When I began my journey, I knew I wanted to help others and I wanted to do more. I didn't know what "more" was, or how much "more" needed to be. If you're still reading this you have probably felt the same way. After some thought, I realized my "more" was to help "more than what my work day allows me to do". Since starting from nothing in 2010 our website has received over 1.5 million visitors and we've had more than 115,000 app downloads. Our mission has been to "Provide the best digital speech therapy resources on the web." Now I'm not saying this to brag, you probably aren't interested in starting an internet business. Heck, you might be the type of person who starts dry-heaving if someone even mentions the word “technology”. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that you "lay your bricks". Whether you're on the first day or the three hundred and first day... Whether you're reading page 1 or 111 of the Independent Clinician Guide to Private Patients... Whether you have 1 client or 50... ...build your empire (business) everyday. It takes time to build and create great things. That was the story with our most recent app Word Vault Essential. We began laying the groundwork for it in October 2013. We worked on it all of 2014 and it was finally available as a free downloadable app just last month (January 2015). It took 8 months to finalize the design, 9 months to hand select images, 4 months to record all of the audio recordings, 3 months to create the phrases, sentences, and stories, and 4 months to get programmed. Some of this work overlapped of course, but I won’t lie to you… ...there were many days that I said to myself “This is never going to happen” and “I’m never going to get this done.” But I didn’t give up. And neither should you. Doubt will creep in. Worry may too. But always keep your end goal in mind. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of opening/owning your own clinic. Maybe you want to serve more people. Maybe you’re tired of your boss. Maybe you want to break away from the 9 to 5 (or later) grind. Or maybe you just want a little extra spending money. Whatever your reason for wanting to see private clientele is… ...keep that as your motivation. Starting and running your own business isn’t easy, but as the saying goes “If it was easy, everyone would do it.” There are many people in the world that can benefit from your expertise. You can help them. Don’t let anything stop you. Work hard. You can do it. Bookmark this page, and anytime you feel like quitting, come back, read this article… ...then keep going. All the best. Luke Luke and Hollie Barber are married speech-language pathologists who live in Florida. Luke works full-time in an elementary school and Hollie provides private therapy to clients at home. To learn more about them, visit their website: www.HomeSpeechHome.com
In all my previous work in nursing facilities and hospitals, I've always felt that my patients had very few resources available once they returned back home, particularly if they weren't home-bound and didn't qualify for traditional skilled home health, which led me to the idea to open my outpatient clinic. I held my grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on my 26th birthday last year, and my life has never been the same since. Location, Location, LocationInitially my best friend (and fellow SLP) was going to go into practice with me. I mentioned my plan/idea to her over dinner one night, and she wanted in. She lived in a town about an hour away from where I lived, so we decided on a location in the middle of both of us in the town of Owasso, a suburb of Tulsa, OK. However, my friend then quickly discovered that she wasn’t ready for the private practice leap just yet and decided to pull out, and I’d already signed the lease on the building in Owasso. So, this is how I ended up in my initial clinic location. I began marketing both in Owasso and Tulsa as I searched for my first patient referrals, but I quickly came to learn that I would have much more clientele in Tulsa, as it’s a much larger city with a much higher elderly population (which is my primary target demographic). Most of my patients right now are commuting to me from Tulsa or surrounding areas, and in fact, I have even lost some referrals due to patients being unable to make the drive to Owasso. Looking back, a little more market research on location before opening would have been a good idea. Recently, one of the geriatric doctors I’ve become acquainted with as a result of my marketing attempts contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in renting a suite in his new office building he purchased in central Tulsa. This time, I carefully researched the market and made an informed decision to move my practice to Tulsa. Currently, I’m waiting on his new building to be renovated, and as soon as it’s ready for occupancy, his practice, mine, and several other geriatric professionals will be moving into this centralized location to offer multiple geriatric services under one roof. My advice for anyone beginning a private practice would be to research the market (looking at factors like city population, target demographics, proximity to other related healthcare professionals, etc.) when choosing a location, as location is a critical factor in how many patient referrals you will receive. Thinking this through and thoroughly researching locations ahead of time can save you a lot of time later compared to transitioning to a new office space after everything is already set up with your initial address. However, in my case, I met the doctor that I’m joining forces with throughout my networking efforts after I’d already opened the clinic. So, if you’re already open for business and you feel that your location is less than ideal, all is not lost. Sometimes, initial opportunities can lead to other better opportunities. Focus on networking, and move when you find the ideal location. Professional Multi-taskerThis journey has been very exciting and at times exhausting as I've learned to wear so many different hats and take on so many new roles. I'm no longer just a speech pathologist, but am now also an office manager, web designer, billing agent, marketer, receptionist, etc. It's been such a learning experience in the first few months, from navigating the insurance maze to learning how to educate physicians about my services (after finding in my initial marketing attempts that many local physicians were unaware of what SLPs do). My advice to those starting new businesses is to expect to become really good at multitasking for a while until you grow enough that it makes sense to spend the extra money to hire help for some of these services. I personally have done everything myself that I possibly could in order to start my business debt free, as this is something that was important to me after just having paid off my student loans right before opening the clinic. Investing time into learning to do as many of the business aspects as you can on your own can be a huge money-saver for a new business owner. Transitioning Into Full-TimeKnowing I had a lot to learn and that it would take time to get everything running smoothly, I chose to begin my practice part time while continuing to work full time in the skilled nursing setting about 30 hours per week. Around the six month mark, I began getting more referrals and transitioned into PRN at my previous full time skilled nursing position and began taking on more clients at my own clinic. I would advise new private practitioners to start out part time while maintaining other steady employment at first, as this helps counteract the start-up costs and expenses while getting everything up and running. It takes time to get everything set up, become in-network with insurance companies, etc., and during this time, you may not get many referrals (as many patients will not want to pay cash when they have insurance), so it’s good to have backup income initially until the set-up phase is completed. The Journey ContinuesThe first few months of business for me have been such a learning experience- at times challenging, but overall an incredible adventure. I've enjoyed this new chapter of my life so much and wouldn't trade the knowledge I've gained or my experiences with my wonderful patients for anything. I'm thankful for a great first year of business and am excited to see what the future holds for my growing practice. Tiffany Turner, M.S., CCC-SLP is the author of several clinician resource materials, which are available for purchase on her website, www.tulsasnr.com. During her clinical fellowship year, Tiffany had limited therapy materials or funding for materials. Therefore, in addition to opening an adult rehab clinic to fill a need in her community, one of her goals has always been to provide affordable, practical therapy resources to other clinicians, which she is happy to now be able to do.
I have had MANY lengthy phone conversations with families who are trying to decide if my professional skills, which are all fee-for-service/private pay, are the best fit for their family. I never try and sell a family anything, rather I educate and provide my honest professional opinion. Sometimes financially I am not the best for for a family but they remember my knowledge and refer to me others. In some cases families have even come back to me after less than satisfactory experiences in other settings. I really feel that taking a few extra minutes to help a parent or guardian be a better advocate for their child can go a long way, for the patient and your professional reputation. Another fun fact about my practice is in 2012 my life moved to Maui, Hawaii and so did my business. I had no idea how things were going to work in Hawaii since I didn't have any established referral sources let alone any knowledge of even what sort of services were needed on island. It has been a whole new learning experience maneuvering through new systems and establishing my presence in a community that thrives on word of mouth relationships. After about 6 months on island I managed to again work full time for Jabbermouths Therapy. Personally I would say I am a very driven person, competing in triathlons and since moving to Maui, outrigger canoe paddling. A strong drive and willingness to step outside of your comfort zone are vital to making a fee-for-service private practice work.
In terms of how speech pathologist private practice owners spend their time, the majority spend their time providing individual and group treatment (direct service) with about 20% of their time spent on speech therapy documentation. The median per visit hourly private speech therapy rate was $70.00 per visit. Private pay clients were the most popular, followed by private insurance and Medicaid/Medicare. This information was presented with information gathered from 688 private practice owner ASHA members. If you want to learn more about starting a private practice in speech pathology, click here.
Author: Jena H. Casbon, author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice
Here are two websites to help you determine when your fans are online: Twitter: When Are My Twitter Followers Online? Facebook: When Are My Facebook Fans Online? #2: Give a Call to Action Unless people are told what to do, often times they do nothing. If you want someone to "like" the post, tell them to! If you want them to share or retweet the content, ask them to! For example, "Like this post if you agree!" or "Share this post with other special needs parents!" #3: Publish Frequently (but not too frequently) The general wisdom these days is for small businesses to post 1-2 a day. Post too much and people will get irritated and "un-like" you. Post too infrequently and you'll fall off their radar. Posting 1-2 times a day or no less than 4 times a week at a minimum is ideal. #4: Share Useful/Valuable Info This is basic, but sharing current, interesting and valuable information will generate the most engagement. If you've come across some new, interesting or shocking information, share it! #5: Ask a Question / Fill in the Blank Status updates that ask a question, particularly fill-in-the blanks, have much higher engagement. For example, "What do you think about the new guidelines for toddlers and TV?" #6: Add a Photo Faceebook really took off when it began encouraging users to upload photos. As humans, we are naturally drawn to photographs - especially of people. If you're including a link, make sure it has a photo. If you're using a quite, why not attach a photo? Using photos will help your update stick out among the text only statuses in a newsfeed. #7: If you're Offering Something, Use $OFF vs. %Off Sadly, most people hate doing math. If you're offering a deal, advertising it as $15 off vs. 15% off increases engagement. #8: Keep it short and sweet People are really looking for quick tips, facts or things to consider when online. Social media is still "social" and not intended for deep lengthy discussions. Quick, easy to digest information is best! #9: Learn from others Chances are you follow companies, businesses and causes (in addition to your friends) on Facebook and Twitter. If you notice a business with a cool status update, modify it and try it out with your audience. #10: Be patient Building a following does not happen over night. It will take you a while to find your "social media groove." Use trial and error. Adapt to what your audience wants and needs. Never forget that you're posting for them.
Want More Website / Social Media Tips to Get More Clients and Improve Your Marketing Efforts? Get The Guide to Creating a Web Presence!
Conduct Market Research Is there a high need for your services in your area or the types of services you provide? Perhaps there are many private schools in your area that don’t offer therapy services. Or maybe you know that the predominant health insurance company in your area doesn’t cover a certain disorder. Analyze Your Competition Pretend you’re a patient looking for services to help you figure out who your competition is. Who are the other clinicians practicing in your area? What are their specialties? Try to find out how much they charge and what kind of reputation do they have. You can find this out through a Google search, perhaps making some calls and asking around. Set Financial Goals Set bench marks for yourself in terms of how much money you want/need to make and base your hourly rate off of that. How many billable time slots do you have available and how many clients will you need to take on to reach your goals? Remember that you’ll need to include expenses in your calculations (office space is expensive- if you’re planning to rent space- you’ll need to see a lot of patients!) Create a Marketing Plan Many therapists are afraid to market themselves. Marketing is not bad or dirty! You need to focus on building relationships with other professionals who will refer to you as well as getting your name out to the public. You might want to focus on developing your website, sending out postcards, doing some guest speaking engagements or free screenings to help build your client-base. Here’s the deal with a business plan: You need to write one. It doesn’t matter whether you’re asking for money or not, showing it to anyone or just doing it for yourself: it’s a great exercise in building a firm foundation for your business and future success. Just do it; it’s not that bad. Better yet- I’m going to teach you how to write a speech pathology practice business plan next week. Stay tuned :-)
This guest post is from Angela C. Pierce of Waltham, MA You'll find additional private practice success stories by clicking here.
