Show Me the Money
What is the salary range for EI at entry level, 5 years in, 10 years in, 20 years?
Entry Level = approx. $33.72/hour
5 years = $39.39/hour
10 years = $42.60/hour
Who is the boss?
The boss can depend on the EI setting; an agency might have someone in charge that oversees all SLPs, other places might have a direct supervisor to meet with every week and observe performance quarterly, some places may have a speech therapy team leader & pediatric therapy team leader
How much time is given for documentation?
Traditional SOAPs may not be required depending on setting; however, it is a good idea to dedicate time (~15 minutes). SLP may choose to use the last 10 minutes of the session to document the session and discuss with the caregivers. Writing official reports for assessments will take longer and are required with the deadline of one week from the evaluation; every 6 months, a report is required for reviewing the progress of each client. The SLP can bill for 1-hour worth of time for writing assessment reports and 6-month reviews.
Name 2 challenges in EI
1) There is not enough research, especially for low-incidence populations! This makes coaching and finding evidence-based treatments difficult for these clients.
2) Your payment may depend on the the state’s budget
What benefits could you expect to see in this position (insurance, 401K, vacation, sign on bonus)?
Most positions offer health benefits (medical, dental,and vision). 401K Retirement Plan offered at Pre K-12 Schools. Sometimes Relocation Assistance and Travel Reimbursement is offered at Pre K-12 Schools.
What ages of clients are seen in this setting? Name 3 ways to get client referrals.
Children ages birth to 3 and their families.
Referrals can come from: parents, caregivers, health providers, teachers, childcare workers, and social service personnel. It is important to build and maintain relationships with service coordinators in order to receive referrals.
How is information shared with patients/families/ other professionals?
The SLP can print documents from EMRs to give to parents (they don’t have access to the system), but a lot of information is communicated at the end of a session or afterwards. In addition, information will be communicated to the multidisciplinary team and family during Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meetings.
What are the benefits of working in this setting?
1) Very involved in counseling the families you work with, 2) work closely with families 3) work closely with other disciplines 4) treat a very diverse population!
How are patients billed? What are challenges in billing?
In EI you always bill the state through EI services. EI SLPs must check with family to see if they have private or public insurance, such as AllKids (public insurance for uninsured Illinois children).
How many clients are seen per week for a full time SLP?
The number of clients seen depends on how long your days are. Expect around 6-8 clients a day depending on whether you’ll be working 8 hour days 5 days a week or 10 hour days 4 days a week. This number will also vary depending on if you are traveling to and from clients’ homes.
Who does scheduling?
In an agency, there is often an individual whose job includes setting the initial schedule and is the point of contact for cancellations. After initial scheduling, the individual providers typically schedule future sessions directly.
What are opportunities for learning/CEU/opportunities?
EI requires a certificate in addition to C’s. ASHA offers CEU courses specific to EI, and these may overlap with courses needed for your EI certification. There are currently over 1700 courses available related to EI!
What is the revenue cycle (how long does it take to get paid after you are billed)?
EI SLPs’ pay depends on whether they are in network with their client. If you are billing the state, you are paid from the comptroller, but if you work for an agency, you get paid regularly, even if the state can’t pay.
Is there a leadership track for SLPs interested in becoming a leader in EI?
In some settings, you can take on the role pediatric therapy team leader, in which you can oversee and supervise other pediatric therapists in the agency
What EMR system is used?
Different EMR systems are used across settings, all in which make documentation more organized and efficient. EMRs can facilitate communication and coordination between the members on a client’s multidisciplinary team. An SLP can set models and templates for session notes.
What questions should an SLP ask before entering this service area?
Some questions you might consider before entering EI or a particular EI site are:
- Will I be compensated for travel time or CEUs?
- What does supervision look like?
- Who will be on my multidisciplinary team?
- Will there be group therapy, or just individualized therapy?
Who holds your malpractice insurance?
If working for an agency - they have insurance. If working privately, you purchase your own. This can be found through ASHA
How are teams utilized?
Co-treatment is the goal in EI. The SLP works with various other disciplines such as OT and PT to co-treat clients. Together, they integrate doals to make it easier for the caregivers to understand. Teams are also used for assessments and to determine goals for the clients. Teams in EI providers typically have 15 minutes/month for dedicated collaboration regarding each client.
What types of disorders might you see in this setting?
Infants and toddlers with a disability or diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay, such as:
Congenital/developmental conditions: ASD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, hearing loss
Acquired conditions (TBI)
Children who are assessed and determined to have a significant delay in speech, language, swallowing