L. B. E. S. P. A.
Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
LOCAL (225) 756-3480 TOLL FREE in Louisiana 1-800-246-6050
Printed Newsletter Editor: Judy Graham
Wow! It seems that 2005 just got started and we are already
writing a spring newsletter. How time flies!
First, I would like to take this opportunity to give a big thanks to Dr. Kerrilyn Phillips for her dedicated service as the chairperson of LBESPA in 2004. Dr. Phillips did a fine job as chairman and we greatly appreciate her time and service. I would also like to welcome to the Board our newest members, Dr. Angie Sherman, Mr. Glenn Waguespack and Dr. Keith F. DeSonier, our medical advisor. Drs. Sherman and DeSonier are serving as first time members to the Board and Mr. Waguespack is a long-standing returning member. I am sure that all three of these individuals will be fantastic board members and will serve the consumers of Louisiana well. We are happy to have them.
I would also like to take this opportunity to invite each of you to our spring conference entitled “Supervision: All you need to know and more” on April 30th at the Holiday Inn South on Airline Highway in Baton Rouge. This year’s conference is going to be a must for any licensee that is supervising or is in supervision themselves. Understanding the rules and regulations for supervision can be mind-boggling at times, so I would encourage as many of you as possible to attend. This year we have included a student rate giving all students the opportunity to come and learn about supervision requirements. So bring your friends and join us for this exciting conference.
Although it’s sort of late, here is wishing each of you a great 2005. Don’t forget that you are invited to attend any regularly scheduled Board meeting at any time. We would love to hear from you. Our next meeting is scheduled the day before the conference on April 29th at the Board office in Baton Rouge. Let us hear from you.
THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD
ANGELA F. SHERMAN NEW MEMBER
In August, 2003, Angela Sherman was awarded the Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP.D) from Nova Southeastern University. She earned a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Professional Speech-Language Pathology from Louisiana Tech University. Ms. Sherman is an Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Coordinator of Speech and Language Services. Her appointment to the Graduate Faculty at Louisiana Tech was just renewed for a five-year term.
She holds professional memberships in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She also holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the ASHA and a valid license (L-SLP) for the practice of speech-language pathology from the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology (LBESPA). In addition, Ms. Sherman has completed the continuing education units necessary for her sixth Award for Continuing Education (ACE) from the ASHA.
Angie has a diverse background of 10 years of professional experience in public schools, medical settings, as a private practitioner, and in higher education. She also has received several grants and presented at state and regional conferences.
MEDICAL ADVISOR APPOINTED
Doctor DeSonier received his medical degree from LSU in 1975 and did his residencies at Darnell Army Hospital at Fort Hood, Texas and at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was an instructor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Assistant Chief of the same program at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from 1980-1982, and holds the rank of retired Lt. Colonel US Army Medical Corps.
Dr. DeSonier has been the American Medical Association Vice-Chairman and President of the Louisiana State Medical Society, President of M.D. Physicians, Inc., and Clinical Assistant or Associate Professor in the Schools of Medicine at University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, and LSU in New Orleans and Shreveport. He is currently on staff at numerous hospitals in the Lake Charles area and is an active member of the Calcasieu Parish Medical Society.
In addition to having extensive service in the medical and military fields, he participates and holds positions in numerous civic organizations. Keith currently practices as an otolaryngologist in the Lake Charles area. He is married to Dale Marie Dane and they have three children.
GLENN WAGUESPACK
RE-APPOINTED
Glenn Waguespack received an M.S. degree in audiology from Purdue University and is currently in private practice in Shreveport. He also holds a clinical faculty appointment at LSUHSC in the Department of Otolaryngology. Previous experience includes both university teaching and a clinical audiology position in a community speech and hearing center.
Mr. Waguespack holds professional membership in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), and the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LSHA). He previously served four terms as a member of LBESPA, including five years as Chair. A former LSHA President, Mr. Waguespack has received Honors of the Association and is a LSHA Fellow. He is a past President of the National Council of State Boards of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (NCSB) and currently serves as newsletter Editor for that organization. He is also the current Chair of the ASHA Continuing Education Board, and is a frequent presenter on the topic of ethics at meetings of ASHA, LSHA, and NCSB.
As a strong advocate for the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology, Mr. Waguespack maintains that licensure standards will continue to determine the future directions for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. As the scope of practice continues to evolve and as our standards change, it is critical that LBESPA uphold its mission to protect the consumers of our services in Louisiana.