Two days a week, I worked in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment, treating pediatric clients with OTs, side by side. As the practice’s needs increased, I was unable to be available for the amount of hours they needed so we amicably said our goodbyes. The owners of the practice were generous enough to allow one of clients with whom I’ve had the longest lasting relationship with, leave with me if they so decided to leave their practice. At the time, I felt strange soliciting myself privately to clients and didn’t know quite what to do. I was excited by the prospect of having a private client but with those feelings of excitement came a wave of anxiety…how do I do this? What do I charge? Do I charge for travel? Am I really good enough?! Sure enough, on the second to last session with my client, I mentioned to the parent that I would be leaving the practice. Without hesitation at all, the parent asked if I would be willing to travel to their home to continue treating the child. I did my best to keep my most interested yet professional face on. I told her I would let her know the following week my availability and rate and come up with a contract for us. Within a week, I decided to make my rate $90. I wanted it to be $100 as I knew that the parent had been paying even more than this out of pocket at the private practice (and this family was from a wealthy suburb) but I felt this amount was fair (since it was my first and I still wasn’t that confident in myself). I stayed with this family for a year and a half. We parted ways after we decided the home setting was no longer the best place for treatment. After this, I have had a few clients here and there find me from the ASHA registry. |
Angela C. Pierce, MS CCC/SLP is a highly skilled speech and language pathologist in the MetroWest Boston area who has 11 years of experience with pediatrics in both educational and clinical settings. She has over 3 years of experience with adult outpatient rehabilitation. She has a broad range of expertise, and is especially skilled in early language development, language learning disabilities, social communication, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and augmentative communication. http://express-it.yolasite.com/ |
I’ve been hearing a lot of concern from my clients, customers, and therapy colleagues about the “dreaded state of the economy.” You may be especially concerned if your clients are private-pay. Don’t you just love this phrase: “In this economy…” [insert three dramatic bass drum beats with a rumble crescendo at the end] It’s scary. It hits that major pain point. It’s daunting. Granted the economy is a valid concern, and I do not take it lightly. |
But we do know this:
In every “bad economy” there are people who thrive in each industry. People who make their craziest dreams come true. People who find some way to adapt to the times and achieve insane success. Some people even start private practices in bad economies and make it through without a scratch.
The question is:
What makes the difference between the practices that lose clients and the practices that gain clients?
The Better Business Bureau, Yelp, your national therapy association’s Code of Ethics, and I would all agree that treating clients with the highest level of dignity and respect makes the difference. I’ve got some tricks to add the icing to the cake for your clients. You already know that your therapy service and reporting are of the highest caliber. But let’s talk about communication with parents, family members, and caregivers.
I love the internet for client communications exchange, and I’ve found several ways to improve my customer service using the net. The best part? Most of these items are FREE. Here are 6 easy things you can do to make your clients as happy as clams:
1. Use web-based intake forms and payment options.
People aren’t always carrying around the ol’ checkbook these days. And this may sound strange, but pen and paper are going out of style fast. Web-based payment and forms are turning into more of a convenience than ever before. I pay my bills online. Why not add the therapy bills to the monthly list?
2. Offer telepractice services.
Consider gas and travel time. Telepractice saves time and money. I’ve only flirted with this idea, but I’ve come close. I had a client who lived 1.5 hours away. Instead of meeting in the middle, Skyping our sessions would have been a great solution! With my client, things changed and the family moved away. But I know of successful speech therapists who telepractice now and love it. Download Skype and give it a try.
3. Send out annual feedback forms to parents, families and caregivers.
This shows that you not only care about the person you serve, you also care about everyone around them. These questions are the best to use in order to get useful feedback:What hesitations did you have before hiring (company)?What short-term changes do you see in your loved one right after therapy? What long-term changes do you see in your loved one? What is the most effective therapy strategy that you’ve seen work? Would you recommend our therapy practice to others? Please explain in as many words as possible how we can improve our work with your loved one.
4. Make sure your website is user-friendly.
Update your listed events. Test your payment buttons to make sure they work. Determine how your can reduce loading time. Make sure your contact information is obvious and apparent. Remember that the fewer links there are to click, the less confusion will arise. Nothing frustrates a client more than a busy, confusing website.
5. Write blog posts with your clients in mind.
This is a stellar way to serve your clients. AND it brings traffic to your site and improves SEO. Ask your clients what they would like to know. Just start by blogging once per month as a service to your clients. Write it, publish it, and send it out in an email. They will love it. Your post titles might be “7 Great Tips for Parents of Kids with Speech Disfluency” or “How To Plan For A Respite” or “How To Transfer Speech Work Into Daily Routines.” These may be topics your parents, families, and caregivers would LOVE to know more about. Ask them.
6. Offer protected video content viewing options.
It kills me that my clients’ parents, families, and caregivers don’t always have the privilege to see what I see in the session. So, this is still a dream to me. I haven’t done it yet. But imagine recording your session, uploading it to a private web-based video publisher, embedding the video into your client’s customized password-protected area of your website, and then notifying your client that the session is available for viewing. Or how about private live-streaming? What a treat this would be for your client’s parents and families!
Customer service is more than a smile and a thank you.
Customer service is deeply inspiring, empowering, and moving your clients and their loved ones to evolve. I’d love to hear what makes your practice different from others.
In every “bad economy” there are people who thrive in each industry. People who make their craziest dreams come true. People who find some way to adapt to the times and achieve insane success. Some people even start private practices in bad economies and make it through without a scratch.
The question is:
What makes the difference between the practices that lose clients and the practices that gain clients?
The Better Business Bureau, Yelp, your national therapy association’s Code of Ethics, and I would all agree that treating clients with the highest level of dignity and respect makes the difference. I’ve got some tricks to add the icing to the cake for your clients. You already know that your therapy service and reporting are of the highest caliber. But let’s talk about communication with parents, family members, and caregivers.
I love the internet for client communications exchange, and I’ve found several ways to improve my customer service using the net. The best part? Most of these items are FREE. Here are 6 easy things you can do to make your clients as happy as clams:
1. Use web-based intake forms and payment options.
People aren’t always carrying around the ol’ checkbook these days. And this may sound strange, but pen and paper are going out of style fast. Web-based payment and forms are turning into more of a convenience than ever before. I pay my bills online. Why not add the therapy bills to the monthly list?
2. Offer telepractice services.
Consider gas and travel time. Telepractice saves time and money. I’ve only flirted with this idea, but I’ve come close. I had a client who lived 1.5 hours away. Instead of meeting in the middle, Skyping our sessions would have been a great solution! With my client, things changed and the family moved away. But I know of successful speech therapists who telepractice now and love it. Download Skype and give it a try.
3. Send out annual feedback forms to parents, families and caregivers.
This shows that you not only care about the person you serve, you also care about everyone around them. These questions are the best to use in order to get useful feedback:What hesitations did you have before hiring (company)?What short-term changes do you see in your loved one right after therapy? What long-term changes do you see in your loved one? What is the most effective therapy strategy that you’ve seen work? Would you recommend our therapy practice to others? Please explain in as many words as possible how we can improve our work with your loved one.
4. Make sure your website is user-friendly.
Update your listed events. Test your payment buttons to make sure they work. Determine how your can reduce loading time. Make sure your contact information is obvious and apparent. Remember that the fewer links there are to click, the less confusion will arise. Nothing frustrates a client more than a busy, confusing website.
5. Write blog posts with your clients in mind.
This is a stellar way to serve your clients. AND it brings traffic to your site and improves SEO. Ask your clients what they would like to know. Just start by blogging once per month as a service to your clients. Write it, publish it, and send it out in an email. They will love it. Your post titles might be “7 Great Tips for Parents of Kids with Speech Disfluency” or “How To Plan For A Respite” or “How To Transfer Speech Work Into Daily Routines.” These may be topics your parents, families, and caregivers would LOVE to know more about. Ask them.
6. Offer protected video content viewing options.
It kills me that my clients’ parents, families, and caregivers don’t always have the privilege to see what I see in the session. So, this is still a dream to me. I haven’t done it yet. But imagine recording your session, uploading it to a private web-based video publisher, embedding the video into your client’s customized password-protected area of your website, and then notifying your client that the session is available for viewing. Or how about private live-streaming? What a treat this would be for your client’s parents and families!
Customer service is more than a smile and a thank you.
Customer service is deeply inspiring, empowering, and moving your clients and their loved ones to evolve. I’d love to hear what makes your practice different from others.
Kat Fulton, MM, MT-BC is a board-certified music therapist and regular blogger. She teaches therapists how to use the web to convey their awesomeness in a course called Music Therapy Business. You can also read her music therapy blog.
Websites aren't for nerds or big businesses anymore!
More and more "regular" professionals and small business owners are focusing on building a web presence to keep a professional leg up on the competition.
Before you say, "I don't have the time or technical skills" to create a website, let me assure you that there are several companies that offer easy to use drag and drop templates to create a professional-looking site in minutes. And for less than $75 a year.
So, no more excuses.
Alright, so now you know that it's quick, easy and cheap to build a website the big question is:
Do you really need one? Yes.
And here's why:
More and more "regular" professionals and small business owners are focusing on building a web presence to keep a professional leg up on the competition.
Before you say, "I don't have the time or technical skills" to create a website, let me assure you that there are several companies that offer easy to use drag and drop templates to create a professional-looking site in minutes. And for less than $75 a year.
So, no more excuses.
Alright, so now you know that it's quick, easy and cheap to build a website the big question is:
Do you really need one? Yes.
And here's why:
1. To Control The Information Available About You Online
When was the last time you "Googled" yourself?
Take a few minutes to see what others see when they search for you. You are probably listed on several "people search" sites that you never registered for (such as Healthgrades.com or MyLife.com) or sites that you did register for but don't necessarily want everyone to see (like your wedding site from TheKnot.com).
It's time to take matters into your own hands and decide exactly what information searchers will come across first when people look for you.
You can add a:
It's your website; you're in control of the information.
Take a few minutes to see what others see when they search for you. You are probably listed on several "people search" sites that you never registered for (such as Healthgrades.com or MyLife.com) or sites that you did register for but don't necessarily want everyone to see (like your wedding site from TheKnot.com).
It's time to take matters into your own hands and decide exactly what information searchers will come across first when people look for you.
You can add a:
- bio
- professional photo
- preferred contact information
- any additional you want.
It's your website; you're in control of the information.
2. To Market Your Own Private Practice
Do you already have a private practice or are you considering starting a private practice?
Whether you have a free-standing brick and mortar practice or treat your own private clients "on the side" building a web presence should be an important part of your marketing plan.
With the yellow pages quickly becoming extinct, people are searching for therapy services online. Make sure you have a website so that your future clients can easily find and set up an appointment with you!
Whether you have a free-standing brick and mortar practice or treat your own private clients "on the side" building a web presence should be an important part of your marketing plan.
