(Lexington, Ky.) -Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) is pleased to announce the release of its position paper, "Ensuring Audiology's Future in Healthcare: Owning the Profession through a Culture of Practice Ownership." This landmark paper, developed over the past two years, and with extensive peer review, will advance the mission of ADA and transform the practice of audiology.
"The premise of the paper is that the future of the audiology profession and the provision of comprehensive and effective patient care will be best served by audiologists securing ownership of the audiology profession," said ADA Past President and Practice Model Task Force Chair, Larry Engelmann, Au.D. "This will be accomplished by strategically ensuring that practice ownership is the predominant practice model for audiologists, consistent with the recognized character and success of other traditional doctoring healthcare professions."
Audiology and healthcare are continually impacted by internal and external forces, including government regulations, industry consolidation, corporate buyouts, educational issues, and changing scopes of practice. This paper discusses challenges to the practice of audiology from outside the audiology profession, the importance and benefits of "owning" the profession, influences that could affect the depth and breadth of ownership of the profession and provides recommendations for the future.
"ADA's position is that audiologists should own the audiology profession and not relinquish control of it to external groups or non-audiology individuals," said ADA President David Berkey, Au.D. "Unless audiologists take ownership of their profession, challenges from outside the profession will continue to encroach upon audiology's independence and autonomy to the detriment of the patient."
Click here to view the paper in its entirety. For more information, contact Stephanie Czuhajewski, ADA Executive Director, at (859) 977-7444 or sczuhajewski@audiologist.org.
About ADA
The Academy of Doctors of Audiology is dedicated to leadership in advancing practitioner excellence, high ethical standards, professional autonomy, hearing and balance care technology, and sound business practices in the provision of quality audiological care.