LBESPA falls under the Louisiana Open Meetings Act. This law specifies that every meeting shall be open to the public, unless the subject of the meeting relates to the character and professional competence of a person, or to the investigation of a complaint or negotiation of litigation. Compliance Hearings (to ensure people comply with the licensing law) and Disciplinary Hearings (to address public complaints about professional practice ) fall under the open meeting law.
The schedule for each LBESPA meeting is posted 24 hours ahead of the scheduled meeting. Any member of the public who wishes to address the board may do so during that section of the meeting titled, “Public Comments.”
All votes are public, as are all minutes of the meeting. Contact the board office concerning meeting times and locations.
All meetings begin at 9:00 A.M. and most meetings are scheduled to be held in the LBESPA conference room in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
April 29, 2005 Baton Rouge, LA
June 9, 2005 New Orleans, LA
August 5, 2005 Baton Rouge, LA
October 7, 2005 Baton Rouge, LA
December 9, 2005 New Orleans, LA
The Public is always Welcome!
by Kerri Phillips
As of November 1, 2004, Speech-Language Pathology and
Audiology supervisors and supervisees are required to complete the Supervision
Agreement Form for Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology and file a copy of the
Supervision Agreement Form with the Board office. The purpose is to identify the
supervisor and supervisee for the Board.
According to the Rules, Regulations, and Procedures, all individuals holding a provisional, restricted or assistant license must submit a Supervision Agreement Form. An individual who requires supervision must be supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist in order to be licensed and to practice. It is the responsibility of the supervisee to file the signed Supervision Agreement Form with the Board office within thirty days (30) days of the following events:
1. Initial employment
2. Renewal of a license
3. Change of supervisor(s)
Practice without a supervisor shall result in disciplinary action.
The Board encourages the supervisor and supervisee to review the supervision requirements for the license category to make certain that an individual is in compliance. If a supervisee is not currently employed, the supervisee should submit the supervision contract within thirty days (30) of employment with a letter from his/her employer stating the date of employment. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the supervisee upon receipt of the Supervision Agreement Form in the Board office. It is the supervisee’s responsibility to file the contract and to notify his/her supervisor that the Supervision Agreement Form is on file at the Board office.
PROVISION OF AUDIOLOGICAL SERVICES BY SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS
by Glenn M. Waguespack, L-AUD
The request was recently made that the Board clarify the role
of speech pathologists in the provision of audiological services.
Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 37, Professions and Occupations, Chapter 34. Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology sates, under the definition of the “Practice of Speech-Language Pathology, “ that the practice “may include performing a hearing screening limited to a pass/fail determination for the purpose of identifying or referring individuals suspected of having disorders of hearing.”
Title 46 of the Louisiana Administrative Code which covers professional and occupational standards for Speech Pathology and Audiology and provides the Rules, Regulations and Procedures for implementing licensure in Louisiana, goes on to further clarify this definition. It states that “hearing screening consists of pure-tone air conduction screening, and screening tests of auditory function such as tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, for the purpose of the initial identification and/or referral of individuals with suspected hearing problems and/or middle ear pathology.”
Section 107 of Louisiana’s Rules, Regulations and Procedures, addressing qualifications for licensure, goes on to say that licensed speech-language pathology assistants and provisional speech-language pathology assistants may “perform hearing screenings limited to a pass/fail determination, for the purpose of initial identification of disorders following specified protocols approved by the supervising speech-language pathologist” and shall be supervised in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Board.” Section 131 adds that aides may “perform hearing screenings limited to pure-tone air conduction screening and screening tympanometry” if preparation, training and supervision are appropriate.
Based on Louisiana’s statute and accompanying rules and regulations, it is interpreted that appropriately licensed speech-language pathologists can provide audiological screenings but it is not within the scope of practice for a speech-language pathologists to do audiological threshold testing or other diagnostic audiological test procedures.
LBESPA’S 9TH ANNUAL CE WORKSHOP
The LBESPA Board will present a workshop titled: “Supervision – All You Need to Know and More.”
The three (3) hour presentation by Board members will be from 9:00 a.m.—12:00 noon on April 30, 2005, at the Holiday Inn South in Baton Rouge. The program will be organized into two sessions.
Session I— “Rules and Regulations of Supervision”
Session II— “Supervision Dilemmas”.
Information has been mailed out. Plan to attend!
***
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY STUDENTS
A SPECIAL WORKSHOP RATE !
FOR THE SMALL SUM OF $20.00
AND YOUR PROGRAM SUPERVISOR’S SIGNATURE
BACHELOR AND MASTER LEVEL STUDENTS CAN ATTEND
THE LBESPA CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOP.