With the yellow pages quickly becoming extinct, people are searching for therapy services online. Make sure you have a website so that your future clients can easily find and set up an appointment with you!
3. Share Information With The Community
Use a website to share information on:
Use it as a fantastic way to give back to the community. Parents, family members and professionals are constantly looking on the Internet to find ways to improve lives.
If you're not interested in having a website that showcases YOU consider starting with a blog as a vehicle to share your insight and expertise.
- therapy techniques
- discoveries
- recommended strategies
- suggested treatment tools
- etc.
Use it as a fantastic way to give back to the community. Parents, family members and professionals are constantly looking on the Internet to find ways to improve lives.
If you're not interested in having a website that showcases YOU consider starting with a blog as a vehicle to share your insight and expertise.
4. Showcase Your Resume
More and more people are securing a domain name using their own name and using it to post their resume. While yes, it is important to have paper versions to hand out in interviews, in this digital age, having a resume that is easy to direct people to is very impressive.
Remember to add a professional headshot or images - even videos- of yourself in a professional setting. Most online resumes are just like the paper versions (i.e. dull.) Adding images can help viewers envision you, which builds rapport right away.
Remember to add a professional headshot or images - even videos- of yourself in a professional setting. Most online resumes are just like the paper versions (i.e. dull.) Adding images can help viewers envision you, which builds rapport right away.
5. Portray a Professional Image
I used to think of having a business card as a major identifier that someone was in fact "in business." Nowadays, having your own website gives you not only a leg up on the competition but it is still quite impressive to the general population.
Having your own website tells potential clients, referral sources or employers that you're serious about what your doing and proud of your accomplishments.
And how cool it is to say, "Check out my website…"
Having your own website tells potential clients, referral sources or employers that you're serious about what your doing and proud of your accomplishments.
And how cool it is to say, "Check out my website…"
If you need help creating or improving your website or blog (or want to find out what services I use and recommend) check out:
The Independent Clinician Guide to Creating a Web Presence is
available here.
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
I hate hate hate organizing, tracking and PAYING taxes. The only thing that makes paying Uncle Sam a little bit better are figuring out my deductions. Just to review, a tax deduction (aka “write-off”) is a reduction in the total amount on which tax is calculated. This means that whatever you make total from your private patients you take the deductions off of that money so that you’re taxed on a lesser amount. Let’s say that you make $6,500 from private patient visits this year. If you calculate $708.75 in mileage deductions, you will only be taxed on $5,791.25. Hopefully you have more deductions than just mileage, but just remember, every deduction adds up! |
Keep Track of Each Visit
You really really really need to keep track of your patient visits. This is important both for declaring earned income (how much money did you make) as well as being able to deduct miles driven to and from visits. I keep track of everything!
I personally use the app Milebug to keep track of my miles. I add clients addresses into the app using their INITIALS only, which helps me stay HIPAA compliant.
I personally use the app Milebug to keep track of my miles. I add clients addresses into the app using their INITIALS only, which helps me stay HIPAA compliant.
So... What Miles Can I Count?
In order to calculate miles to and from your patients house/treatment location, I recommend using either Milebug OR Google Maps. Either will allow you to calculate the mileage quickly and accurately.
So, what counts? I think of it this way:
For me, this usually works out to be one of two scenarios:
My home address, the patients location and then my home address again OR my work address, the patients address and then my home address.
You’re not allowed to tack on extra things (like the grocery store) but if it’s business related, you can add it! (such as trips to Staples for business supplies)
So, what counts? I think of it this way:
- where did I leave to get to the patients house
- where is the patients house
- where am I going after I see the patient
For me, this usually works out to be one of two scenarios:
My home address, the patients location and then my home address again OR my work address, the patients address and then my home address.
You’re not allowed to tack on extra things (like the grocery store) but if it’s business related, you can add it! (such as trips to Staples for business supplies)
How to Calculate Your Mileage
- Figure out the total miles you drove to see private patients
- Multiple that number by .56 (56 cents is the rate for 2014)
***For example, in 2014, I drove 1,417.51 miles x .50 for a total deduction of $793.80 Impressed? I am. I just got myself an $793.80.75 deduction just by keeping track of how many miles I spent running around treating private patients.
Still Nervous About Taxes?
Don’t be!
The way to stop being nervous about taxes is EDUCATE YOURSELF and get an accountant. Chapter 7 of The Independent Clinician Guide to Private Patients all about taxes and tax deductions. This chapter assumes you know NOTHING about taxes and shows you step-by-step how get organized and feel more confident about taxes.
I also HIGHLY recommend getting an accountant.
As you well know, I’m an SLP and not an accountant. I have never had a greater piece of mind than the day I hired my accountant and now I feel completely confident that I know what I’m doing. She appreciates my organization and I go into our meetings assured that I have the necessary information to let her prepare my taxes properly.
The way to stop being nervous about taxes is EDUCATE YOURSELF and get an accountant. Chapter 7 of The Independent Clinician Guide to Private Patients all about taxes and tax deductions. This chapter assumes you know NOTHING about taxes and shows you step-by-step how get organized and feel more confident about taxes.
I also HIGHLY recommend getting an accountant.
As you well know, I’m an SLP and not an accountant. I have never had a greater piece of mind than the day I hired my accountant and now I feel completely confident that I know what I’m doing. She appreciates my organization and I go into our meetings assured that I have the necessary information to let her prepare my taxes properly.
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
Guest Post by Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP Originally Published on January 20, 2013
Something Sneaky This Way Comes… Internet scams targeting Physical, Speech, Behavior, and Occupational Therapists are on the rise. Last year, I received 3 different scams via email. Initially, I was shocked that I, along with other Therapists across the United States and Canada, were being targeted for our specific services. After the shock subsided, I realized that it made perfect sense. |
We, as Therapists, are ideal targets. We have big hearts, want to see people improve, and we can be …well, there is no easy way to put this, a little on the verbose side. We do fit the perfect profile for a viral scamming nightmare.
Typically these scams tug on our emotional heartstrings and appeal to our sense of altruism.
Shirley Kunkel, M.A., CCC-SLP, a Private Practice Owner in Escondido, CA and Speech Pathologist for 33 years, recalls a recent encounter with a scam artist.
Typically these scams tug on our emotional heartstrings and appeal to our sense of altruism.
Shirley Kunkel, M.A., CCC-SLP, a Private Practice Owner in Escondido, CA and Speech Pathologist for 33 years, recalls a recent encounter with a scam artist.
"I became mildly suspicious when they asked if I worked on receptive and expressive language, reading disorders and fluency disorders. I felt like their request was not specific enough. So I tried to ferret out what specifically they were trying remediate. Sounded like all the disorders I work on in listed in an Ad. Also, the person signed off as Mitchell one time and Michelle the next. I couldn't understand why the mother who had used Dr. in her title would be coming to my town for 4 months. It is not a scientific research community at the local hospital where I live. They said they presently lived in London and sometimes visited Egypt. I did not lose any money, but I regret that I invested my time and energies into responding to this thief."
Unfortunately, many Therapists are being targeted and are unknowingly engaging in these traps. As a result, some Therapists are losing their hard-earned money by the thousands.
Tom Jelen, Director of Online Communication with American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), has also noticed this growing problem within the Private Practice Community.
"ASHA has received several reports from our members about a scam that is being attempted on members in private practice. The scammer is requesting to have his or her child visit a private practitioner while visiting the United States. The scammer requests to pre-pay for an evaluation and then sends a cashier's check that is in an amount well above the evaluation charge. At this point, the scammer requests that the practitioner deposit the money in his or her bank and send back the overage (minus some money for the inconvenience). This scam has been reported to the Federal Trade Commission."
The Federal Trade Commission outlines normal banking activity facts in the article, "Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams."
"Under federal law, banks generally must make funds available to you from U.S. Treasury checks, most other governmental checks, and official bank checks (cashier’s checks, certified checks, and teller’s checks), a business day after you deposit the check. For other checks, banks must make the first $200 available the day after you deposit the check, and the remaining funds must be made available on the second business day after the deposit."
"However, just because funds are available on a check you’ve deposited doesn’t mean the check is good. It’s best not to rely on money from any type of check (cashier, business or personal check, or money order) unless you know and trust the person you’re dealing with or, better yet — until the bank confirms that the check has cleared. Forgeries can take weeks to be discovered and untangled. The bottom line is that until the bank confirms that the funds from the check have been deposited into your account, you are responsible for any funds you withdraw against that check."
"Under federal law, banks generally must make funds available to you from U.S. Treasury checks, most other governmental checks, and official bank checks (cashier’s checks, certified checks, and teller’s checks), a business day after you deposit the check. For other checks, banks must make the first $200 available the day after you deposit the check, and the remaining funds must be made available on the second business day after the deposit."
"However, just because funds are available on a check you’ve deposited doesn’t mean the check is good. It’s best not to rely on money from any type of check (cashier, business or personal check, or money order) unless you know and trust the person you’re dealing with or, better yet — until the bank confirms that the check has cleared. Forgeries can take weeks to be discovered and untangled. The bottom line is that until the bank confirms that the funds from the check have been deposited into your account, you are responsible for any funds you withdraw against that check."
I got this e-mail just DAYS after this article was originally posted!
You Can Protect Yourself from Therapist Targeted Scams
Remember, if you think you’ve been targeted by a counterfeit check scam there is something you can do. Simply report it to the following agencies:
Sources
1. The Nigerian Email Scam, http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0002l-nigerian-email-scam
2. Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/articles/naps29.pdf
- Know who you’re dealing with, and never wire money to strangers.
- If you’re selling something, don’t accept a check for more than the selling price, no matter how tempting the offer or how convincing the story. Ask the buyer to write the check for the correct amount. If the buyer refuses to send the correct amount, return the check. Don’t send the merchandise.
- As a seller, you can suggest an alternative way for the buyer to pay, like an escrow service or online payment service. There may be a charge for an escrow service. If the buyer insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service you’ve never heard of, check it out. Visit its website, and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. Call the customer service line. If there isn’t one — or if you call and can’t get answers about the service’s reliability — don’t use the service.
- If you accept payment by check, ask for a check drawn on a local bank, or a bank with a local branch. That way, you can make a personal visit to make sure the check is valid. If that’s not possible, call the bank where the check was purchased, and ask if it is valid. Get the bank’s phone number from directory assistance or an Internet site that you know and trust, not from the check or from the person who gave you the check.
- If the buyer insists that you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately. Legitimate buyers don’t pressure you to send money by wire transfer services. In addition, you have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction.
- Resist any pressure to “act now.” If the buyer’s offer is good now, it should be good after the check clears.
Remember, if you think you’ve been targeted by a counterfeit check scam there is something you can do. Simply report it to the following agencies:
- Visit www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.
Sources
1. The Nigerian Email Scam, http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0002l-nigerian-email-scam
2. Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/articles/naps29.pdf
Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP, is the Clinical Director of Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP, LLC in Longwood, FL. As a Speech Pathologist, Community Partner, Wife, and Mother of 3, Pamela enjoys mentoring the next generation of Speech Pathologists and hosting various community health events within Central Florida.
