Speech Language Pathologist/Therapist

General Purpose:

Provides services for the purpose of diagnosing and treating speech and language disorders which result in communication disabilities, and for the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders (dysphagia), as well as auditory rehabilitation. The treatment and intervention provided is in accordance with the patient’s plan of care, accepted standards of professional practice, applicable law and regulation, as well as applicable Interim HealthCare policies, procedures and clinical pathways.

Essential Functions

• Assist the physician or other licensed independent practitioner in evaluating the patient’s level of communication deficit, hearing and swallowing function, as well as in developing the resulting plan of care/treatment including appropriate long term treatment goals, selection of interventions, and the intensity, frequency and duration of services to meet the needs of an individual patient.
• Completes initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments at appropriate time points as assigned.
• Selects and teaches task-oriented therapeutic activities designed to improve comprehension and production of language in oral, signed or written modalities; speech and voice production; auditory training; speech reading; and communication strategies using multi-modal training (e.g. visual, auditory-visual, and tactile).
• Regularly assess changes in the patient’s status since the last visit/treatment day, and determine whether the planned services should be modified, performing a re-evaluation and obtaining revision orders from the physician as indicated.
• Prepares and submits timely, legible, relevant and sufficient documentation – whether written or electronic – of treatment and skilled intervention provided, as well appropriate reports of a patient’s progress toward goals in accordance with professional standards of practice, policy and procedures, and payor requirements.
• Advises and consults with the family and/or other caregivers to promote patient progress and planning for discharge.
• Participates in educating the patient and the family, and other caregivers to promote patient progress toward mutually established goals.
• Actively effectively communicates with other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team providing care in order to promote coordination of patient care and planning for discharge.
• Visually and auditorially observes and assesses the patient.
• Participates in quality and performance improvement measures
• Participates in in-service training, as requested.
• Completes other assignments as requested and assigned.
• Has access to personal health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities. Access to use and ability to disclose PHI is further defined by each organization.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Master’s or doctoral degree in speech language pathology, and who meets either of the following requirements:
• licensed as a speech-language pathologist by the State in which the individual furnishes such services; or
• In the case of an individual who furnishes services in a State which does not license speech-language pathologists:
• Has successfully completed 350 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum (or is in the process of accumulating such supervised clinical experience);
• Performed not less than 9 months of supervised full-time speech-language pathology services after obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree in speech-language pathology or a related field; and
• Successfully completed an approved national examination in speech-language pathology.
• In the last five (5) years, two (2) years of experience as a speech language pathologist that is relevant to the patient population assigned.
• Provide proof of valid driver’s license, per organization-specific policy.
• Provide proof of valid auto liability insurance if assignment(s) includes driving own vehicle to transport patient, per organization-specific policy.
• Meets applicable state and federal health screening requirements.
• Pass federal and state required criminal and abuse background checks where required.
• Verification of employment eligibility (I-9) in accordance with local, state, and federal law and regulations

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Able to read and interpret technical instructions related to the care of the patient.
• Able to provide proof of current CPR certification, per organization-specific policy.
• Able to prioritize multiple functions or tasks to effectively manage multiple changes based on patient needs and scheduling.
• Meets the applicable health requirements to provide patient care per applicable law or regulation.

Working Conditions & Physical Effort

• Work is normally performed in a residence, aggregate living facility, school or occupational setting.
• Work environment involves occasional exposure to communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens and/or potentially infectious or hazardous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment (e.g. face masks, goggles, latex or non-latex gloves).
• Able to spend varying amounts of time sitting, standing and walking.
• Able to stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, kneel and reach freely.
• Able to lift, reposition, and transfer patients.
• Sufficient endurance to perform the required physical and mental tasks over long periods of time.
• Able to constantly grasp with thumb in opposition to fingers of palm, i.e. manipulate pen, knobs or objects.
• Visual acuity, dexterity and hearing to perform required skills.
• Ability to work flexible schedule and/or evening hours as needed.
• Physical activity is sedentary and may require occasional lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 10 lbs.
• Travel within geographic area serviced by office, if applicable.
• Able to travel locally from assignment to assignment, if applicable.