what’s in this issue? interview...pr and marketing committee should you wish to contribute to the...
TRANSCRIPT
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
E-zine May – June 2017
Family Centred
Early Intervention
What’s in this issue? Ethics Q & A
SASLHA Congress
Interview
with
Erika Bostock
Healthy Times Advert
Touting or Promoting?
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
EDITORIAL MAY – JUNE 2017
Message from the PR and Marketing Committee This issue features an interview with ex-SASLHA president, Erika Bostock, who is still
avidly involved with the association. Read more to find out what else she is involved
in.
As many Speech Therapists and Audiologists run private practices – one thing that is
essential to keeping a business going is good advertising. Kathryn Farmer has written
a thought provoking article (Touting or Promoting) and reminder about what health
professionals are allowed to do in terms of advertising themselves and their practices.
Sophia Venter provided feedback about the Early Intervention workshop she
attended.
As the SASLHA Congress is around the corner – check out the congress website and
register to reserve your spot in the friendly city. Looking forward to seeing you there!
PR and Marketing Committee
Should you wish to contribute to the E-zine contact the PR & Marketing
committee.
Feedback about this issue will be greatly appreciated.
Please email: [email protected]
SASLHA & Social Media
Have you seen SASLHA’s Pinterest and Facebook pages?
Join the conversation today!
https://www.facebook.com/Saslha-839763076138617/
https://www.pinterest.com/SASLHA1
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
Interview with Erika Bostock Interview with Erika Bostock conducted by Sophia Venter.
Many SASLHA members will remember you as the ex-President of
SASLHA. You have many other areas of interest. Please tell our
members about these:
I’m generally passionate about our profession, especially making
our services accessible to those who need them. So I am
involved in several activities that contribute to that. I’m a founder
member of Rural Rehab SA (RuReSA), which is a multi-disciplinary
association that promotes access to Rehab by people in rural
communities by working for policies to include adequate staffing,
budgets, equipment and services in the rural hospitals that
service the Primary Health Care facilities used by rural communities.
I’ve been volunteering with Operation Smile since 2011. They are an international
volunteer NGO that provides services, largely through surgical missions, to people born
with craniofacial clefts. I fell in love with Madagascar on my first mission there and have
returned every year since then, although I’ve also done missions in SA, Mozambique and
the DRC. I love travelling to less-travelled places, so this volunteering satisfies me on that
level as well.
My most recent project has been to head up the SASLHA African Connections project. As
a result of the Op Smile missions I realised how few therapists there are in the rest of Africa,
generally speaking. I’ve wanted to know who is ‘out there’ and foster networking
between them, because my experience with working with therapists in government has
been that their (our!) greatest need is to be able to share knowledge and solutions and to
have someone who understands the challenges of working in under-resourced and
frustrating conditions
You recently talked at a Breakfast event hosted by the Cleft Friends support group. Which
thought or moment was most memorable for you?
Two thoughts stand out; the one was that no matter what her context is, a mum’s primary
concern is for her child, and society really doesn’t support mums enough; it is very quick
to criticise instead of support mums. The other was shock that the soft palate clefts were
not discovered during the new-born check, but only later, when there were feeding
difficulties. Given that cleft palates without cleft lips are associated with a higher
incidence of other medical problems and that clefts are relatively common, doctors and
paediatricians should be actively checking for cleft palates.
Currently you are working very hard on the African Connection project. Please tell our
members about how you are spearheading SASLHA’s involvement in Africa.
This project is so exciting! We started off with the names of 28 therapists who were known
to be working in Africa and through word of mouth (more like emails with the snowball
effect, actually!) we now have about 160 contacts, in 22 countries. We formed a
committee with Mershen Pillay, Shajila Singh, Mellissa Bortz and Ingrid von Bentheim, under
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
whose portfolio the project falls, and have set out five-year goals for our project, with
everyone taking responsibility for a different aspect of the project. Ultimately we’re
hoping that there will be a decision to form an African association. We’ve started a
Google-group for networking and the next step is to develop an African Connections
section on our SASLHA website.
You have a full time job with the Department of Health, how do you manage to do all of
these things on top of your 9 – 5?