Website: www.speechorlando.com
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/speechorlando
Do you have an e-mail signature? Have you ever noticed that some people have some identifying information at the bottom of their e-mails? Very commonly people have their name, professional title or even the standard “Sent from my iPhone.” While adding your name, credentials, title, or a privacy statement fantastic, it’s a GREAT place to casually place a plug for your business, links to your practice site or even your social media links. What Is an E-Mail Signature? An e-mail signature is a block of text that automatically appears at the end of an e-mail. Typically, this is a place to share your name, contact information and other information relevent to the author of the message. In the healthcare field, you’ll often find the following information: |
- Full Name
- Credentials
- Title
- Institution/Practice Affiliated With
- Contact Information
- Privacy Statement
There is obviously great variability and no “right answer” to what you should or should not include.
Customizing Your Signature
Take a minute to think about what you want potential referral sources to see/know about you.
Think of your signature as another type business card. Just like your real life business card, you never know who is going to see your signature (say if your e-mail gets forwarded).
So, what do what do you want them to know?
Here are the most important things to include:
- Who You Are
- What You Do / How You Help People
- How to Get In Touch With You
Here’s my signature for my gmail account:
In addition to leaving some links, your signature is a place to add some personality or style to show off you and your brand.
Go for the Soft Sell
Although I’m certainly proud of my websites and businesses, sometimes even I feel weird saying, “Check out my website.”
It’s funny- having a website is getting to be so commonplace, but in certain situations it still feels a tad pompous… Having your site and social media links in your signature is a fantastic way to let others know about your site without feeling like a commercial.
Reminds Your Non-Therapy Acquaintances
Another great reason to add a custom signature is because you e-mail with both therapists and regular people. Even now and then I’ll be e-mailing with a family member, friend, etc. who doesn’t know everything that I do professionally. All of a sudden, that additional information might convince them to learn more about me and even share my name with anyone in their life looking for therapy services.
Set Up Your Signature Today!
Just in case you’re not sure how to do it, I’ve listed step-by-step YouTube videos for the top 3 most popular e-mail providers below:
Gmail: http://youtu.be/f4Hk3IIoqic
Hotmail: http://youtu.be/VSo-qqhHU7Y
Yahoo: http://youtu.be/mOXHczAqwTs
If you use a different e-mail service, go to your favorite search engine or YouTube and search for: “your e-mail service + signature” There should be an easy guide for you to follow.
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
Facebook this, Facebook that. Yes, I’m on Facebook and everyone else should be too. But recently I’ve turned my attention back to LinkedIn, the social networking site dedicated to building business connections. I signed up for LinkedIn years ago. I made my profile and I basically forgot about it. Every now and then I’d get a request to “connect” with someone on LinkedIn and it would take me weeks to check out their profile and accept or deny their request. For the past 6 months or so I’ve been using LinkedIn more and more and am beginning to see a greater utility for it for my Independent Clinicians. While Facebook is more popular and certainly more fun, there are aspects of LinkedIn that are worthwhile looking into. |
#1 Reason to Join LinkedIn: To Find Clinicians Like You
Step #1: Join LinkedIn
It goes without saying that this is the first step. Likely you became a member of LinkedIn years ago and might need to reset your password. www.LinkedIn.com
Step #2: Set Up Your Profile
Just like Facebook, setting up your profile is the first step. Because LinkedIn profiles are organized with your professional (vs. social) life in mind, you’ll want to use the site like an online resume.
Current & Previous Job(s)
Just like your real resume, your LinkedIn profile will focus on your current position(s) as well as previous positions you’ve held. You’ll list your professional title, companies, job location and a description of the position.
LinkedIn will allow you to have a primary current position if you have more than one job. It will then list in reverse chronological order all of the previous positions you’ve held.
Social Media Links
You can add links to your personal and/or business websites and also your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Because you’ll be using LinkedIn to build business connections, you may choose to just put your business social media accounts vs. your personal accounts.
Adding links here, especially to your website, is a great way to drive traffic and establish connections with very little effort and NO money invested!
Interests
I’m not sure how many people truly look at the interests, but this will come in handy for the search engine.
Step #3: Join Groups (the best part of LinkedIn!)
Groups are what I use the most on LinkedIn. I am currently a member of 54 groups, including “Occupational Therapist Networking Group,” “Pediatric and School Based SLP’s,” “Proud to be a Therapist,” and “Pediatric Feeding Therapist Association,” just to name a few.
You can search by your profession or keywords to find groups you may be interested in joining. Once you join several groups, LinkedIn will suggest more groups you may like.
The most important aspect of the groups is the discussion board. Here you can start discussions, add your own comments or questions or just read about topics that are currently being discussed. The discussions are much more interactive and professional than any discussions I’ve had on Facebook pages/groups. This is a great way to find out more about what your peers are doing about things like insurance, marketing, difficult situations, etc.
Click Here to Join:
Why You Should Be On LinkedIn
You’re probably thinking, sure I’ll join, but I’ll never check it. While I had the opinion for quite a while, over the past few weeks I’ve surprised myself how frequently I’ve been checking my LinkedIn page and being active within the groups.
For job searchers, LinkedIn is a great way to network and find jobs. I’ve never used it that way, so I can’t attest to that. It’s also a nice way to keep in touch with friends and former co-workers to see what they are currently doing professionally. I suppose if one of my acquaintances was working at the location of my dream job I might contact her/him to see if there was an opening, but personally I might not reach out to a random person at a company and ask them for an interview.
I actually recommend that you use LinkedIn for another purpose all together…
It goes without saying that this is the first step. Likely you became a member of LinkedIn years ago and might need to reset your password. www.LinkedIn.com
Step #2: Set Up Your Profile
Just like Facebook, setting up your profile is the first step. Because LinkedIn profiles are organized with your professional (vs. social) life in mind, you’ll want to use the site like an online resume.
Current & Previous Job(s)
Just like your real resume, your LinkedIn profile will focus on your current position(s) as well as previous positions you’ve held. You’ll list your professional title, companies, job location and a description of the position.
LinkedIn will allow you to have a primary current position if you have more than one job. It will then list in reverse chronological order all of the previous positions you’ve held.
Social Media Links
You can add links to your personal and/or business websites and also your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Because you’ll be using LinkedIn to build business connections, you may choose to just put your business social media accounts vs. your personal accounts.
Adding links here, especially to your website, is a great way to drive traffic and establish connections with very little effort and NO money invested!
Interests
I’m not sure how many people truly look at the interests, but this will come in handy for the search engine.
Step #3: Join Groups (the best part of LinkedIn!)
Groups are what I use the most on LinkedIn. I am currently a member of 54 groups, including “Occupational Therapist Networking Group,” “Pediatric and School Based SLP’s,” “Proud to be a Therapist,” and “Pediatric Feeding Therapist Association,” just to name a few.
You can search by your profession or keywords to find groups you may be interested in joining. Once you join several groups, LinkedIn will suggest more groups you may like.
The most important aspect of the groups is the discussion board. Here you can start discussions, add your own comments or questions or just read about topics that are currently being discussed. The discussions are much more interactive and professional than any discussions I’ve had on Facebook pages/groups. This is a great way to find out more about what your peers are doing about things like insurance, marketing, difficult situations, etc.
Click Here to Join:
Why You Should Be On LinkedIn
You’re probably thinking, sure I’ll join, but I’ll never check it. While I had the opinion for quite a while, over the past few weeks I’ve surprised myself how frequently I’ve been checking my LinkedIn page and being active within the groups.
For job searchers, LinkedIn is a great way to network and find jobs. I’ve never used it that way, so I can’t attest to that. It’s also a nice way to keep in touch with friends and former co-workers to see what they are currently doing professionally. I suppose if one of my acquaintances was working at the location of my dream job I might contact her/him to see if there was an opening, but personally I might not reach out to a random person at a company and ask them for an interview.
I actually recommend that you use LinkedIn for another purpose all together…
The whole reason I started The Independent Clinician was to help SLP’s, OT’s and PT’s who were starting to treat privately find fellow clinicians in their same situation.
While I’d like you to continue to use my site for that purpose, LinkedIn to be another great way to interact with fellow clinicians.
Maybe you’re a Speech-Language Pathologist who is thinking about renting office space and wants to know who to call first.
Or maybe you’re an OT who is contemplating getting a special certification and wondering if it’s “worth it.”
Or are a PT who wants to know what kind of billing software others have had success with.
With LinkedIn, you have thousands of like-minded peers to ask.
Here are Two Groups That I Started (and would LOVE you to join!):
Feel free to join me and fellow SLP’s and OT’s in the group!
LinkedIn is just the kind of place where you can ask these questions and share advice with those exact people who you need to connect with. There are TONS of clinicians who have both small and free standing private practices who are eager to discuss and share situations.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re across the country from each other or in the same town (although if you are in the same town, it might be cool to meet in person!)
I hope you give LinkedIn another chance to see if it can help you with your private patient business. I know it’s helped me tremendously.
See you on LinkedIn!
My Public Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jenacasbon (don’t hesitate to “connect” with me!)
Jena
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
I'm not making a New Years Resolution this year.
I'm making several changes that I'm excited to share with you and encourage you to do the same. I found this list in a Real Simple magazine years ago and have been using the list to guide my changes ever since. It was fun turning it into an infographic!
Anyway, It's time to re-think the traditional resolution.
Want to join me?
I'm making several changes that I'm excited to share with you and encourage you to do the same. I found this list in a Real Simple magazine years ago and have been using the list to guide my changes ever since. It was fun turning it into an infographic!
Anyway, It's time to re-think the traditional resolution.
Want to join me?
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices.
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Setting measurable and attainable goals is ESSENTIAL if you want to get things done. If you’re a private therapist, or hoping to become one, it’s important to set measurable goals for yourself (that’s not unlike what we do with our patients, right?) In thinking about goal setting for physical, occupational and speech therapists who treat privately, I came up with five major goals that every Independent Clinician should be thinking about doing as soon as possible. |
Goal # 1: Start Treating Private Patients
Actually starting to treat private patients may be the most obvious first thing to do. You’ve been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you’ve been a subscriber and even purchased The Independent Clinician Guide to Private Patients.
Don’t forget, you have the clinical skills, you now need the knowledge of the business end of things. Once you have that, you just need to start.
Have the confidence in yourself to know that you’re not going to make a catastrophic error.
You’re not going to do something so horrendous that you lose your license. You are a competent clinician who is just treating patients in a new setting.
Bottom Line: Start with one patient and see how it goes. If you like it, add more to your caseload. If it’s not for you, discharge or refer to another clinician.
Goal #2: Get A Website
It used to be that to be in business, you needed a business card.
Now in addition to having business cards, it’s getting to be extremely commonplace for ANY AND ALL businesses to have a presence online.
If you’re been thinking about having a website, chances are you have thought to yourself, “Do I really need a website?”
The answer is yes.
Here’s why you need a website:
Creating a website can sound daunting, but there are several companies that make it FREE or CHEAP to have a website. If you can use Microsoft Word, you can make a site on Weebly.
Here’s what I recommend:
Create a website that has a picture of you, tells about yourself and your treatment abilities and gives your contact information. It does not have to be a ton on info (one page is enough!) but think of your website as the initial impression.
Instead of giving my phone number on my business cards, I list my website. That way, when patients, physicians, etc. look at my site, they can quickly determine whether I’m a good fit for the patient before they even call.
Bottom Line: You really should have a website and they are much easier and cheaper to create then ever before.
