Speech Pathologist

DEPARTMENT: SWHR Rehab Services

F ACILITY: Southwell Medical

WORK TYPE: PRN

S HIFT: Varied

SUMMARY

The Speech Pathologist works as part of the acute care rehabilitation team that provides therapy to patients in the acute care setting. The therapist performs evaluations, treatments, and documentation requirements in accordance with professional standards. The population of patient diagnoses to be seen include but are not limited to neurological, ICU-level, general medical-surgical, and pediatric patients. The therapist also participates in other departmental duties and activities as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs initial and ongoing speech, cognitive, and swallowing evaluations according to ASHA standards of practice.
• Evaluates the current level of patient function and set realistic goals to improve in the areas that are scaled to patient abilities.
• Develops and implements an individualized plan of care for each patient based on initial and ongoing evaluation; this will include treatment techniques, goals, frequency, and duration of treatment.
• Documents patient progress according to approved medical documentation and facility documentation procedures.
• Provides education to patients and caregivers based on the needs of each patient.
• Reports patient progress to patients, caregivers, and other members of the healthcare team involved in the care of the patient.
• Provides initial and ongoing recommendations for patient discharge based on the needs of each patient.
• Consults and collaborates with other healthcare professionals routinely.
• Works with staff in development of professional skills, new programs, and patient treatment plans.
• Delivers quality speech and swallowing therapy to both inpatients and outpatients referred to speech pathology.
• Fulfills all operational responsibilities of the department including supervision and direction of supportive personnel and students.
• Ensures evaluations and treatments are performed as ordered in a safe and timely manner.
• Ensures all patient charges are entered at the end of each business day.
• Reports significant alterations in patient’s condition of behavior to patient’s physician.
• Demonstrates competence in reporting victims of abuse according to organization standards and state and local laws.
• Demonstrates and discusses with each patient/family the ability to formulate realistic and appropriate short and long-term goals.
• Collaborates with inter-disciplinary members to develop the most appropriate treatment plan consistent with the needs and level of functioning of each patient.
• Develops home programs individualized to meet the needs of the patient/family, and instructs the patient and family in these programs.
• Consistently makes an effort to obtain information for physicians and guests when appropriate.
• Provides patients/family assistance with preparing and submitting forms for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
• Collaborates with other professionals, as appropriate, for case management.
• Collaborates with nursing/extenders regarding safe feeding practices.
• Intercedes for the patient when dietary revisions are necessary to prevent aspiration.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Demonstrates knowledge of infection control processes.
• Demonstrates knowledge of restraint procedures within scope of practice.
• Keeps abreast of pertinent federal, and state regulations and laws and Tift Regional Health System, Inc. (“TRHS”) policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Understands and adheres to: TRHS’ compliance standards as they appear in TRHS’s Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy; and HIPAA and TRHS policies regarding privacy and security of protected health information.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform tasks that meet the age-specific requirements of the persons, patients, vendors, and staff that the employee is charged to interact with as required by the position.
• Offers suggestions on ways to improve operations of department and reduce costs.
• Attends all mandatory education programs.
• Improves self-knowledge through voluntarily attending continuing education/certification classes.
• Maintains required competency levels as identified in written exams, skills checklists, skills labs, annual safety and health requirements as well as service excellence education hours requirements.
• Cross-trains in order to better assist co-workers and to provide maximum efficiency in the department.
• Volunteers/participates on hospital committees, functions, and department projects.
• Manages resources effectively.
• Reports equipment in need of repair in order to extend life of equipment and removes malfunctioning equipment out of service with timely reporting to the appropriate personnel.
• Makes good use of time so as to not create needless overtime.

EDUCATION

• Diploma in Speech Language Pathology

CREDENTIALS

• SPEECH THERAPIST

OTHER INFORMATION:

Must maintain current license as a Speech Pathologist in the State of Georgia. Must maintain certification by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Experience in acute care preferred.

Southwell/Tift Regional Health System, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.