What should an SLP do upon realizing her license expired while seeing patients?

When a speech-language pathologist (SLP) realizes that their license has expired while seeing patients, the most appropriate course of action is to inform the practice administrator. This step ensures that proper protocols are followed regarding patient care and safety, maintaining the professional standards required in the healthcare field. It allows the practice to take necessary actions to address the situation, such as verifying the status of the license and determining how to proceed with patient care.

Taking this action reflects the SLP's ethical responsibility to ensure that patients receive treatment from a licensed professional and may prevent potential legal or ethical complications that could arise from continuing to provide services without a valid license. Engaging the practice administrator also supports the overall functioning of the practice by ensuring that policies regarding licensing are upheld.

Continuing to see patients without a valid license would be unethical and potentially harmful to both the patients and the SLP. Discontinuing treatment documentation does not address the core issue of providing care without proper licensure. Reassigning patients to another licensed SLP may be part of the solution, but it should come after the practice administrator has been informed and a decision is made regarding patient care.