Oh, and if you need help creating your site, check out The Independent Clinician Guide to Creating a Web Presence.
Goal #3: Send Out Marketing Materials
If you’re looking for something, a new restaurant, a movie, a place to honeymoon, what to do trust more: a stranger or a trusted friend/colleague/doctor?
Now think about a typical patient or family member looking for services. They would rather have their neurologist say, “I know of this excellent occupational therapist in the area who does private therapy, why don’t you contact them?”
Having someone they trust refer to you means that they will automatically trust you more.
So, how do you develop that trust with local physicians, neurologists, social workers, educators, etc?
Simple, you reach out to them and tell them who you are, what kinds of services you provide and who your ideal patients are. If you keep in touch with them (sending information at least every other month) as opportunities arise to refer patients, they will think of you.
Bottom Line: If you want referrals from local physicians, educators, psychologists, etc. they need to know who you are and what you do.
Goal #4: Become an Insurance Provider
Becoming a health insurance provider can be an excellent way to boost your caseload and start helping patients who cannot afford to pay privately.
I always recommend to start with private pay patients first, but once you’re comfortable with that, it’s a good idea to add private insurance as a method of payment. This increases the pool of patients who you can serve.
Taking private insurance certainly has pro’s and con’s:
The pros
The cons
Taking private insurance is a great option for clinicians looking to add to their caseload.
Also don’t forget: you can have a mix of private pay patients AND some health insurance patients. The policies and procedures of health insurers vary, but I have a chapter in The Independent Clinicians Guide to Private Patients on getting started with becoming a health insurance provider that makes it seem less scary.
Bottom Line: Go ahead and start your application now (it’ll take a few months to get approved). Remember that this is a good way to build your caseload. If you like it, keep going. If you don’t, you can easily remove yourself from the provider database.
Goal #5: Go to a Conference
In order to treat privately, you need to be an expert.
I highly recommend that clinicians don’t start treating privately until they have become quite skilled and knowledgeable with a particular diagnosis or therapy technique.
One way to boost your knowledge (and confidence!) on a topic is to attend a conference/convention/course. Whether the course is in your area, far away or even online, increasing your skills and abilities is important to keep yourself focused on staying current with clinical information that will help provide an excellent service to your private patients.
Remember, your private patients are paying top dollar for your services- it’s important to provide them the BEST service you can.
Bottom Line: Going to a conference/course/class is a great way to increase your skill set. Oh- and remember to keep your receipt– it is tax deductible!
Conclusion
I hope that these suggestions about how to start or expand your private patient practice have been beneficial.
The most important part of goal setting is to break the goal down into smaller parts and then just get it done.
Remember, you have the clinical skills; now work hard on those business skills to build your private patient business!
Need Extra Help to Achieve Your Goals?
If you’re ready to get serious about treating private patients, consider purchasing the Independent Clinician Guide to Private Patients! Between this guide and our blog, you’ll have plenty of information and ideas to make your business the success you know it can be.
Actually starting to treat private patients may be the most obvious first thing to do. You’ve been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you’ve been a subscriber and even purchased The Independent Clinician Guide to Private Patients.
Don’t forget, you have the clinical skills, you now need the knowledge of the business end of things. Once you have that, you just need to start.
Have the confidence in yourself to know that you’re not going to make a catastrophic error.
You’re not going to do something so horrendous that you lose your license. You are a competent clinician who is just treating patients in a new setting.
Bottom Line: Start with one patient and see how it goes. If you like it, add more to your caseload. If it’s not for you, discharge or refer to another clinician.
Goal #2: Get A Website
It used to be that to be in business, you needed a business card.
Now in addition to having business cards, it’s getting to be extremely commonplace for ANY AND ALL businesses to have a presence online.
If you’re been thinking about having a website, chances are you have thought to yourself, “Do I really need a website?”
The answer is yes.
Here’s why you need a website:
- Patients/families often look online for information/therapists (ie found in search engines)
- Makes your business appear to be very solid and established
- Provide information about yourself, your knowledge/skills, and treatment philosophy can be placed on the site for potential patients to review prior to contacting you
Creating a website can sound daunting, but there are several companies that make it FREE or CHEAP to have a website. If you can use Microsoft Word, you can make a site on Weebly.
Here’s what I recommend:
Create a website that has a picture of you, tells about yourself and your treatment abilities and gives your contact information. It does not have to be a ton on info (one page is enough!) but think of your website as the initial impression.
Instead of giving my phone number on my business cards, I list my website. That way, when patients, physicians, etc. look at my site, they can quickly determine whether I’m a good fit for the patient before they even call.
Bottom Line: You really should have a website and they are much easier and cheaper to create then ever before.
Oh, and if you need help creating your site, check out The Independent Clinician Guide to Creating a Web Presence.
Goal #3: Send Out Marketing Materials
If you’re looking for something, a new restaurant, a movie, a place to honeymoon, what to do trust more: a stranger or a trusted friend/colleague/doctor?
Now think about a typical patient or family member looking for services. They would rather have their neurologist say, “I know of this excellent occupational therapist in the area who does private therapy, why don’t you contact them?”
Having someone they trust refer to you means that they will automatically trust you more.
So, how do you develop that trust with local physicians, neurologists, social workers, educators, etc?
Simple, you reach out to them and tell them who you are, what kinds of services you provide and who your ideal patients are. If you keep in touch with them (sending information at least every other month) as opportunities arise to refer patients, they will think of you.
Bottom Line: If you want referrals from local physicians, educators, psychologists, etc. they need to know who you are and what you do.
Goal #4: Become an Insurance Provider
Becoming a health insurance provider can be an excellent way to boost your caseload and start helping patients who cannot afford to pay privately.
I always recommend to start with private pay patients first, but once you’re comfortable with that, it’s a good idea to add private insurance as a method of payment. This increases the pool of patients who you can serve.
Taking private insurance certainly has pro’s and con’s:
The pros
- Treat people who cannot pay out of pocket
- Increase your referral source
- May be reimbursed for more than you’re currently charging
The cons
- Application process can take months
- May be reimbursed less than you charge privately
- Have to bill the insurance company and keep track of visits
Taking private insurance is a great option for clinicians looking to add to their caseload.
Also don’t forget: you can have a mix of private pay patients AND some health insurance patients. The policies and procedures of health insurers vary, but I have a chapter in The Independent Clinicians Guide to Private Patients on getting started with becoming a health insurance provider that makes it seem less scary.
Bottom Line: Go ahead and start your application now (it’ll take a few months to get approved). Remember that this is a good way to build your caseload. If you like it, keep going. If you don’t, you can easily remove yourself from the provider database.
Goal #5: Go to a Conference
In order to treat privately, you need to be an expert.
I highly recommend that clinicians don’t start treating privately until they have become quite skilled and knowledgeable with a particular diagnosis or therapy technique.
One way to boost your knowledge (and confidence!) on a topic is to attend a conference/convention/course. Whether the course is in your area, far away or even online, increasing your skills and abilities is important to keep yourself focused on staying current with clinical information that will help provide an excellent service to your private patients.
Remember, your private patients are paying top dollar for your services- it’s important to provide them the BEST service you can.
Bottom Line: Going to a conference/course/class is a great way to increase your skill set. Oh- and remember to keep your receipt– it is tax deductible!
Conclusion
I hope that these suggestions about how to start or expand your private patient practice have been beneficial.
The most important part of goal setting is to break the goal down into smaller parts and then just get it done.
Remember, you have the clinical skills; now work hard on those business skills to build your private patient business!
Need Extra Help to Achieve Your Goals?
If you’re ready to get serious about treating private patients, consider purchasing the Independent Clinician Guide to Private Patients! Between this guide and our blog, you’ll have plenty of information and ideas to make your business the success you know it can be.
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
This weeks guest post is from Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP of MyMunchBug
“I am ready” Hmmm…what compelled me to leave a secure job at our community hospital and leap into the uncertainty of creating a private practice focused entirely on feeding disorders? Blind faith – and that’s the truth. After considering the possibility for about a year, I just decided to do it. I was on vacation, so I called my supervisor and gave my 2 week notice over the phone. When I said my goodbyes and finished my last day at the hospital, I came home, stood on my front porch and opened my arms up to the sky, as if to catch any clients that the angels might throw my way. I said out loud “I am ready” and I walked back into my house, feeling rather foolish. The next morning, the phone rang three times and I had three brand new clients. True story. |
“Blind faith is such a blessing”
Ten years later, I found myself in a similar predicament. I loved my job playing with kids and food, but had an idea that had been brewing in the back of my brain for about a year. I wanted to create children’s music that celebrated each step to learning about new foods – from the garden to the dinner plate and finally to happy little tummies! I knew that music would decrease the stress that families often encounter when they have a child who has difficulty eating and that everyone would benefit from more regular, joyful family mealtimes.
One day, I was playing with a little girl before joining her family at the table and heard the most soothing voice on her CD player. “Who is that?” I asked. Looking at me as if I had been living under a rock, she replied “THAT is MY Auntie Joan.” One week later, I was sitting with Joan Huntsberry Langford, highly acclaimed singer and songwriter and telling her my dream. Just over one year later, Dancing in the Kitchen: Songs that Celebrate the Joy of Food! was launched at the national Speech Language Hearing Association’s conference in Philly.
Ten years later, I found myself in a similar predicament. I loved my job playing with kids and food, but had an idea that had been brewing in the back of my brain for about a year. I wanted to create children’s music that celebrated each step to learning about new foods – from the garden to the dinner plate and finally to happy little tummies! I knew that music would decrease the stress that families often encounter when they have a child who has difficulty eating and that everyone would benefit from more regular, joyful family mealtimes.
One day, I was playing with a little girl before joining her family at the table and heard the most soothing voice on her CD player. “Who is that?” I asked. Looking at me as if I had been living under a rock, she replied “THAT is MY Auntie Joan.” One week later, I was sitting with Joan Huntsberry Langford, highly acclaimed singer and songwriter and telling her my dream. Just over one year later, Dancing in the Kitchen: Songs that Celebrate the Joy of Food! was launched at the national Speech Language Hearing Association’s conference in Philly.
Blind faith is such a blessing. If you had told me that I would have to create my own music label, learn the difference between “mixing” and “mastering” and know about ISRC codes (it identifies each song on a track for downloading), I would have said “Forget it. I can’t do that.” But, sometimes it is a gift to NOT know what you don’t know. Sometimes, learning as you go means one thing – better learn it fast, or your aren’t going anywhere!
Meanwhile, while treating clients and pretending I could sing (I definitely can’t – that is why I hired Joan), I decided to write that book. You know, THAT book. The book that your friends and clients always said you should write. That one. Oh, and best to have it done in time for the convention, too. Time to walk back to that famous front porch and have a serious talk with the book angels. And, I did. Works every time.
See Melanie Potock’s Music Video for “A Peas Operetta”
Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, is the author of Happy Mealtimes with Happy Kids and the executive producer of the children’s CD entitled Dancing in the Kitchen. Mel created both products in the same manner that she works with families: with an open heart and a touch of humor! Both products can be found on her website, www.mymunchbug.com, in the Mayer-Johnson Catalogue and on Amazon.com. |
Is Part-Time Private Practice an Option?
