Semin Speech Lang 2006; 27(2): 075-079
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939938
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Clinical Services and the Regulatory Environment: An Overview

Becky Sutherland Cornett1
  • 1Associate Compliance Director, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus Ohio
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 May 2006 (online)

ABSTRACT

Most clinicians have difficulty participating in the political process. Patients/clients come first, and there is often little time to pursue information about the political and regulatory processes affecting clinical practice. Yet, such activity is imperative if speech-language pathologists and other practitioners want to achieve individual and collective professional goals and ensure sufficient funding for services to consumers. This article is an overview of politics, health-care policy, and regulation. Definitions are presented, and concepts regarding how politics become policy are cast in the familiar structure-process-outcome triad. Four types of regulation are discussed, and current regulatory initiatives are explained from the perspective of policy-makers. The discussion concludes by applying these concepts to issues and behaviors of specific interest to speech-language pathologists and sets the stage for the other articles in this publication.

REFERENCES

Becky Sutherland CornettPh.D. 

Associate Compliance Director, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 410 W

Tenth Ave, Rm. N143 DN, Columbus OH 43210

Email: Becky.Cornett@osumc.edu