Management Archives - Partners Behavioral Health

Ongoing management of ethical ABA practices

Partners Admin — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 16:26:57 +0000

When operating an ethical ABA practice, it’s important to monitor and manage performance and outcome metrics for standards and compliance that span 4 broad categories: clinical, business, financial, operational.

Realistically though, there are more functional layers. I find it helpful to conceptualize more specific operational and management activities from those 4 categories in the following way. Here they are, in no particular order:

✔Client clinical services and coordination of care
✔Staff training and supervision
✔Client intakes & orientation
✔Scheduling & authorizations
✔Community engagement
✔Marketing, social media
✔Recruiting & hiring, social media
✔Human resources and performance management
✔Office management, IT
✔Contracting & credentialing
✔Revenue cycle management
✔Bookkeeping
✔Financial activity, reporting
✔C-level support, executive coaching, strategy
✔Research management

And remember, it’s important to coordinate between departments and professionals as well!

Do you feel anything is missing or would you categorize differently?

_____

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about. DM me for more information.

The post Ongoing management of ethical ABA practices appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

Should behavior analysts have experience as a clinician before opening an ABA practice of their own?

Partners Admin — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 12:00:59 +0000

All things considered, I don’t see the net benefit of requiring this expectation or even encouraging this line of thinking. It’s not that I don’t want the best quality of service for the people we serve. That could not be farther from the truth. It’s that I think there exists logical fallacies around the basis for this position. I want the best for those we serve, and the reputation of our profession, and I’m hopeful those who know my accomplishments as both a clinician and business person know that to be true.

Being a business owner is a distinct repertoire from being a clinician. There are important points at which these two may intersect, and I do agree they can compliment each other. However, that’s the extent of it. I’d sooner encourage entrepreneurs with aligned ethical interests to obtain support from professionals with the necessary experience and expertise in order to make meaningful and sustainable change, than to de-incentivize them from doing so – leaving the way for others whose interests may not align. That’s a big part of what drives us at Partners in fact – supporting entrepreneurs and industry leaders whose interests align with our mission, vision, and values.

Certainly for any business, being skilled in the specialty upon which the business is based has huge benefits. Industry knowledge, networks, and even operating under any applicable ethical or professional guidelines offer significant advantages.

However, proficiency in running clinical assessments like VB-MAPPs, functional analysis (FAs), and writing treatment plans are not necessary to run a business. Similarly, interpreting financials, managing employees, strategy, and other ownership skills aren’t necessary to do good clinical work.

If you want to become an expert in one – a business owner or a clinician – consider obtaining support, training, and experience in that area, by experts in that area. If you want to become an expert in more than one area, rinse and repeat. Very importantly, hire people with expertise in the other area(s) to support those specific functions. Hint: in most cases it probably shouldn’t amount to a team of exclusively behavior analysts, unless those behavior analysts are also experts in other domains.

Do we have data to show – or even a reasonable basis for thinking – that more years as a practicing clinician has a causal relationship upon ethical business decision making, and specifically in a way that is not attainable through some other path or course of action?

Although owners most certainly can and do influence culture, operations, and inevitably outcomes, being an owner is not inherently synonymous with actively holding those other roles and responsibilities within a company. That’s why we hire other and build a well rounded team.

Looking outside the field of ABA, some of the most successful entrepreneurs are not in fact trained in the field their company serves.

The following people are examples of individuals who have demonstrated effectiveness and success as leaders and entrepreneurs, both in healthcare and other sectors, and are not themselves explicitly trained as experts in the areas of their business services. Abhilash Patel, Fabien Beckers, Shireen Yates, Kelly L. Close, Michael Burcham, Mark Cuban and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, PBC. This article is about entrepreneurs improving healthcare https://www.inc.com/drew-hendricks/20-inspiring-entrepreneurs-improving-health-for-all.html.

I think for entrepreneurs in our field to grow as effective and impactful healthcare leaders, we need to look at how others are doing this, and of course synthesize that with our industry expertise.

Until such time we have better reasoning for this position, I hope our professional community encourages people with aligned interests – ethical, quality standards, patient and family centered, evidence based – who are willing to take on the risk and challenges associated with starting a practice, to do so. Of course, it’s equally important to create a community that encourages people access the appropriate expertise to support their efforts to help ensure viable and sustainable plan. We wouldn’t want BCBAs or doctors any other profession the go exclusively to the university of Facebook, and with that in mind, I hope we encourage the same when it comes to business, since businesses performance and outcomes – particularly those in healthcare and education – extend in meaningful ways to all its stakeholders.