REGISTRATION FORMS AVAILABLE NOW ON-LINE
Act 721 requires that Boards supply the Louisiana Department of Labor with certain statistical information on licensees to measure and track the supply and demand of health care professionals in and out of Louisiana. Therefore, the Board has added required questions to applications and renewal forms. Some very interesting facts have resulted from the collection of the information based on the information available for 2004.
| Audiologists | Speech-Language Pathologists |
| There were 254 licensed audiologists. | There were 2848 licensed SLPs. |
| 228 licensees lived in LA, 20 outside LA. | 2,687 lived in LA. 161 licenses live outside of LA. |
| 50 were male - 198 were female. | 185 SLPs were male - 2,663 were female. |
| The average age is 47. | The average age was 43. |
| There were: 5 under 25 years of age | There were: 72 licensees under age 25 |
| 99 between ages 25-34 | 811 between 25-34 |
| 53 between ages 35-44 | 587 between ages 35-44 |
| 57 between ages 45-54 | 967 licensees between 45-54 |
| 25 between ages 55-64 | 323 between 55-64 |
| 6 over the age of 65 holding a license. | 45 over 65 holding a license. |
| 4 audiologists let their license lapse in 2004. | 92 SLPs let their license lapse in 2004. |
Renewals will be mailed to all licensees on April 15, 2005. You may submit your renewal and other documentation anytime on or before June 30th. After June 30th, delinquent fees are required and licenses lapse November 1, 2005.
Avoid the rush and submit your renewal information early!
In 2004, there were 2361 fully licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists eligible to renew on-line. 35% of those eligible in 2003 renewed on-line. It is anticipated that the number of people to renew on-line will grow as individuals become more comfortable with the process. As established by State Treasury rules, there is a $3.00 on-line usage charge to offset on-line setup fees.
Dual licensees, licensees being audited and all licensees in supervision must still renew by mail due to complexities in the technology, and in order to verify appropriate supervision documentation
On-line license renewing will be activated April 15, 2005, for licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
Some of the problems experienced last year in renewing on-line were:
 | Entering a name not as it is on the license |
| Using a LSHA or ASHA number instead of a State license number |
| Not receiving or printing out the email confirming a successful renewal that is received at the email address given. If the email is not received, your renewal was not accepted. |
| Using an invalid credit card number or not indicating the type of credit card. |
If you renew on-line and do not receive your ID card within a week, please notify the Board office at aud-slp@lbespa or 1-800-246-6050.
The Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology reviews all complaints filed at the Board office. The Board takes its responsibilities in regard to complaints seriously. All complaints are reviewed by Board members in Executive Sessions at the first meeting following receipt of the complaint in the Board office. Complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant. The Board cannot accept unsigned or anonymous complaints.
The Board may dispose of the complaint informally through correspondence or conference with the licensee, which may result in a consent order. If the Board accepts a complaint for investigation, a copy of the complaint will be forwarded to the speech-language pathologist or audiologist following the Board meeting with a cover letter from the Board notifying them that a complaint has been filed. The Board may request a detailed written response to the allegations in the complaint; or the complaint may be submitted to a Complaint Investigation Officer (CIO) for investigation. The complainant should understand that any information supplied on the complaint form may be subject to public disclosure.
The Complaint Investigation Officer has 60 days from the date s/he receives the complaint to complete their investigation of the matter and submit a recommendation to the Board for informal hearing, formal hearing, or for a dismissal of the complaint. The disposition of the matter may take several months. Take note that the Board can only take formal action if it finds a sufficient basis that the speech-language pathologist or audiologist has violated State laws or regulations. If the Board determines that formal action is required, the matter will be referred to the Attorney General.
In that case, formal charges may be filed against the speech-language pathologist or audiologist and s/he will be given an opportunity to defend himself or herself. This process can take a considerable period of time.
Until a final determination has been made, the Board and its staff are not permitted to disclose information regarding the matter. The complainant will be notified when a final determination has been made. Further information can be found in Chapter 5 of the Rules, Regulations and Procedures.
The Practice Act and the Rules, Regulations and Procedures are posted on the Board’s website at www.lbespa.org.
The Code of Ethics can be found in the Board’s Rules, Regulations and Procedures. It is found in Chapter 7, Section 701, at the end of the publication. You can download a copy from our website at www.lbespa.org or you can purchase a copy from the Board office for $5.00.
LBESPA is the only state licensure board in the country that offers a video library for obtaining CE to be used for license renewal!
Go on-line for listing, download the order form and send with check to LBESPA.
