Evidence- Based practice is crucial in our field, as we try to determine the best treatment plan for our clients. I agree with the integration of the components of evidence-based practice as a means of providing the best treatment. A clinician would be unable to provide the best treatment for his or her client if one component was missing. However, out of all three components, I believe client values and interests are very important. You can have all of the research and devise a treatment plan, but the client will not improve if he or she is uninterested. Therefore, it is important to know what kinds of toys and games he or she likes, and what their needs are.
The myth of clinicians staying current on every aspect of clinical practice was one I had a hard time with. I feel as though Nazareth College speech undergrads are highly motivated, and driven to want to learn as much at they can. But I know in reality, there are not enough minutes in a day and enough energy in the human to stay on top of every aspect.
In terms of evidence-based practice in the schools, I think it can be hard because SLP’s can very easily have a full caseload of students, on top of talking to parents, going to meetings, and planning. When is there time to do anything else? It seems to me that SLP’s have one of the hardest working jobs, yet it's the most fulfilling. Evidence-based practice is just another add on to our “to do lists.”
It seems as though time can be such a problem. It's a good thing because we will always be busy/employed. And I guess we're getting used to it now plus its good that we are all so organized and good at planning because it definitely does not end after we graduate, and may not even end when we are retired!!!
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