When I used to dream about my private practice, I never once considered that it might be part-time. You see, I thought of private practice more in terms of black and white. Either you were “in” private practice (meaning you had a brick and mortar building and worked say 40 hours per week) or you didn’t have a private practice at all. I had no concept of the option to have a part-time private practice. |
Starting as a Full-Time Private Practice Can Be Risky
Believe me, I get e-mails every week from therapists who decide that “This is the year!” to launch their practices. They quit their jobs, sign leases on office space, buy new computers and sign up for pricey online documentation systems.
They don’t start marketing their services until they are “ready for business.”
And what happens?
They get a few leads here and there but it isn’t the massive interest they were hoping for. Next thing you know you’ve seen about 5 clients in a month and have 10x that amount due for your lease and other bills.
Then you panic and think you’ve made a horrible mistake. Private practice wasn’t what you thought. You’re discouraged, fearful, angry, your confidence is blown and now you’re going into debt because you don’t have a steady income.
Try this instead.
Gradually Move Your Practice from Part-Time to Full-Time:
Private practice is what YOU want it to be.
Consider starting part-time. Then either keep it at that level or grow it. It’s up to you. It’s YOUR private practice.
P.S. What do YOU think? Leave a comment to share your thoughts with the group!
Believe me, I get e-mails every week from therapists who decide that “This is the year!” to launch their practices. They quit their jobs, sign leases on office space, buy new computers and sign up for pricey online documentation systems.
They don’t start marketing their services until they are “ready for business.”
And what happens?
They get a few leads here and there but it isn’t the massive interest they were hoping for. Next thing you know you’ve seen about 5 clients in a month and have 10x that amount due for your lease and other bills.
Then you panic and think you’ve made a horrible mistake. Private practice wasn’t what you thought. You’re discouraged, fearful, angry, your confidence is blown and now you’re going into debt because you don’t have a steady income.
Try this instead.
Gradually Move Your Practice from Part-Time to Full-Time:
- Start treating private clients after work or on the weekends
- Build a small caseload and continue marketing
- At some point, reduce the hours at your “regular job” to accommodate your growing caseload
- Start to shift the balance towards working more hours for yourself
- When you get to a sustainable (and still growing!) level consider dropping your “regular job” and devote yourself full-time to growing your private practice
Private practice is what YOU want it to be.
Consider starting part-time. Then either keep it at that level or grow it. It’s up to you. It’s YOUR private practice.
P.S. What do YOU think? Leave a comment to share your thoughts with the group!
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices.
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One aspect of my private patient business I don't love (read - HATE) is billing. While I normally collect client payments on the day of service, I do have several patients for whom I send monthly bills. I start this off on a trial basis. If I am not paid in a timely way, I’ll go back to requiring payment on the day of service. I needed to find a way to create professional invoices and track payments... And I found it. |
I love Freshbooks and think you will too. Painless billing for an affordable price. Who could as for anything more.
Give Freshbooks a try today - it's complete FREE to sign up!
Give Freshbooks a try today - it's complete FREE to sign up!
Introducing FreshBooks
Freshbooks is advertised as:
“The Fastest Way To Track Time and Invoice Your Clients.
Great for teams, freelancers and service providers.”
I cannot agree with this more. I have been using Freshbooks for years to bill some of my private patients. To test it out, you can start with a FREE account that allows you to bill up to 3 people. For up to 25 clients, you pay only $19.95/month.
You Can Easily:
- Create an invoice in seconds
- E-mail, print or snail mail invoices to your patients
- Keep records of treatment sessions (dates and price) for tax purposes
- Track payments
- Sign up for FREE!
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
This guest post is by Rhonda J. Banford, M.A.T., CCC-SLP of Tip of the Tongue Speech and Language, LLC
“I was told I was not allowed to…” I had just decided to leave my dream job and open up a private practice. Why, you might ask, would I be leaving my dream job? For over a year, I had petitioned my supervisor to allow me to design and teach a preschool classroom for children with severe sound system disorders— functional articulation problems, phonological delays, and childhood apraxia of speech. Now, I was doing just that, and having great success with it! I loved my assistant and the other SLP who came into the class for half of the day. I loved the students. Work was fun, challenging, and rewarding. |
Still, there was nowhere to go. No corporate ladder to climb. No chance of being the boss.
I had to ask for everything I needed for the class. I was told what I could and could not do by the higher-ups. In no uncertain terms, I was told I was not allowed to contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to ask questions regarding IEPs, eligibility, or protocol.
There were many other don’ts—don’t diagnose, don’t mention suspected conditions, don’t make waves. The last straw was when I was yelled at by my supervisor, a hot-tempered woman who gesticulated wildly while raising her voice, for making an innocent comment at a staff meeting. This was right in front of my colleagues. I felt like a five year old.
How humiliating!
I gathered up my wounded pride, took consolation from those who came up to me afterwards and professed how unwarranted the rebuke was, and quit within the next week.
Should I Start A Private Practice?
For months, my husband had been suggesting that I open a private practice.
I could work right out of my home, in the basement bedroom, which we could convert to an office. I could start slowly, and build up to however many clients I wanted. I could make my own decisions, order my own supplies, call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education if I so chose, and I could mention suspected conditions if I felt the need!
I was covered by my husband’s insurance plan from work, so that would not be a problem. It was a scary prospect, but I was hoping I could find a way to bring my preschool class to the public, on a private level. That, in itself, was motivating enough for me to say yes to the prospect of private practice.
Still, something nagged at me. What if I failed to help my clients? What if I bit off more than I could chew?
The onus was on me. No assistants, no colleagues to fall back upon for support or suggestions, taking peoples’ hard earned money with the expectation of providing results worthy of the amount I was charging. Would I be deemed a charlatan? What made me think I was knowledgeable and experienced enough to get out there with the big boys, so to speak? Where would I even get my clients in the first place? Did I believe in myself enough to make the leap? Apparently, I did.
Armed with the resolve to learn that which I did not know, to help to the best of my ability, and to refer onward those I was not sufficiently confident I could help, I made it known to all the SLPs in my own and neighboring school districts that I was hanging up a shingle.
My First Speech Therapy Private Clients
My first client, or clients, I should say, came from a fellow SLP with whom I had shared a good working relationship at the school district, and who did some part-time private therapy. She had been approached to see a couple of sisters, and she did not feel she had the time to see them herself. She referred them to me.
These girls, ages 12 and 14 had both had years of therapy, but were not progressing with production of /r/. The younger one also had trouble with /s/. While the younger sister was still in therapy at her elementary school, the older one had been dismissed from therapy by her middle school SLP. The SLP told the girl’s mother that she had done everything possible, and that the teen would never be able to produce /r/ any better than she was. Fortunately, the girl’s mother was not ready to give up and resign her daughter to sounding like Elmer Fudd. Uh oh, I thought, my experience was primarily with preschoolers with whom I only touched on /r/, and only to familiarize them with it, not to perfect it.
Was I in over my head already?
Finding The Right Treatment Approach
When I first saw the sisters, the younger one, Anna (name changed), was lively and chatty, despite her poor articulation of the two phonemes. The older, Katie (name changed), was withdrawn and quiet. It was obvious from the start that she felt defeated and subconscious about speaking. Despite being a beautiful girl, she had few friends and socialized little. She appeared almost painfully shy. I felt great empathy toward her, and vowed to do what I could. Her mother was not expecting miracles, but she thought that maybe the /r/ could be improved a bit. I had recently taken a video course by Charlotte Boshart, one dealing with the motor aspects of speech. At that time, I was not yet aware of the major controversy brewing among SLPs regarding oral-motor activities for speech improvement. I asked Anna and Katie’s mother whether anyone had ever taken a more oral-motor approach to correcting their /r/ sounds, and she said she did not think that they had. She was willing and anxious to have me try it, so that is what I did.
Mission Accomplished!
The oral-motor approach I took was not based on doing repetitive exercises to strengthen musculature, but to familiarize the girls with muscles in the tongue that they were not currently using. Whether these muscles were lacking in tone, I cannot say for sure, but I can say for a fact that the girls were unaware that they existed until we did these activities. After a couple of weeks, I started seeing progress in the therapy sessions. After a month, the girls’ mom started noticing a difference when they practiced their speech homework. After a few months, she started noticing some carryover into conversation. By a full six months after starting therapy, both Anna and Katie were producing perfect /r/ phonemes in conversation, with nearly 100% accuracy. We had also corrected Anna’s /s/, and she was released from school therapy. What’s more, Katie was no longer the same introverted, defeated girl she had been six months before. She was an absolute social butterfly! In the last couple of sessions, I had to wait for her to get off the phone with her friends. Her mother said she was on the phone constantly, and she was now the belle of the ball. Once she hung up her phone, Katie was lively and chatty, and an absolute delight! Mission accomplished!
Three and a Half Years Later…
With such an auspicious start to private therapy, I could only think ahead to whom else I might be able to help similarly.
Now three and a half years into it, I have had many successes, and each one buoys my spirits and makes me feel that this endeavor is entirely worthwhile. I am thankful that my first clients helped me to see that!
Rhonda J. Banford, M.A.T., CCC-SLP 636 220-8200 (office and mobile)
www.gotospeech.com
Tip of the Tongue Speech and Language, LLC
958 Kehrs Mill Road Ballwin, MO 63011
www.gotospeech.com
Tip of the Tongue Speech and Language, LLC
958 Kehrs Mill Road Ballwin, MO 63011
Interview with Pamela Hass, MA CCC-SLP of Interactive Therapy, Inc
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your area(s) of expertise. I have been a Speech Language Pathologist since 1979. I have worked in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, client’s homes, preschools, daycare facilities, elementary, junior high and high schools throughout my career. I have worked with various populations between the ages of nine months to the elderly. The populations that I have worked with the most, since I started working in private practice, are with kids who have problems with articulation and/or phonological disorders, receptive and/or expressive language disorders, stuttering and cleft-palate from ages 9 months to 19 years of age. I have worked extensively with kids with neurological disorders and developmental delays. |
How do you describe your practice?
At Interactive Therapy Inc our mission is to help people develop or regain the communication skills they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives. We provide a range of services for both children and adults suffering from speech and language disorders.
These include:
- Individual assessment and treatment of speech and language disorders,reading and spelling disabilities, cognitive disorders, and swallowing disorders
- Individual and group consultation, including screenings at schools, clinics, and health/educational events in the community
- Workshops and seminars to educate health care professionals, educators, and community members about speech and language disorders, and how they can help people suffering from them.
Interactive Therapy Inc provides speech, language, and swallowing evaluations and therapy to both children and adults with developmental delays, neurological disorders and oral facial anomalies. Individuals are diagnosed and treated, who exhibit articulation/phonological disorders, stuttering, hearing impairment, cleft-palate, and language disorders resulting in the reduced ability to understand or express language including listening, speaking, reading and writing. Individuals with neurological disorders such as autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, learning disabilities, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Down Syndrome and brain injury are also assessed and treated.
Interactive Therapy Inc is committed to providing the best quality of care at a reasonable cost to its clients. We are committed to excellence with a spirit of cooperation and flexibility. We provide services to schools, homes and daycare in the greater St. Louis Metropolitan area. Hours vary and every attempt is made to accommodate the client’s, family’s, or school’s schedules. Interactive Therapy Inc is currently a First Steps provider and is generally an out-of-network insurance provider. We assist the family in getting reimbursed by their insurance company by providing diagnostic and treatment codes and we will give any other assistance as needed.