Gain a wealth of information and 5 CE Hours per year for renewals!
OPEN BOOK EXAMINATIONS
The individuals listed below practiced more than 10 days in the State of Louisiana without applying for a license in accordance with La. R.S. 37:2652. By Board rule, 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.
| Emily Bass |
| Dina C. McCarty |
Robert Stephen Crane, L-SLP #3548 was sanctioned by the Board on October 8, 2004, for violation of LSA R.S., Title 37; Chapter 34; Section 2662.5 and 2662.A. 5 & 6, and in violation of the Louisiana Administrative Code’s Professional and Occupation Standards (Title 46) for Speech Pathology and Audiology (Part LXXV), Chapter 7. Section 701.E.1.g. and Chapter 7, Section 701.E.4.g. relative to failure to provide appropriate documentation.
Margaret L. Carmouche, L-SLP #1033 was sanctioned by the Board on October 8, 2004, for violation of L.R.S., Title 37; Chapter 34, Section 2662; A.5-A.8 and in violation of the Louisiana Administrative Code’s Professional and Occupation Standards (Title 46) for Speech Pathology and Audiology (Part LXXV), Chapter 7, Section 701 E.1.I., E.1.k., E.4.b. and E.4.g. in relation to providing services while impaired.
Monica A. Waasdorp, L-SLP #2607 was sanctioned by the Board on February 18, 2005, for violation of LSA R.S., Title 37; Section 2662. (7) (b), in relation to providing services while impaired.
NEW LICENSEES - February 2, 2004-January 1, 2005
| ADAMS, APRIL | DINKEL, ANGELA | JETTE, SHANNON | RAINS, MISTY |
| ADAMS-ROUSSELL, T. | DOUCET, NICHOLE | JOHNSON, SUNNY | RAKOCZY, DARLA |
| ADKINS, LISA | DUFFY, VALERIE | JONES, MELISSA | REDDICK, LISA |
| ALBERT, SARAH | DUNCAN, MONIQUE | JONES, NATALIE | RICCA, NATASHA |
| ALLRIDGE, NATAISHA | DUPUY, NICOLE | KARR, STACIE | RITCHIE, KATIE |
| ANDERSON-LEE, C. | EASLEY, SARAH | KATEN, DANIELLE | ROBINS, KENDRA |
| ANDRUS, DANA | ELLENDER, ERICA | KEMKER, BRETT | ROBINS, TAHSHAWNDA |
| ARMSTRONG, CYNTHIA | ESCHMAN, KRISTEN | KITCHINGS, TAMMY | RODRIGUE, SOMMER |
| AUCOIN, ABBY | ESTES, JANICE | KLINE, CONSTANCE | ROUSSEL, JAMIE |
| BAKER, KIMBERLY | FLANAGAN, ANGELLE | KOHNKE, DEBORAH | ROY, TARA |
| BANKSTON, PAMELA | FORSHAG, ELLEN | KRAMER, MICHELLE | RUBIN, SCOTT |
| BARKER, CHRISTI | FORTE, CARLA | LAMBERT, CHRISTINA | RUNGE, BRANDY |
| BASS, EMILY | FOSTER, KANIKA | LANDRY, A. BLAIR | SALSMAN, TARA |
| BEDOYA, STEFANIE | FREDERIC, LISA | LANDRY, RACHEL | SCHMIDT, LAURIE |
| BELL, KEISA | GAINES, TIFFANY | LEALI, JOELLE | SHABLEY, PATRICIA |
| BENIGNO, CHRISTOPHER | GARAUDY, EMILY | LEE, FLORA | SLOAN, CAMI |
| BERGERON, SARA | GARY, STEPHANIE | LEE, WENDY | SMITH, BOBBI |
| BEVROTTE, CHRISTINE | GAUDET, HEATHER | LEETH, BEVERLY | SMITH, COURTNEY |
| BILELLO, ASHLEY | GAUTHREAUX, ERIN | LEONARDS, PENNY | SOILEAU, MELISSA |
| BLAKESLEY, HEATHER | GIBSON, CHRISTINE | MACK, HAROLD | ST. PIERRE, MAIA |
| BLANCHARD, TONI | GLAZE JR., WILLIE | MARTIN, ANNE | STAFFORD, BRYONY |
| BOOVER, CHRISTINA | GOODE, ALLISON | MARTIN, KAREN | STEMPLE, MICHELLE |
| BOSSIER, LAURENE | GRANGER, KAREN | MARTIN, MELONEY | STILL, AMANDA |
| BROWN, THERESA | GRAVOIS, ERIN | MCCARTY, DINA | STOUT, MEGAN |
| BRYANT, JENNIFER | HAAS, SUSANNE | MCINTYRE, CARIE | SULLEN, LATASHIA |
| BURLEIGH, OLIVIA | HALE, WHITNEY | MECHE, JAMIE | TASSIN, JENNY |
| BUTLER, LYNDA | HALL, MEGHAN | MILLER, HEIDI | THERIOT, MELISSA |
| CAMPBELL, THERESA | HAMMELL, SARAH | MILLER, LORI | THOMAS, RACHEL |
| CARTER, JEANNIE | HARRISON, EMILY | MILLET, VERLANCIA | TOWNLEY, NICOLE |