When you’re passionate about something it is self-motivating. I take leave for Op Smile
missions and use my lunchtimes to work on Op Smile and African Connection projects.
Since I’m in a management position much of the RuReSA policy work and information
gathering segues very nicely with my job activities. Working in the DOH can be extremely
frustrating, so I intersperse my other activities between DOH activities to motivate me to
keep me going. They say a change is as good as a holiday and having a short, rewarding
break from ‘real work’ helps me focus on my work tasks when I resume them. I usually stay
on late at work to make up for the time and that works well, because it’s much easier to
focus on drudge work when there are no interruptions from other people. Weekends are
my thinking and relaxing time, but if I’m really fired up I’ll actively work on SASLHA or Op
Smile matters, not just ponder and plan.
What do you like to do to relax?
I love cooking (and eating!) At weekends I like to be in the kitchen, watching our pets
and the wild birds in the garden through the window behind my stove. I love reading
surrounded by our pets, although I need to be careful that I don’t reach a can’t-put-
down point in a novel on a weekday evening, because I won’t be able to sleep until I’ve
finished the book. I play Sudoku a lot, too. Travelling is wonderfully refreshing when I need
a long break.
Who is your local speech therapy and audiology super hero?
Ooh, tough question! I think Claire Penn is my number one; what she has achieved for our
profession is incredible and she’s such a stimulating and thought-provoking speaker.
Mershen Pillay and Shajila Singh follow close on her heels, though; they have such vision
for the profession and are involved in so many different professional activities. Sadna
Balton also deserves mention. As a public health therapist she is an inspiration for what
can be achieved in the public health sector, both in terms of services for patients and
personally. I don’t know when they sleep!
SASLHA – Working for you!
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
Touting or Promoting?
How to be sure you are not violating professional ethical conduct.
By Kathryn Glendinning/Farmer (In consultation with Alison Dent Chairperson of ESC)
This is often an area of uncertainty for professionals as we live in a time where social
media is a popular means of marketing for most industries… where do we stand?
Firstly, I would suggest using your own discretion to determine if your idea for marketing
your services would be considered acceptable by your peers. For example, I recently
decided to design and print new business cards. I enlisted the services of a local printing
company and provided them with the text. I was very impressed with the result they sent,
including a logo. However, I felt that this logo was familiar. After a reverse Google search I
found that they had used the ASHA logo! Returning to my initial question - “What would
my peers think if I stole the ASHA logo?” This could have slipped my attention and I could
have unknowingly gone ahead with the printing. However, I would ultimately be
responsible for this error and possibly held accountable too, despite no intention to
misrepresent my practice (I am not an ASHA member). The responsibility to market
ethically falls solely on the practitioner.
Here are a few guidelines on how you can, ethically and professionally promote your
services.
1. Become a member of SASLHA and list your practice details on the SASLHA website.
When the public or colleagues are searching for a professional in their area, your
details will appear. Please remember to update your own details (SASLHA admin
cannot do this for you).
2. List your practice on Medpages www.medpages.co.za “The Who, What and Where
of healthcare.”
3. SASLHA runs a programme whereby we ask members to nominate their “heroes” in
the profession. Nominate yourself or a colleague by emailing SASLHA
[email protected] If your nomination is selected you will be featured in the
E-zine. This is a good way to showcase your achievements within the profession. We
would like to celebrate our heroes so please do send in the nominations.
4. The Public Sector has a unique way to celebrate their achievements - the IMBASA
awards are specifically for therapists who work in the Public sector to spread the
word regarding the good work that they are doing.
5. During the awareness campaigns you are encouraged to place informative articles
in your local newspaper. However, you may not list your name as the only contact
should the public require more information. Best practice is to suggest the public
contact their local doctors, hospitals or clinics for names of therapists in the area.
Further, you may put in the SASLHA website address and direct the public to “Find a
Professional.” You may sign your name as the author of the article. You may
distribute your business cards at doctors’ rooms, allied professionals, schools and
settings that would require the services of a therapist. (Ensure your business cards
are acceptable and do not include touting or canvassing).
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
The following list includes behaviours that would be considered touting rather than
promoting.
Offering incentives such as “Come in for a ‘xyz’ and receive a free hot
chocolate”.