How did you “take the leap” into treating privately?
I took about a month and a half to think about the direction I wanted to go after I resigned from a job as a language resource room teacher at an elementary school. I was married at the time and could afford to take some time to regroup. I went to a SCORE workshop in St. Louis which helped me organize myself, i.e. write a business plan and a marketing plan.
In that month and a half I did my own market survey by checking the yellow pages to see how many SLPs in the area were doing private work and discovered there was a market for an SLP to go to the client’s home, daycare, or school rather than rent an office somewhere.
I also used a mentor from SCORE to help me research private schools in the area and market to them through brochures and a packet of informational materials and also to get my start up release in the business section of the newspaper.
FYI: My brochures and informational packets are still sitting in boxes because I have not used most of them. This was at the cusp of marketing through the Internet. A friend of my husband’s did a super job of printing up the brochures, the cover of the information packet/folder and my business cards. I had a company design my website and host it.
Most of my clients have made contact with me through my website and word of mouth. My accountant helped me get my company registered with the state after I decided on a name for it. It has been a wonderful experience and I’m glad I “took the leap”.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone who is just getting started with private patients?
I would tell someone who is just getting started with private patients is to “keep the end in mind” as Stephen Covey, who wrote The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People put it. Know where you want to go and how to get there. If you are unsure of the “how”, enlist help from those who have done it and from SCORE.
The following is a guest post by Alissa Holloway of Utah's Communication Connection.
To read more private practice success stories, click here.
To read more private practice success stories, click here.
At the age of 25 I looked back on my relatively short life and felt fabulously fulfilled. After finding an incredible husband, graduating with a masters degree in my dream profession, obtaining a job in a devastating economy, building my dream house, giving birth to the most fabulous and beautiful child, I looked around at my blessed life and had an overwhelming sense of gratitude and peace. After achieving every goal I had set early on in my life, I found myself being constantly drawn to the more “unachievable” goals I had lingering in the back of my head. I had found great purpose in my life by setting goals and working relentlessly until I had achieved them, and my heart couldn’t stop searching for the next goal to attempt. |
I had many dreams for my life … love, family, laughter, service, beauty, creativity, growth, and purpose.
“I was scared”
A Private Practice.
My mind continually wandered to this idea. However, I constantly shot it down with thoughts of inadequacy and reasons that I could not accomplish it. I was too young… no one would take me seriously… I knew nothing about starting a business… I didn’t have the same level of experience as my older colleagues… etc.
I believe the real reason I resisted starting a private practice initially was all due to fear. Fear of putting myself out there and being rejected. What if people didn’t like me? What if no-one felt that I was a good therapist? How could I take other people’s hard earned money knowing that I was not (and never would be) a perfect therapist? I was overwhelmingly plagued by the idea that if I started a private practice, and it wasn’t successful, it would ultimately mean that I was unsuccessful as an individual. I was scared to “sell myself”. I was scared to build something entirely on my name — and my personality – and my character – and MYSELF.
A Private Practice.
My mind continually wandered to this idea. However, I constantly shot it down with thoughts of inadequacy and reasons that I could not accomplish it. I was too young… no one would take me seriously… I knew nothing about starting a business… I didn’t have the same level of experience as my older colleagues… etc.
I believe the real reason I resisted starting a private practice initially was all due to fear. Fear of putting myself out there and being rejected. What if people didn’t like me? What if no-one felt that I was a good therapist? How could I take other people’s hard earned money knowing that I was not (and never would be) a perfect therapist? I was overwhelmingly plagued by the idea that if I started a private practice, and it wasn’t successful, it would ultimately mean that I was unsuccessful as an individual. I was scared to “sell myself”. I was scared to build something entirely on my name — and my personality – and my character – and MYSELF.
“The first leap of faith”
Luckily for me I have been blessed with an unbelievably supportive husband. He took every negative thought I had and turned it around. He made me see every reason why I should start a private practice. He led me through my fears and answered every question I had until I had no other choice then to take that first leap of faith. And that is how it all began. That first leap of faith led to lots of late night discussions, scratch paper plans, google searches, and various phone calls and e-mails.
The initial research and planning then led to the following actions…
- Writing a business plan
- See Jena’s super helpful post for guidance @ http://independentclinician.com/how-to-write-a-business-plan-a-guide-for-physical-occupational-and-speech-therapy-providers/.
- Obtaining licensing
- City License – my city’s business license websitehttp://www.paysonutah.org/development.businesslicensing.html)
- State License - my state’s business license websitehttp://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/speech_audiology.html)
- Building a website
- Check mine out at www.utahspeechtherapy.com
- Designing business cards
- Creating brochures Check mine out athttp://www.utahscommunicationconnection.com/downloads/brochure.pdf
“My location”
I then needed to prepare my location. My plan was to conduct therapy out of two bedrooms in my home (a therapy room and an observation room). I set up the rooms by purchasing discounted/used furniture and sprucing them up. I bought a laptop computer and some standardized tests to get started. I organized and set up all the therapy materials I had gathered over the last few years. Financially I invested in total a little over $2000 to get my business started.
- Therapy Room
- Observation Room (where parents view therapy being conducted in the room next door via a camcorder hooked up to a television)
“My next step was marketing”
My next step was marketing (a website does nothing for you if no-one knows it exists). I contacted the local early intervention agency and asked if I could give a small presentation. I spoke to therapists that worked for the local school district. I took some business cards to my baby’s check-up appointment and presented my business ideas to the pediatrician. I sent letters and brochures to other pediatricians in the area. And then I waited…
“I realized that I did not need to be the ‘perfect’ therapist”
Referrals came. People were interested. It was exciting and exhilarating. As the months progressed, my fear (which still lingered) of being inadequate slowly began to fade. I realized that I did not have to “sell myself” as much as I thought I would need to. I realized that I did not need to be the “perfect” therapist. By the time most people contacted me they were very serious about helping their children and were already invested in the process. All I had to do was make sure I was providing appropriate therapy that was planned out and effective.
“I am truly living the dream”
We (as SLPs) are so fortunate to work in a field that has a great deal of demand. People search us out – we just have to make ourselves known. We get to change their lives. What an incredible blessing. As far as my life goes now – I feel like I am truly living the dream. I spend most days at home with my little one – and provide therapy privately on the side.
“There were too many advantages that outweighed the fears”
I get to work out of my home which has great advantages (such as throwing a load of laundry in the washer in-between clients, eating lunch at home, having all my therapy supplies and materials at my fingertips, getting some of my mortgage written off by conducting therapy in my home, etc.). When I finally committed to beginning my private practice I did so because I realized there were far too many advantages that outweighed the fears I had – and I had to face the risks and take the first leap of faith. My reasoning behind sharing my experience is to simply be to all of you (the readers) what my husband was to me… a support system, a cheerleader, a confidant, a sounding board, and a friend. It was my dream and I did it. If it is your dream you can do it too!!!
What is it like to be an independent pediatric speech therapist treating children exclusively in their Manhattan homes? Challenging, exciting, rewarding and certainly, exhausting. I absolutely love my work. I prefer providing therapy in children’s homes to working in an office. Parents and children find it comfortable and convenient and I don’t have office rent to pay. Sometimes my sessions run late and I grab a taxi or hop on the subway to get to my next client. When things go as planned, I take a healthy, brisk 15 to 30 minute walk through the city between clients. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom*… |
I’ve become familiar with the people in my neighborhood – postal workers, dog walkers, doormen…
The worst aspect of my M.O. is packing and carrying therapy materials. My home office, (far from a Classic 6) contains my therapy materials, which could easily serve a small army of speech therapists. Before packing for the following day, I first have to unpack (dump, sort, clean, file) the current days material and notes. Packing can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes per child. I see up to 6 children per day for clinical hour sessions.
Just as most therapists plan for sessions, I read through each child’s previous progress note and figure out exactly what to pack. Exactly means only taking the necessary pieces of a game, photocopying the exact pages of a workbook, etc. Anything extra will weigh me down! I typically leave homework, which may be a game we played that day, a wordless picture book we read, or oral placement exercises. I have to anticipate what materials I will plan to leave for homework. I can’t assume I will have that specific item in my bag for a child I will see later that day.
The worst aspect of my M.O. is packing and carrying therapy materials. My home office, (far from a Classic 6) contains my therapy materials, which could easily serve a small army of speech therapists. Before packing for the following day, I first have to unpack (dump, sort, clean, file) the current days material and notes. Packing can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes per child. I see up to 6 children per day for clinical hour sessions.
Just as most therapists plan for sessions, I read through each child’s previous progress note and figure out exactly what to pack. Exactly means only taking the necessary pieces of a game, photocopying the exact pages of a workbook, etc. Anything extra will weigh me down! I typically leave homework, which may be a game we played that day, a wordless picture book we read, or oral placement exercises. I have to anticipate what materials I will plan to leave for homework. I can’t assume I will have that specific item in my bag for a child I will see later that day.
The upside to all this work is that I am extremely well prepared for each session. I can move from task to task with ease; my therapy sessions are comprehensive.
My home office is also where evaluations, progress notes, lesson plans, website and blog writing are completed, and where I return new and important parent phone calls. It’s difficult to have this type of phone conversation when I’m out on the street with ambulance sirens and jackhammers in the background. It’s also crucial that I save these calls for after my own children are asleep, so they are usually made around 9:00 PM.
I take care of quick phone calls, return emails and texts in the time I allow between clients. Naturally this may require talking to a current client (who understands I’m in transit), colleague, or my (personal favorite) accountant while I’m walking to my next client’s home.
New clients come to me from my website, pediatricians, pediatric otolaryngologists, other therapists, and most often, parents who have witnessed my dedication and appreciate the results their own child has achieved with my help.
Sometimes student therapists ask if I feel isolated without the camaraderie of other professionals. I have a fabulous support system which includes a number of speech therapists, occupational therapists, reading specialists and a pediatric ENT. We regularly ask each other questions and confidentially discuss clients to maximize our treatment. Most importantly, after a rough session, they are ready to listen, help me regain confidence and assist with a new game plan. I do exactly the same for them.
Therapy life in Manhattan is unique. There are many children that need services and there are many therapists. Manhattan therapists generally state their areas of expertise. For example, an occupational therapist may essentially exclusively provide handwriting therapy. I work with children with articulation delay and young children with language delay. I also provide kindergarten test preparation for private and public school admission (for the ERB / NYC Gifted and Talented Test).
If a parent calls looking for a speech therapist that specializes in voice, I have six names of which I can refer. If a father calls about his concern for his toddler’s feeding skills, I can recommend two clinics he may opt to visit.
Manhattan parents are educated and generally in the know. When they contact me about their child, they are asking for guidance and interviewing me simultaneously. Am I a good match for their child? Can I explain why I have expertise in the area(s) in which their child is / are struggling? Do I have availability during the limited time that their child is free? I know what skills I have, and I know when to refer to another speech therapist. Parents appreciate my honesty and the information I provide.
As I have worked as a speech therapist along the East Coast, I appreciate how life as a therapist in Manhattan is intense. The rewards are many, and this is where I certainly belong.
