compliance Hearing.

Depending on the information and testimony at the Compliance Hearing, the Board may offer the individual an opportunity to enter an Impaired Practitioners Program in order to receive or renew their professional license.

Briefly, the Impaired Practitioners Program will consist of requirements such as:

1. A current Substance Abuse Assessment

2. Monitoring, including drug/alcohol screenings with results submitted to the Board for a specified period of time

3. Mandatory attendance at AA/NA meetings

4. Therapy for substance abuse

5. Penalties for noncompliance

Board members and staff have developed this program to enable the Board to meet the requirements of public protection and allow professionals to continue to work and receive the treatment they need. The Board adopted the program August 2, 2002.

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LOUISIANA COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF (LCD) HEARING AID PROGRAM

On December 2, 2002, the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) began taking applications for its hearing aid program. According to the terms of the program, residents of Louisiana who meet age, income, and audiological requirements are entitled to hearing aid(s) at no charge. The aids may be provided by a licensed audiologist, a licensed hearing aid dealer, or a physician, and are available to residents who are fifty years or older and who have at least a 40 decibel (pure tone average at 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) or greater hearing loss in the better ear. These individuals cannot be eligible for any other state or federal program that provides assistance with hearing aid purchases, and they must meet the financial need requirement of having income of no more than 250% of federal poverty guidelines.

The LCD program has generated considerable concern and discussion among audiologists, specifically with respect to its structure, its reimbursement schedule, and its potential impact on the restriction of free trade. Additionally, audiologists have questioned their ethical responsibilities with respect to their obligation to inform consumers of the availability of the hearing aid program. In January 2003, a memo was sent to all licensed audiologists informing them that it is in the best interests of consumers served if potential hearing aid wearers are made aware of the program offered through LCD. The purpose of licensure has always been protection of the consumer, and audiologists who have voluntarily agreed to participate in the program are honoring their responsibility to the public when they fully inform patients who otherwise could not afford hearing aid(s) of the availability of this program.

The memo sent to audiologists has generated some positive feedback, but LBESPA has also received letters of concern from audiologists who maintain that it is not the responsibility of a licensure board to publicize the LCD program or to legislate professional ethics. It should be noted that LBESPA was not asked by the LCD to provide input into the implementation of the program nor was the board made aware of the existence of the program until vendor applications were sent to audiologists. While the LCD program may serve the function of providing hearing aids to those who could not otherwise afford them, the Board fully understands the impact that this program may have on the practice of audiology in Louisiana. LBESPA cannot mandate that it is the ethical responsibility of audiologists to inform all potential hearing aid patients of the program. However, the Board is empowered to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare of the consumer, and it is with this intent that the memo was sent to all licensed audiologists.

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TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBER

FAQ’s from the Chairperson

Theresa H. Rodgers

Question: Are all activities in my therapy room considered to be on-site, in-view supervision if my supervisor is present?

Answer: No, a clinical activity must be performed by the licensee in the presence of the supervisor in order for the definition of on-site, in-view supervision to be fulfilled. There are numerous “alternative methods of supervision” that can be performed with the supervisor physically in the room. For example, a supervisor may hold a face-to-face conference with a licensee about a screening protocol or about IEPs, but a conference between a supervisor and supervisee would not be considered a clinical activity.

Question: I work in the schools and have heard that the HIPAA regulations regarding confidentiality go into effect soon. I am concerned that I might unknowingly violate the LBESPA Code of Ethics if there are new confidentiality standards. Can you clarify this situation for me?

Answer: You are right in that the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Title II) "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information" have raised the bar so to speak with regard to patient confidentiality. The implementation deadline for this section of the HIPAA regulations is April 14, 2003. These standards apply to entities covered by HIPAA and schools do not constitute one of these entities.

School systems that bill Medicaid for speech-language pathology and audiology services must adhere to the HIPAA regulations relative to electronic record transfer. Additional information on these regulations can be obtained at the web site of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa).

