By Kris English
In 2005, the American Medical Association (AMA) decided to review 10 health-care professions, based on a concern that these professions are expanding their scopes of practice at the risk of potentially harming the public. The 10 professions include audiologists, dentists, naturopaths, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, podiatrists, and psychologists.
The AMA has written extensive modules about a number of health-care professions, collectively called the AMA Scope of Practice Data Series. These modules were recently released, and in July 2009, the American Academy of Audiology established a task force to review the “Audiologists” module and provide recommendations for a response. The AMA Response Task Force (chair: Georgine Ray) actively sought to include representation from all organizations involved with audiology; those who could not participate in the actual task force work have been asked to endorse the final report.
The task force report is available for your review. I hope all members get a chance to thank at least one task force member in person for contributing countless hours to this important project. I personally appreciate the report’s clear and professional voice of confidence in our profession.
Additionally, the Government Relations Committee (chair: Erin Miller) and its State Affairs Subcommittee (chair: Gail Whitelaw) used this report to create “toolkits” for individual member use and also for state organizations to share with lobbyists and governmental decision-makers. The latter will be disseminated with the help of the State Network Committee (chair: John Coverstone).
In September, while the task force was hard at work, the Academy sent a letter to the AMA acknowledging the existence and goal of this module. The AMA replied with the invitation to assist in correcting factual errors, and included the latest version of the module. The Board of Directors decided not to participate in a review process that was beyond the Academy’s control, and so declined to participate.
Members: please review all components of this issue carefully, and discuss with your colleagues. Threats to audiology’s autonomy and scope of practice will come at the local/state level, and we have a professional obligation to maintain vigilance.
An interesting fact: The AMA represents less than 25% of physicians in the United States.
Letters of Support
We have invited audiology organizations to write letters of support with regard to the AMA Response Task Force's report.
Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology (PDF)
National Council of State Boards
Missouri Academy of Audiology (PDF)