Listing your services as a “specialist in…” The HPCSA does not recognise Speech
Therapists and Audiologists as Specialists unless you have a qualification in AAC
or cochlear Implants. You may state that you have a “special Interest in xyz”.
You may only refer to yourself in terms of your qualifications as registered with
the HPCSA, viz. Speech- Language Therapist and/or Audiologist. You may only
list any postgraduate degrees behind your name, e.g. MA; Phd etc. The degree
is an honours degree, so you may not list Hons after it.
Reducing your prices to monopolise the industry in your area. You are
undermining the professional value of our services.
Colluding or price fixing with your colleagues.
Promoting the profession under the guise of informing the public about services
available/ awareness campaigns whilst actually canvassing for more clients -
you must give the public or your audience options for therapists to consult with. It
is best if they find you themselves. i.e. therapists can be found through SASLHA at
hospitals, schools and clinics.
For therapists in Private Practice a school may not employ you. Your billing must
be done independently of the school, with your therapy contract being
between you and the client. You should negotiate a rental agreement for the
room/s you are using with the school. This should be a fixed monthly amount and
not based on a percentage of children receiving therapy, as this could be seen
as perverse incentives. Further, teachers are ethically obliged to provide at least
3 contact details when referring, but may state you offer the service on the
premises. If another therapist would like to see her clients on the premises, this is
at the discretion of the school and not controlled by you.
In terms of social media, you should not be friends with your patients/clients on
Facebook. This can cause conflict of interest.
You MUST obtain prior written consent before using a photograph of any child
for use on your website etc.
For individual concerns or guidance please email us at [email protected] . Please note
we do not have disciplinary powers, this is the role of the HPCSA.
Although the HPCSA may only regulate those professions that are registered with them,
(Health Professions Act 56 of 1974), “Anyone who impersonates any person registered in
terms of this Act… shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both.”
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
The role of the SASLHA Ethics and Standards Committee includes the following:
Contact individuals known to be practicing in breach of the statutory Rules and
inform them accordingly.
Advise the HPCSA Legal Department of practitioners who persist in practicing in
breach of statutory rules.
We can offer guidance and support you through HPCSA complaints, and advise on
best course of professional action.
Respond in writing to communications from members about contentious issues.
Adjudicate grievances between members of the association, when appropriate, if
requested to do so.
The Ethics and Standards Committee is dedicated to create awareness of
appropriate professional behaviour and guide members. Furthermore the
committee wishes to alert members to the Constitution that if convicted of an
offence or bringing the name of the profession into disrepute, SASLHA membership
will be revoked.
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
SASLHA COUNCIL MEMBERS President: Ursula Zsilavecs
Executive Committee: Ursula Zsilavecs, Annaline Jack (Treasurer), Alison Dent (Vice
President), Ingrid Von Bentheim (Professional Liaison Officer)
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
SASLHA COUNCIL MEMBERS Sophia Venter, Monique Rall, Priya Rajaram (back), Denise Kemsley, Helena Van Heerden
(back), Alison Dent (back), Annaline Jack, Ingrid von Bentheim (back), Ursula Zsilavecs,
Mershen Pillay, Nasreen Allie, Kathryn Farmer, Mellissa Bortz, Judith Kowo
PR & Marketing Committee: Denise Kemsley, Nasreen Allie, Sophia Venter, Kathryn Farmer
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
Healthy Times Advert This advert appeared in the Healthy Times in June to create awareness about
Audiology and early detection of hearing loss.
SASLHA – WORKING FOR YOU!
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
SASLHA CONGRESS As we gear up for our 2017 annual conference – to be held in PE on the 26th and 27th of
October, you will receive a lot of information about costs, venue, programmes etc. Look
out for these emails. Important changes have recently been made, so please stay
informed.
Abstract submissions have now closed. Clinicians have a vast wealth of knowledge that
our profession yearns to hear of, so come to PE to hear them presenting.
Secondly, we would like to add that PE is an option for an extended holiday trip,
especially as it is so far from the Northern parts of SA. Why not bring the family to PE? A
few interesting ideas for the whole family to enjoy whilst you are at the conference
include but are certainly not limited to...