*The inscription on the NYC General Post Office at 33rd and 8th. I silently recite this to myself on blustery winter days.
Stephanie Sigal, M.A. CCC-SLP, is a Manhattan speech therapist who offers speech and language therapy, oral motor therapy and kindergarten prep services to children on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. To learn more about Stephanie and her private practice, visit: www.SayandPlayFamily.com |
I remember it like it was yesterday: opening the package and seeing literally hundreds of little white cards with my name on them. The first time I got business cards was during my clinical fellowship. I was working for a prestigious rehabilitation hospital in Boston and had such a sense of pride and accomplishment when I saw my name next to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital logo. Flash forward a few years to when I first started thinking about private practice. I couldn't wait to get business cards with my name and MY logo. I found a fantastic company that makes high-quality professional business cards and other marketing materials (like flyers and post cards) for a very reasonable rate. |
The Good News: Getting Business Cards is Cheaper and Easier Than You Think
Here’s the thing, you can get a stack of business cards for less than $20. I highly recommend getting professional quality cards. Sure, you can get the kind that you print and cut, but since business cards aren’t very expensive, get some nice quality professional looking cards. I use VistaPrint.com for all of my printing. They do a great job and have sales constantly!
And the other best thing about business cards…!
You can put them in raffles and try to win free lunches, prizes, etc
So go ahead over to VistaPrint.com and start designing your new cards! Don’t forget you can save up to 80% by following my link.
BTW -
I have to disclose that if you order through my link, VistaPrint will give me $5. It’s not a lot, but I’m legally obligated to tell you.
So, if you want to help me out (i.e. help me get some coffee money) I’d appreciate you purchasing through my link.
What Info Should You Include On Your Card?
The first step is to decide what information you want to include. At the very least, you should have your:
- Your professional name (ex. Martha J. Kelly, MSPT)
- Your profession (ex. physical therapist– not everyone knows what MSPT stands for…)
- Your specialty (who is your ideal patient? If you only like to work with kids, specify that. If you’re interested in working with athletes, include a phrase about that)
Think Carefully About What Contact Info to List
How do you want to be contacted? I hate phone calls, so I tend to just include an e-mail address or my website. Remember, you never know who is going to end up with your card, so an anonymous e-mail might be best. I use [email protected])
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |
Author: Jena H. Casbon, author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice
FYI: This post was inspired by a discussion in The Private Speech Therapy Network LinkedIn Group. Participants were responding to the question: Question: For those of you that are private pay only, do you ask your clients to pay by cash, check or credit card? When you've got private pay clients you want to:
Traditionally, people with "cash only" practices get paid in cash or by check as "fee for service." While there are many clinicians still doing doing, there are a whole host of new ways to collect payments from your private clients. Let's discuss various methods of payment, as well as the pro's and con's. |
1. Cash
How to Get Started:
Pro's
Con's
Why I Use Cash
"I only accept cash! I had problems with checks bouncing in the past and then trying to collect payment from clients, even with their signature on 1 of my forms from the start of therapy. I don't accept credit cards/paypal, etc.--too expensive!"
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Francine Pickus
Babylon NY
How to Get Started:
- Let your clients know that you accept cash only
- Be firm about receiving payment on the date of service
Pro's
- People are used to paying cash for services
- It's cut and dry (I provide a service; you pay me for that service)
- You're payed instantly. No need to hunt people down. Remember: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
Con's
- Cash can be hard to keep track of
- Many people aren't using cash as much these days (credit cards are becoming the most common way to pay for goods and services)
Why I Use Cash
"I only accept cash! I had problems with checks bouncing in the past and then trying to collect payment from clients, even with their signature on 1 of my forms from the start of therapy. I don't accept credit cards/paypal, etc.--too expensive!"
-------------------------------------------
Francine Pickus
Babylon NY
2. Checks
How to Get Started:
Pro's
Con's
Fees:
No fee; unless you have a monthly checking account fee from your bank
My Experience with Checks:
Judith S. Harper MA CCC SLP • All of my clients pay by check or cash. I do have an account set up for PayPal, but none of my clients have asked to pay by credit card.
How to Get Started:
- Get a business checking account to deposit your checks
- Tell people you accept checks
- If you're interested, sign up for Freshbooks to send very nice looking invoices and Outright to track your income/expenses/taxes
Pro's
- People are used to paying for services via check
- It's easier for you (and them) to keep track of the payments
Con's
- "Oh, I'll bring you the check next time"
- Sometimes checks bounce
- You have to go to the bank (unless your bank allows for deposits via an app)
Fees:
No fee; unless you have a monthly checking account fee from your bank
My Experience with Checks:
Judith S. Harper MA CCC SLP • All of my clients pay by check or cash. I do have an account set up for PayPal, but none of my clients have asked to pay by credit card.
3. PayPal
www.PayPal.com
How to Get Started
- Sign up for a Business Account
- Set up and send an invoice
- Add a PayPal button to your website (optional)
- You're ready to collect payments!
Pro's
- Many people have PayPal accounts (BUT you don't need a PayPal account to use it)
- PayPal encrypts financial data and is very safe to use
- People can pay for services directly on your website
- Free, built in invoicing
Con's
- Some people are still weary of PayPal due to early customer service headaches
- PayPal is fairly simple to use - but can be confusing for less-computer savvy people
- The money shows up in your PayPal account immediately but it takes about 2 business days to transfer to your bank
- You'll need to connect your account to your bank (some people are wary of this --> it is very safe though)
Fees:
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- PayPal fees are tax deductible
Why I Use PayPal
Lisa Scott, owner, Accentuate • I have used Paypal for a couple of years now and find it easy and convenient to use. Since I also work with foreign clients on accent reduction, their automatic money conversion is a great feature for me, and the invoicing is very easy to use. I also have a Paypal debit card and payments are credited to my account and available for use immediately. The only delays I've ever experienced were when a couple of clients in other countries had a delay in getting their credit card approved for use through Paypal.
www.losemyaccent.com
4. Square
www.SquareUp.com
How to Get Started
- Sign up for a Square account online
- They'll mail you a free card reader OR Buy one at The Apple Store, Target, Best Buy or Walmart for $10 (but get a $10 redemption code so it's still FREE)
- Download the App
- Enter your business and financial information
- You're ready to collect payments!
Pro's
- It's free to join. No monthly or membership fees
- On the spot payments - great for clients AND you (i.e. no invoicing!)
- Next day direct deposit into your bank account
- You and your client get a receipt for easy tracking
Con's
- You need to have a smart phone or tablet (ex. iPhone, iPad, Droid)
- It's a new technology, some people may be wary
Fees: 2.75% for all credit cards
Why I Use Square:
Melinda B. Croft, Accent On Speech, Corvallis, Oregon
http://www.accentonspeech.us/
"I use Square for credit card payments, it is a little reader that attaches to your iPad, iPhone, or Android smartphone. You swipe, charge, and they sign on the screen with their finger! Then a receipt gets sent to their phone or email. No membership or sign up fees, just 2.75% rate is charged for each transaction. www.squareup.com
5. Quickbooks
http://payments.intuit.com/products/quickbooks-credit-card-processing-services.jsp
How to Get Started
Pro's:
Con's:
Fees:
Why I Use Quickbooks
Jordan Sadler, MS, CCC-SLP • I use the Merchant Services offered through QuickBooks. The fees are comparable to Square but I can do it from anywhere - so if I'm at home at night I can look at my staff's attendance form online and go ahead and process all the credit cards for the day. I also love it because I can do it from within my invoices - click Receive Payment and the credit card option and then it uses the stored credit card info in the system. I just add the CVV and it's processed *and* immediately applied to the invoice so that I can email that out marked Paid. It's worth fees for me to have this all happen so smoothly and the money hits my bank in a day or two.
I was hugely tempted by Square, I've seen it in use and it's a terrific system, but we see so many clients in their schools (without their parents) where I don't have physical access to their credit cards and I wouldn't want my staff having to run cards. It would only work in my office if I were present and so were the parent.
How to Get Started
- Purchase and setup QuickBooks (there is an option for non-Quickbooks users too)
- Sign up for a Merchant Account
Pro's:
- Integrated with QuickBooks software; seamless for QuickBooks users
- Easy invoicing
- There is a free external card swipe reader (similar to Square)
- Easily store credit card info (pre-authorized by your client) for easy re-billing
- Can set up recurring charges
Con's:
- Best for those already using QuickBooks
- $20 monthly fee (waived for 1st two months)
Fees:
- $19.99/month (after two month free trial)
- 1.6% for cards swiped
- 2.47% for key entered
Why I Use Quickbooks
Jordan Sadler, MS, CCC-SLP • I use the Merchant Services offered through QuickBooks. The fees are comparable to Square but I can do it from anywhere - so if I'm at home at night I can look at my staff's attendance form online and go ahead and process all the credit cards for the day. I also love it because I can do it from within my invoices - click Receive Payment and the credit card option and then it uses the stored credit card info in the system. I just add the CVV and it's processed *and* immediately applied to the invoice so that I can email that out marked Paid. It's worth fees for me to have this all happen so smoothly and the money hits my bank in a day or two.
I was hugely tempted by Square, I've seen it in use and it's a terrific system, but we see so many clients in their schools (without their parents) where I don't have physical access to their credit cards and I wouldn't want my staff having to run cards. It would only work in my office if I were present and so were the parent.
On Accepting Cash vs. Credit Cards:
Kayle Shulenberger • I found accepting credit cards helps with cash flow. So many don't write checks anymore..I sure don't!
Jordan Sadler, MS, CCC-SLP • Yes - huge cash flow benefit! It's made a big difference. Now that I accept credit cards, about 80% of my clients are paying that way.
"But I Don't Want to Pay The Fees!"
Yes, many of the electronic formats have additional fees - but they are minimal compared to dealing with bounced checks or non-payment. Also, electronic formats are automatic! No need to go to the bank. Everyone is always complaining about not having enough time - electronic methods can help that.
You may find that the convenience is worth it.
Oh, and don't forget - the fees are tax deductible!
Jena's Perfect Solution
Freshbooks + Check + Outright
"I personally have found that creating invoices in Freshbooks, then automatically sending the bill to patients via PDF or snail mail works best for me. The clients then send me a check or bring it to their next session (there is also a PayPal option). They keep the invoices for their records and I keep the invoices for my records. Freshbooks tallies everything up and keeps track of whether or not people have paid. It also sends reminders for late payments and or late fees.
My account is integrated with Outright, so that I know exactly how much income, expenses and taxes I need to pay each year. This system works smoothly for me."
- Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP
Final Take-Aways:
#1: Offer Payment Options
Your goal is to get paid. Being flexible about the forms of payment you accept only help that. Think about it: when you go to the grocery store, the beauty salon, a restaurant, etc. you pay via different formats according to your circumstances that day.
#2: Experiment to Find What Works for You (and them!)
I've presented you with some options that you may or may not have heard of. Research them. Contact the companies. Try it out! See what works for you and your patients.
Don't feel pressured to use or try all of the. Ask your patients what they are interested in and if they would like to pay via another method. You may be surprised at their answer!
#3: Do Whatever It Takes to Get Paid
Enough said.
Jena H. Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and private practice consultant. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients and The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. |