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Audiology 2050

SCOPE OF PRACTICE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CLINICAL DOCTORS

  • Strip the term “non-medical” out of state audiology practice laws
  • Ensure that state audiology practice laws include evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat auditory and vestibular conditions, which accurately
  • represents the scope of practice for audiology
  • Expand and intensify education and training in pharmacology, imaging, and other areas of clinical focus to ensure provider readiness
  • Audiologists practice at the top of scope of practice and across the continuum of care (including prevention)

    • STANDARDIZED, EVIDENCE-BASED CLINICAL PRACTICE

    • There are Up-to-date Standards of Care and Clinical Guidelines for Audiology
    • ADA Audiology Practice Accreditation is the norm

    PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE INCLUDING EXTENDERS

    • Develop new staffing and service delivery models that improve efficiency and patient outcomes
    • Develop new educational models that develop and incorporate qualified extenders into audiology practice
    • Create an undergraduate degree that qualifies dispensers in a medical audiology model
    • Design and implement interdisciplinary care models in private practice settings
    • Incorporate innovative channels for audiology service delivery (telehealth, mobile audiology etc.)

    AUDIOLOGISTS ADVANCE PROFESSIONAL SOCIALIZATION INITIATIVES

    • University curriculum values and encourages private practice
    • CAA/ACAE standards encourage students to participate organizational membership and advocacy for the profession
    • Preceptors require universities to meet standards of practice and professionalism as a condition of taking students

    AUDIOLOGISTS ARE ADVOCATES AND ACTIVISTS FOR THE PROFESSION

    • Audiologists are invested members of their state and national associations
    • Audiologists give time talent and resources to advocate for the profession

    ACHIEVE MEDICARE LLP STATUS

    • Move toward unbundled and hybrid service pricing
    • Audiologists held to the same standards for ethics and compliance as other LLP providers and clinical doctoring professionals
    • Eliminate reliance on profit from devices as a mechanism for profitability/sustainability
    • Exceptional students compete for entrance into audiology training programs

    PRIMARY CARE ENTRY POINT FOR AUDITORY & VESTIBULAR CONDITIONS

    • Audiologists have knowledge of “whole body”
    • Case history that reflects point-of-entry provider
    • Public perception of audiology is as the point-of-entry provider for hearing and balance
    • Employ/supervise/collaborate with allied health and physicians as part of a multidisciplinary/inter-professional team
    • Increase the number of independent private audiology practices
    • Audiologists meet patients where they are in their hearing journey (including encouraging self-care such as OTC, when appropriate)

    Volunteer to serve on a committee or task force to advance Audiology 2050!