What do you think?

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post Should behavior analysts have experience as a clinician before opening an ABA practice of their own? appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

🕷 🕸With great power comes great responsibility🕷 🕸

Partners Admin — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 10:39:29 +0000

As behavior analysts we are in a position of power over others and it’s important we continue to be hypervigilant about that.

Let’s pan out for a second – consider performance management systems for clinicians. Though our intent in how we arrange contingencies for our BCBAs, or even seek them out for OURSELVES, may be noble, the outcome or impact perhaps not so much. I.e. consider burnout.

If our well intentioned implementation of performance systems or arrangements for those who are by any lay definition free to make their own decisions are backfiring, and those people (all of us BCBAs) are able to speak out about the burn out, then what a reminder of how important it is to be aware of the impact, unintentional as it may be, with those who don’t have that same level of autonomy or in some cases ability to communicate their experience.

In our quest to impact meaningful change for those we serve, let’s always remember to balance outcomes with experience.

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post 🕷 🕸With great power comes great responsibility🕷 🕸 appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

⭐ What is your ABA clinic’s unique value proposition ⭐

Partners Admin — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 10:10:02 +0000

⭐ What is your ABA clinic’s unique value proposition ⭐

The ABA market is more competitive than it has been before.

Often there’s more competition to obtain clinical staff than clients.

Having a unique value proposition is important in distinguishing your company from others.

It’s really important to focus on something that prospective staff and clients value.

🤔 As counterintuitive as it may seem, I don’t recommend building a UVP around the general concept that your service quality is superior to others, even if you feel it is.

It’s really important to frame things in a way that matters to those you’re trying to attract.

❓ As a BCBA or RBT looking for a job, or someone looking for services, what do YOU see as important when deciding on an ABA practice?

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post ⭐ What is your ABA clinic’s unique value proposition ⭐ appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

Entrepreneurs in ABA and healthcare in general take on significant risks to improve their patient’s lives

Partners Admin — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 09:31:10 +0000

Entrepreneurs in ABA and healthcare in general take on significant risks to improve their patient’s lives.

Although there is opportunity for a favorable financial return, the risk, liability, and emotional drain experienced by entrepreneurs is often understated. Unless you’ve been through the ups and downs, conceptualizing it is hard.

Many are investing years of their lives and risking their family’s financial safety to pursue something they believe will have a meaningful impact on others – and it’s honorable. Thanks to these folks, the ABA therapy market has grown, helping millions of patients, and creating countless jobs every year.

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post Entrepreneurs in ABA and healthcare in general take on significant risks to improve their patient’s lives appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

Entrepreneurship in the ABA space has an added layer of stress

Partners Admin — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 23:40:26 +0000

Entrepreneurship in the ABA space has an added layer of stress.

Starting a company in any industry is hard – and stressful. Oftentimes, your family relying on your success, and ultimately being accountable for ops, clinical and compliance standards, sales, marketing, finances, and general stakeholder satisfaction, quickly becomes overwhelming.

On top of the business, many ABA practitioners are impacted by the high stakes of helping our clients navigate difficult situations.

Many people largely misunderstand, or at least have a very narrow understanding, of Autism and/or ABA.

Our clients come to us so we can help them improve their lives – the stakes are high.

Additionally, companies are having to do more, with less these days.

So, it’s no wonder many ABA operators burn out and become overwhelmed with managing a company, and particularly outcomes and experiences of their clients and staff.

Working with industry experts can improve this journey, and help you achieve what you set out to do.

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post Entrepreneurship in the ABA space has an added layer of stress appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

Rewards of owning or operating an ABA practice

Partners Admin — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 23:38:27 +0000

Rewards of owning or operating an ABA practice

Owning and operating an ABA practice comes with its fair share of challenges, but the rewards are immeasurable. Some of my favorite aspects are:

🌟 💗 1. Changing Lives: ABA practitioners have the unique opportunity to make a profound and lasting impact on the lives of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities or differences. Witnessing the progress and growth of clients is truly rewarding and reminds us why we chose this profession in the first place.

🌟 💗 2. Empowering Families: ABA practices not only support individuals but also empower their families by providing them with the tools, resources, and strategies to navigate daily challenges. Watching families grow more confident in their abilities is an incredible experience.

🌟 💗 3. Professional Growth: Owning an ABA practice allows you to shape your professional journey, and that of others, by continually expanding knowledge, skills, and expertise. This growth benefits your clients, your team, and contributes to the ongoing advancement of the ABA field.

