Janet Little, MPH, RD, LDN
Nutrition Consultant
Why did you decide to become a solo practitioner?
I decided to become a solo practitioner just this year, 2005. I was looking for more hours of work and found two clients I could get only if I were a solo practitioner: Mary Ellen Convalescent Home in Hellertown and Berks County Senior Citizens Project in Berks County.
I have more information about these clients in the “What do RDs/DTRs do?” section in the PA Career Information Page.
How did you become a solo practitioner?
I knew how to become a solo practitioner; I had taken a small business course at Lehigh Carbon Community College in 2002, recording this six-week course in my portfolio for CDR.
The instructor, Jodi Bear-Bernecker, President, Strategic Financial Solutions, Inc., was very accessible. Jodi came to my house to review the necessary forms and tax returns for a small fee.
I used my own name when setting myself up as a solo practitioner with the State of Pennsylvania named Janet K. Little, MPH, RD, LDN. Using a fictitious name would have cost $80.00, so I filed the name above, my own, at no cost, with the PA Department of Business. I also paid a $35.00 fee to my township to have a home office. I literally went to the township building with a blank check. I haven’t yet filed income tax, but know to complete the Schedule C (Form 1040), Form 8829 (Expenses for Business Use of Your Home) and Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax.) I made sure I had malpractice insurance. I received information for this from the ADA.
Did you take out a small business loan from a bank?
I did not take out a loan as I had minimal expenses; I already had a computer, car and diet analysis program.
How has your family helped you?
They do not help with the services I provide these clients but have taught me how to use our data processing system. These services would be an expense if not for them. In the 1980s, I directed installations of physicians’ billing systems but these were primary processors attached to main frames, not personal computers. I never did the actual keypunching. I cannot emphasize enough the help I had from my husband, Trevor Little, an engineer at Agere, who built our personal computer system. Our daughters, Elizabeth and Evelyn, helped me develop documents as they learned about word processing programs and the Internet in elementary school. Graduates of dietetics programs today will be comfortable with this aspect of business.
What business expenses are you going to write off your income tax?
We just bought a new car, but I was advised by Jodi not to write the cost against my taxes. I do keep track of my mileage and will record it on my tax return. I also plan to designate a percentage of the space of our living room, as for my home office.
Did you take advantage of benefits an ADA offers?
No, I did not enroll in benefits such as life insurance, health insurance but have Marsh, malpractice insurance, recommended by the ADA. But, I like the fact that these benefits are available as employment is volatile these days; my husband’s company lays off thousands of people every so often.
One ADA benefit was joining the dietetic practice group Consultant Dietitians in Health Care Facilitities, CD-CHF. I plan to join the PA CD-CHF also. Once I gained my first clinical client, Mary Ellen, I immediately joined CD-CHF DPG and purchased their book Pocket Resource for Nutrition Assessment. I also purchased Food Medication Interactions from PA author Zaneta Pronsky. I could not do this job without these two resources. I am glad to be an ADA member.
Do you like having your own practice?
Yes. I find it rewarding to impact the health of people by tailoring nutrition care to their needs. I enjoy developing systems concerning food more than dealing with billing systems. You can tell I love to create forms on the computer, especially the weekly invoice that have my name on it! Depositing the gross income is satisfying, too, but I know I will pay back a percentage of it to the IRS come next April. So, I leave funds in my account for that purpose.
How many hours do you work at Mary Ellen?
Now, I work between 5 – 8 hours per week if it is clinical only for this 48-bed family-owned facility. At first, it was at least 8 hours per week. I streamlined my operations and maintain an ongoing resident weight spreadsheet. If I can create a spreadsheet, I can do anything! The weekly Resident Care Conference used to take an inordinately long time. But, now that we are refusing to be interrupted by other staff, our meetings do not take as long. When I develop menus and diet extensions twice a year or develop a new intake form for them, I work many more hours.
Are you going to take on more clients?
I would entertain but am not actively looking for more clients because I need to set aside time to fulfill my duties as president-elect for the state dietetic association. Also, I develop two menus three times a year for Berks County and that takes time.
How did you gain the knowledge to become a consultant?
My education includes a Bachelor of Science in Community Dietetics from Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA; a Certification of Dietetics from Emory University in Atlanta, GA; and a Masters in Public Health, Population Studies from University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, TX. I mentioned that I took a small business course at the local community college.
Where did you learn about nutrition services for senior living?
I gained experience in senior living during 2000-2004. Pat Sullivan, whom I met when we served on the board of directors of the Lehigh Valley Dietetic Association (LVDA) together, invited me to work for Cura Hospitality on an “as needed” basis. You might wonder why a middle-aged woman with a master’s degree would accept an entry-level position. But, the position was ideal as I was unable to work steady hours due to family obligations. The office was beautiful and only six miles from our house. Also, I am practical; I didn’t know how to do these things – I had never used a fax machine or operate a copy machine that didn’t have knobs. In Pennsylvania, with a senior citizens population second only to that of Florida and a state-supported policy to build senior living centers, senior living is a good industry to learn. And, I learned that I enjoy it!
The truth is, it takes a dietitian to use diet analysis software. For four years, I analyzed as many as fourteen menus twice a year for stand-alone clients and chains of senior living facilities and analyzed recipes using Three Squares. Cura hires some pretty fantastic chefs who plan tasty food items for the menu. I input extensions on Excel. I input and returned menus on Geri-Menu. I edited policy and procedures manuals in Word. In fact, learning about the details of today’s word processing programs from an executive secretary and from a student working for us in 2003, (Jennifer Turoscy, now a RD) has helped me in my business. Using Excel, I was able to adapt documents to make my own invoice, spreadsheet for hours worked, resident weights, food and liquid completion records, and diet extensions.
I streamlined these processes to a point where Cura’s managers were able to enfold them into their duties at the senior living facilities. Though I was no longer needed at the corporate office, I could take those skills and serve my own clients. I still work for Cura part-time, visiting seven assisted living centers and am on call for Philadelphia University.
At Cura, I did do clinical work to fill in during vacations, a far cry from the consistent support I now offer Mary Ellen. So, joining the CD-CHF as I mentioned above was critical. I conferred with RDs I knew worked in long term care. After filling leadership roles in my local and state dietetic association for ten years, I knew a lot of dietitians. I used the PADA List Serve when researching the pros and cons of purchasing already thickened liquids. Ten RDs answered my question. I compiled their answers into a document in Word I gave to the RNAC, an effective way to share information. I combined their email addresses into a mail group called “Thickened Liquids” and email them often!
How can a RD contact your business advisor?
Jodi Bear-Bernecker, President
Strategic Financial Solutions, Inc.
9264 Steinsville Road
Kempton, PA 19529
610-756-3663
JoMBearB@aol.com
(Click here for more information about Jan Little.)
|
