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One of the questions
most frequently asked by clinicians when they hear about the Clinical Recognition
Program is, "How will I know my practice level?" This question
cannot be answered by completing a checklist or counting up the years of
employment. It requires that you think about your practice and the impact
you have had on patients, families, and colleagues. To help you assess your level
of practice, we recommend the following steps.
- Read through
the attached descriptions of each level of practice.
You’ll find that the descriptions refer to "themes" or aspects
of clinical practice: clinician/patient relationship, clinical knowledge
and decision-making, and teamwork/collaboration. Within each theme,
four levels of practice are described:
- Entry
- Clinician
- Advanced Clinician
- Clinical Scholar
As you read through the
descriptions, make note of the differences between each level. Think
of specific examples of clinical practice that would "fit" with the criteria being described.
- Once you have a sense
of the levels, reflect on your own experiences with patients.
The more specific you can be in your reflection, the better. For example,
as you review the theme of clinician-patient relationship, think
about experiences you have had working with specific patients and families.
Look at the criteria for the various levels of practice within this
theme. What level of practice best characterizes your experiences
with regard to the clinician/patient relationship? You might find it
helpful to think about someone who represents your "ideal"
in the way he/she relates to patients. How does this person’s practice
fit the criteria described in the levels? How does it compare to your
practice?
Similarly, as you think
about your clinical knowledge and decision making, ask yourself
which level best describes how you use your knowledge to make decisions
about patient care, how you organize and prioritize your patient care
responsibilities, or how you seek out and use resources.
In considering the collaboration/teamwork
theme, think about how you work with your colleagues in clinical
practice and how these interactions have evolved over time. Consider
the nature of
your professional relationships
with colleagues within and outside of your discipline, how you contribute
to an interdisciplinary approach to care, and how you help create an
environment that supports excellence in patient care.
- Having analyzed your own
practice in light of the descriptions of the levels, ask yourself, "At which level do I practice most consistently?" You
may well find that there is a range to your practice – that you generally
practice at one level but, depending on the situation, may "visit"
a different level. Ask yourself, "Where do I live in my
clinical practice? Do I practice mostly at the Advanced Clinician level,
or do I visit the Advanced level from time to time, with most
of my practice being that of the Clinician?" You will likely find
that your practice matches a particular level most consistently.
Look at the level where
you think you practice most of the time. Challenge your findings. For
example, closely examine the criteria at the next level. Can you think
of examples from your own experience that fit this description? If so,
how often do they occur?
Take your time in completing
this reflection. It will give you an important starting point in thinking
about where your clinical practice lies.
- Once you have given some
thought to your own practice, make an appointment to talk to your
manager/director. Use the meeting to talk about your practice. Discuss
specific examples.
- Through
your manager/director, you will be recognized at the Entry or Clinician
level. If you and your manager/director agree that your practice is
at the Advanced Clinician or Clinical Scholar level, decide if you
would like to move forward and submit a portfolio to the Clinical
Recognition Program’s peer review committee. The committee will review
your portfolio, interview you about your practice, and determine whether
you meet the criteria for the level you have identified.
To
complete a portfolio for recognition at the Advanced Clinician or Clinical
Scholar level, ask your manager/director for an application packet or
click here to view the Application Packet.
Clinical
Recognition Program
Patient
Care Services
Massachusetts
General Hospital
Levels of
Practice
Speech-Language
Pathology
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