While running an ABA practice requires hard work and dedication, the rewards far outweigh the challenges, making it a truly fulfilling and meaningful career choice.

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post Rewards of owning or operating an ABA practice appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

Evidence based practice: where ABA entrepreneurs CAN look to qualitative differences in their services in identifying their distinct market value

Partners Admin — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 23:11:16 +0000

Evidence based practice: where ABA entrepreneurs CAN look to qualitative differences in their services in identifying their distinct market value.

The other day I posted, recommending against ABA entrepreneurs and therapy practices highlighting service quality as their unique value proposition.

A major reason for this is it often amounts to a relatively broad statement, not offering any clearly distinguishing differentiators from their competitors.

I wanted to follow up here with some insight into how someone might approach this from a more productive angle, if the concept of quality is central to your UVP messaging.

Evidence based care aims to improve quality of care and patient outcomes. It involves clinical decision making based on research evidence, clinical experience, and patient values and preferences.

For any one of those three components, one might pinpoint exactly what they do differently from a majority of their competitors – something that is objective and measurable – to enhance their overall delivery of evidence based care. I’d suggest trying to use language very specific to the actions taken, and not build your UVP statement around more general concepts and terms like “quality” or “better”.

As an example, you might identify certain standards you have for measuring patient feedback and even how that feedback might be used in improving services.

Or, maybe you identify how you integrate research into practice, and importantly how that contributes to meaningful improvements for those you serve.

Alternatively, you might highlight specific differences in the clinical experience your team brings to the table.

It’s important to be very clear about your value, and communicate it in a way that will be well received by your audience.

What are some other examples you can think of?

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post Evidence based practice: where ABA entrepreneurs CAN look to qualitative differences in their services in identifying their distinct market value appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

Staff retention is a critical factor for the success of ABA practice outcomes and consumer satisfaction

Partners Admin — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 22:34:17 +0000

Staff retention is a critical factor for the success of ABA practice outcomes and consumer satisfaction.

Here are 10 strategies to support and retain your ABA team:

1️⃣ Take active steps to make changes to priorities, policies, procedures, practices, and standards based on employee input and expertise. Many listen, but don’t actively include that feedback.

2️⃣ Build and offer individualized growth opportunities for employees.

3️⃣ Have balanced productivity expectations: Implementing performance systems that maximize productivity absent other considerations may favor short term outcomes over sustainable outcomes.

4️⃣ Competitive Compensation: Offering fair wages and benefits packages demonstrates that you value your staff and their expertise. This not only helps attract skilled professionals but also encourages them to stay with your practice long-term.

5️⃣ Professional Development: Providing ongoing training and development opportunities helps staff grow their skills, stay current with industry best practices, and feel motivated in their careers. Encourage and support your team in pursuing relevant certifications and attending conferences.

6️⃣ Mentorship and Supervision: Pairing new team members with experienced professionals for mentorship and supervision fosters a supportive work environment. This approach also promotes the exchange of knowledge and enhances the overall quality of service.

7️⃣ Transparency is key: Communicate with your employees. Help them understand the “hows” and “whys” around decisions that impact them.

8️⃣ Building meaningful relationships is an important part of showing your employees you value, respect, and care for them. As your company grows, it becomes increasingly difficult for owners to build these individual relationships with all employees, so it’s incumbent upon leadership to create a culture and systems for supporting this ideology between supervisees and supervisors, as well as between colleagues.

9️⃣ Building expenses associated with these strategies into a budget will help ensure the sustainability of changes you implement.

🔟 Treat your employees the way you want to be treated, but also, treat employees the way THEY want to be treated.

Keeping an engaged and happy staff leads to great patient AND business outcomes!

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post Staff retention is a critical factor for the success of ABA practice outcomes and consumer satisfaction appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.

ABA professionals face unique business challenges that go beyond clinical expertise

Partners Admin — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 22:00:39 +0000

ABA professionals face unique business challenges that go beyond clinical expertise.

Defining clinical quality and showing people you’ve delivered is a starting point. Running a successful ABA practice demands varied knowledge and skills beyond that.

Five common challenges are:

👉 Business and financial expertise

👉 Brand building / staff recruitment

👉 Culture creation / staff retention

👉 Insurance reimbursement and CPT coding

👉 Compliance standards

ABA professionals must stay current on these and other important facets of operating a practice in the current market.

❔ What are some other challenging areas you’re seeing? ❔

Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.

The post ABA professionals face unique business challenges that go beyond clinical expertise appeared first on Partners Behavioral Health.