| CHARBONNEAU, DANA | HEBERT, JERI | MONTORO, LESLIE | TROUDT, FILIZ |
| CHARBONNET, ASHLEY | HENDRICK, KATHY | MORTON, SUSAN | VASILAKOS, EUGENIA |
| CHEEK, COURTNEY | HERRING, CHARLOTTE | MULLER, ELIZABETH | VEGA, NATALIE |
| CHRISMAN, ALISSA | HOLCOMBE, CHRISTY | NOEL, AMANDA | VENTRESS, RAMONA |
| CLARK, STACEY | HOLLIS, SHEILA | NORTON, EMILY | VOITIER, BROOK |
| COLE, WENDY | HOLTON, CHRISTIANA | OUBRE, CASIE | WALDEN, RENE'E |
| COLLINS, DEBORAH | HOOGE, SARAH | PALMER, LAKESHA | WILSON, KELLIE |
| COOK, CANDICE | HUGHES, KATHY | PARKER, CELESTE | WINFREY, KATIE |
| DARCE', SARRA | JACKSON, JERROLD | PEARSON, KATHRYN | WOLGEMUTH, KEITH |
| DEROCHE, LESLIE | JACKSON, OLGA | PENDLETON, SARAH | WOODS, NEDRA |
| DICKSON, EMILY | JAQUESS, MARISSA | PENNINGTON, ARDIS | ZIMMERMANN, JILL |
| DIEDRICH, GEORGIA | JENKS, KATHERINE | PONTIF, ASHLEY | ZITO, PATRICIA |
BOARD OFFICE PHONE NUMBERS
LOCAL (225) 756-3480 TOLL FREE in Louisiana
Universities......Educate
Associations.....Advocate
State Boards.....Regulate
November 1, 2004, the Louisiana Legislative Committee approved the first changes to renewal and application fees since the Practice Act was last amended July 1995. You will notice a modest adjustment to renewal fees which will take place with this year’s renewals.
A notice that fees would be raised was sent to every licensee last September 2004. There were no comments from anyone on the proposed changes.
Providers of continuing education activities that require Board pre-approval should not advertise as having been approved by LBESPA until notification of pre-approval by the Board. The request for pre-approval must be submitted thirty (30) days in advance of the activity. Note that while LBESPA may approve an activity, the Board does not endorse content.
LBESPA does not review the content of activities that are by definition acceptable as specified in Rule 123 I. The Board requests that workshop providers which meet the specifications of “Acceptable Continuing Education Sponsors and Activities” as indicated in Rule 123.I., not include language such as, “This workshop is approved by the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology for 6 hours of continuing education,” on promotional materials. It implies that the Board has reviewed, approved, and endorsed content. It is permissible to include statements such as the following on promotional materials for “Acceptable Activities”: “Up to contact hours of continuing education may be earned at this (workshop, seminar, conference, etc.) toward requirements for licensure renewal in Louisiana.
If you have any questions, contact the Board office at 1-800-246-6050 or (225) 756-3480 during week days from 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
| Audiologists | 59 |
| Audiologists with Hearing Aid Dispensing | 178 |
| Provisional Audiologists w/H. A. Dispensing | 12 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 2247 |
| Provisional Speech-Language Pathologists | 119 |
| Restricted Speech-Language Pathologists | 197 |
| Prov. Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 33 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 161 |
|
Total |
3003 |
CONTACT LBESPA
LBESPA
18550 Highland Road, Suite B
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
(225) 756-3480 Telephone
(225) 756-3472 Fax
Email: aud-slp@lbespa.orgWebsite: www.lbespa.org
Staff:
|
Richard Burtt, Administrator |
|
Judy Graham, Administrative Assistant |
|
Deborah Pratt, Clerical Assistant |
|
Terry Martin, Clerical Assistant |