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LBESPA’S VIDEO LIBRARY

The Board office houses a video library for use by the licensees as a resource in obtaining continuing education hours. Each year, five hours may be obtained by viewing videos and completing an assessment form. There are presently over 130 titles in the library in all areas of speech-language pathology and audiology. You may rent these tapes for a reasonable fee and have two weeks to view them alone or with other licensees. You may

view the video catalog on-line at www.lbespa.org or purchase the catalog for $5.00.

The following list are additions to the video library:

1. “Otitis Media Update: Impact on Hearing, Speech and Language and TreatmentOptions” by R. Novak, Ph.D. 2 CE Hours

2. “Communication Services for Children with Hearing Loss” by J. Leonard, M.A. 6 CE Hours

3. “Integrating Speech, Language, and Hearing Intervention for Children with Cochlear Implants” by D. J. Ertmer, Ph.D. 2 CE Hours

4. “Culturally Appropriate Clinical Interactions with Families and Young Children” by T. Coleman, Ph.D. 2 CE Hours

5. “Early Communication Intervention: Current Trends and Educational Focus” by J. Leonard, M. A. Part I and II 6 CE Hours

6. “Rethinking Phonological Awareness” by M. Fey, Ph.D. 2 CE Hours

7. “Will Whole Language Indirectly Impact Pragmatic Skills?” by C. Hubbard, Ph.D. 1 ¾ CE Hours

8. “Dysphagia: Swallowing Assessment Methods” by S. McGarvey-Toler, M.S. 2 CE Hours

9. “Improving Fluency and Attitudes in Children Who Stutter” by W. Murphy, M.A. 3 CE Hours

10. “Working with School-Age Children Who Stutter: Dealing with Negative Emotions and Speech Behaviors” by B. Murphy, M.A. 3 CE Hours

11. “Treating the School-Aged Stuttering Child” by C. Dell, Ph.D. 1 ¾ CE Hours

12. “Prevention and Therapeutic Strategies for Preschool-age Children Through Adolescents” by B. Solomon, M.A. 4 CE Hours

13. “Voice Evaluation: Not As Easy As It Sounds” by D. .M. Hicks, Ph.D. 2 CE Hours

14. “The Use of AAC for Individuals after TBI” by Kimberly Ho, Ph.D. 2 CE Hours

15. “Supervisory Models: Preparing for a Variety of Supervisees” by E. McCrea, Ph.D. 4 CE Hours

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Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank

The Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank or HIP Data Bank as it is called was created by Federal Law to improve the quality of health care by encouraging hospitals, state licensing boards, professional societies and other health care entities, to identify and discipline those who are incompetent or who engage in unprofessional behavior. Additionally, the law protects the public by restricting the ability of incompetent practitioners to move from state to state without disclosure or discovery of the practitioners’ previous damaging or incompetent performance.

As required by Federal Law, LBESPA submitted data on all disciplinary actions taken since 1972 to the Data Bank in 2003. Accordingly, in the future all disciplinary actions taken by LBESPA will be reported in the LBESPA Newsletter and submitted to the following agencies:

OPEN BOOK EXAMINATIONS

The individuals listed below practiced more than 10 days in the State of Louisiana with out applying for a license in accordance with La. R.S. 37:2652. By Board policy, these individuals took and passed an Open Book Examination on the Practice Act, Rules, Regulations and Procedures, and Ethical Questions/Situations in order to receive their license.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

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CONTACT LBESPA

LBESPA
18550 Highland Road, Suite B
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
(225) 756-3480 Telephone
(225) 756-3472 Fax
Email: aud-slp@lbespa.org

Website: www.lbespa.org

Staff:

NEW LICENSEES  JANUARY 1, 2002 - APRIL 1, 2003

Adams, Lesley

Alexander, Dawn

Ard, Becky

Ashton-Jones, Evelyn

Authement, Shelley

Bailey, Angela

Baker, Jessica

Bankston, Laura

Barrilleaux, Kristy

Baur, Sarah

Beazley, Sharon

Bene=, Amanda

Blanchet, Paul

Boover, Christina

Boudet, Courtney

Boudoin, Tonya

Bourgeois, Heather

Bradford, Stacey

Brewer, Tammy

Brister, Allison

Brown, Barbara

Brunet, Trisha

Burns, Diana

Camiolo, Sarah

Campo, Mary

Cancienne, Carol

Carbajal, Patricia

Carlini, Tara

Casassa, Angela

Cobb, Dorothy

Cochran, Jamie

Collins, Jennifer

Crittenden, Heather

Coonrod, Kristi

Cotton, Dione

Cranford, Jerry

Creek, Gwyn

Cruz-Mitchell, Allison

Daigle, Susan

Danos, Ashley

Day, Jennifer

Delarose, Shayla

Delatorre, Charlotte

Diedrich, Elizabeth

Ditcharo, Danielle

Dixon, Rosailyn

Domingue, Amanda

Doosey, Megan

Dugas, Jamie

Dymond, Ariane

Elsass, Misty

Eversmeyer, Melissa

Fields, Audra

Fontenot, Angela

Franklin, Susan

Fuselier, Carol

Galbraith, Anne

Giannobile, Christina

Gibson, Christine

Girten, Gregory

Gray, Candice

Green, Altha

Hanson, Laurie

Harrell, Sandy

Hartenstein, Aimee

Hasbargen, Brandi

Hebert, Jamie

Hebert, Vicki

Helmick, Deanna

Hendrix, Jennifer

Hodge, Jennifer

Howard, Carrie

Hudgins, Amanda

Jefcoat, Casie

Johnson, Misty

Jolla, Andrea

Jones, Chalsea

Jones, Julie

Jones, Natalie

Keller, Abby

Kent, Garret

Korowin, Michael

Landry, Stephanie

Lantier, Kami

Lavergne, Simone

Lavespere, Stephanie

LeBoeuf, Cheryl

LeGoullon, Marsha

LeJeune, Sharrid

Lemoine, Jessica

Lichtll, Marta

Lockett, Terrence

Manley, Genia

Manuel, Rachel

Massett, Jennifer

Mather, Marcy

Matthews, Cissy

Mayeux, Nicole

Mayeux, Tiffany

McAllister, Tamie

McClendon, Alison

McKelton-Braxton, S. Moore, Janet

Moorhead, Kimberly

Morris, Samantha

Morrow. Sharon

Moss, Miranda

Mouch, Kelley

Mulkey, Melanie

Nash, Clara

Ness, Melody

Newberry, Tiffany

Nieto, Elizabeth

Olivier, Kerri

Ortego, Brandy

Paley, Julie

Parche=, Shelly

Parich, Kimberly

Paul, Sara

Payne, Nell

Perrodin, Kelly

Peyton, Emily

Pippen, Rebekah

Platz, Bridgett

Pontiff, Naomi

Pourciau, Tracy

Powers, Ruth

Prejean, Aimee

Preskitt, Kelly

Prevost, Sandra

Pruitt, Sonja

Quebodeaux, Trecia

Raines, Mary

Rettig, Lea

Rice, Patricia

Riche, Callie

Roberts, Dejoundla

Robin, Raymie

Rodrigues, Angie

Rogers, Angelle

Romig, Shaye

Roquevert, Michael

Sagett, Jennifer

Sanders, Nancy

Savoy, Kodi

Schexnayder, Ami

Schultz, Misty

Serna, Karen

Sharp, Kelly

Simms, Charlinda

Smith, Charlene

Soileau, Denee=

Solomon, Denise

Strand, Christy

Stratton, Deborah

Strong-Eisenzopf, K.

Talmore, Nichelei

Taylor, Sharan

Terrebonne, Adrienne

Theriot, Dawn

Thomas, Tara Jane

Thompson, Heather

Tompkins, Sally

Toney, Hope

Torricelli, Tara

Trahan, Elizabeth

Venable, Aimee

Vermillion, Louise

Wagner, Michelle

Waldrop, Kelly

Walton, Corrie

Walton, Jonathan

Weiner, Whitney

Whitmire, Arianne

Wiley, Melissa

Williams, Kenyetta

Wilson, Shecoda

Winfrey, Michelle

Wynn, Christy

Zaunbrecher, Erica

Zeringue, Sandy

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