In this episode of The Speech Source Podcast, Mary and Kim continue their policies and procedures discussion by highlighting the critical forms every private practice should have—starting with HIPAA and confidentiality forms. They explain the importance of protecting client information under HIPAA law. HIPAA is all about consent—only those directly involved in a child's care, and specifically named by the parent, can have access to information. Mary and Kim share real-world examples, like collaborating with dentists, teachers, and occupational therapists, and stress how easy it is for casual conversations to cross a line without proper signed permissions. To help parents navigate this, they’ve created detailed HIPAA forms with specific checkboxes for all potential team members (like teachers, assistant teachers, specialists, and even yoga instructors) and additional forms to add new providers over time. Protecting confidentiality not only meets legal requirements but builds trust and professionalism within the community.

The conversation then moves to consent for treatment forms, another essential document in private practice. Whether for in-person therapy, teletherapy, or even quick speech screenings, written parental consent is required before any services can be provided. Kim and Mary also mention that many EMR systems, like their favorite, Simple Practice, offer templates that can be customized to fit your practice's specific needs. They encourage listeners to download download their free checklist of essential practice documents and to continue tuning in as they walk through the systems that have helped make their private practice run smoothly and successfully.

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