The Top 10 Things to Do & Places to Go in Port Elizabeth - TripAdvisor - Port Elizabeth, South
Africa Attractions
To register for the Congress go to www.saslhacongress.co.za
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
Family Centred Early Intervention Article by Sophia Venter
“Dreams are not what you see in sleep. They are the things that do not let you sleep” – A.
P. J. Adul Kalam
I had the opportunity to attend the Family Centred Early Intervention (FCEI)
Africa/Developing World Conference was held in June in Rosebank. This event was a
dream for many of the organisers as it was the first time the event has been held in a
developing world.
For a Durbanite to venture inland in the winter takes a very special event – I am
passionate about Early Intervention and decided that I would brave the cold for two
days. I was not disappointed and encouraged to dream bigger.
The conference was attended by delegates from both the developed and developing
world. The speakers ranged from the UK, USA, South Africa, India and Tanzania. The
speakers from the developed countries gave inspirational talks about how they are
implementing FCEI, at times with the same budget constraints that we experience. The
speakers from the developing world shared with us their firm belief that to give back is
better than to receive. They shared with us what keeps them from sleep. Some of the
highlights for me included:
Prof Christine Yoshinaga-Itano spoke to us about how their FCEI program in Colorado is
managing to successfully support families of children who are Deaf. I was blown away by
their aim to identify children who have a hearing loss by the age of one month through
New-born Hearing screening. The children who are diagnosed with a hearing loss are
fitted with amplification at the age of three months and enter the FCEI program by the
time they are six months old. I can truly say that this dream is worth losing sleep over!
Two mothers travelled from India and Tanzania to share with the other delegates how
they have been able to establish parent support groups and services for families. These
families have so many challenges but with sheer dedication, passion, determination, drive
and love they are making FECI a reality in their communities. I realised again how
important the families of our clients are, as passionate as I am about Early Intervention. A
professional’s passion is a weak thing when compared to a parent’s passion for their child.
Their dreams for their children ensure that they will not rest until it is realised.
South Africa is running a range of impressive projects which made me very proud of our
profession. Prof De Wet Swanepoel and his team are combining technology and their
drive for Early Identification to reach as many children as possible. Hi HOPES Early
Intervention Program is providing FCEI to families of children who are identified as having
a hearing loss. Prof. Claudine Storbeck and Dr Bianca Birdsey from Hi HOPES have not only
arranged the conference, but have also launched a range of books - ‘Benjamin’s Girl’.
Testimony to what can be achieved through months of little sleep.
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
Family Centred Early Intervention
Pictured above is a photo of Professor Christine Yoshinaga-Itano with Guy Mcilroy.
Guy is a lecturer in the Deaf Education at the Centre of Deaf Studies of WITS.
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
SASLHA CONTACT DETAILS
PORTFOLIO NAME EMAIL
ADMINISTRATION JUDITH KOWU [email protected]
PRESIDENT URSULA ZSILAVECZ
VICE PRESIDENT ALISON DENT [email protected]
TREASURER ANNALINE JACK [email protected]
PROFESSIONAL LIASION OFFICER
INGRID VON BENTHEIM
ETHICS AND STANDARDS CHAIRPERSON
ALISON DENT [email protected]
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
MELLISSA BORTZ [email protected]
RESEACH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
MERSHEN PILLAY [email protected]
CODING CHARIPERSON PRIYA RAJARAM [email protected]
PUBLIC SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE
HELEENA VAN HEERDEN
PR AND MARKETING CHAIRPERSON
SOPHIA VENTER [email protected]
ZONE1(Johannesburg/Southern Gauteng/ Free State/North West Province)
MONIQUE RALL [email protected]
ZONE 2 (Pretoria/Northern Gauteng/ Mpumalanga/ Limpopo)
KATHRYN FARMER [email protected]
ZONE 3 (Western Cape/ Northern Cape)
NASREEN ALLIE [email protected]
ZONE 4 (Kwa-Zulu Natal/ Eastern Cape)
DENISE KEMSLEY [email protected]
SASLHA EZINE MAY/JUNE 2017
See you next time!
SASLHA PR AND MARKETING TEAM
WORKING FOR YOU