Brain Health, Cognition, and Audition-Brain Health, Cognition, and Audition Handout 10

Brain Health, Cognition, and Audition Handout 10

Pdf Summary

In the article "Still Battling Turf Wars: 2022" by Douglas L. Beck, the author discusses the ongoing issue of professional scope of practice (SOP) and its impact on patient care. Beck highlights his own experiences as an audiologist working in the operating room, particularly in the field of intraoperative monitoring (IOM). He mentions that when he published a book on IOM in 1994, it was met with resistance from some audiologists who believed it was outside their scope of practice. However, organizations such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recognized that IOM was within the audiologists' scope of practice. Beck argues that SOP issues are often driven by an desire to maintain the status quo and protect professional turf, rather than prioritizing patient safety and well-being.<br /><br />Beck goes on to discuss the importance of cognitive screenings in audiology and other healthcare professions. He states that cognitive screenings are a valuable tool in identifying cognitive impairment and its relation to hearing loss. He argues that all healthcare professionals, including audiologists, should be equipped to administer cognitive screenings to better serve their patients.<br /><br />Beck also addresses the issue of turf wars and SOP in other areas of healthcare, such as cerumen removal and blood pressure checks. He argues that these tasks can be safely and effectively performed by a range of healthcare professionals, as long as they have the necessary knowledge, skills, and training.<br /><br />In conclusion, Beck advocates for a more collaborative approach to healthcare, where professionals work together to provide comprehensive care to patients. He believes that the focus should be on patient safety and well-being, rather than maintaining professional boundaries.

Keywords

professional scope of practice

patient care

audiologist

operating room

intraoperative monitoring

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

cognitive screenings

cognitive impairment

turf wars

collaborative approach