Speech Language Pathologist

General Purpose

The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) evaluates, diagnoses, and treats residents with speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. The SLP collaborates with physicians, nursing staff, rehabilitation professionals, residents, families, and interdisciplinary team members to improve communication abilities, cognitive functioning, swallowing safety, and overall quality of life. This role is responsible for providing evidence-based therapy services, developing individualized treatment plans, and ensuring compliance with regulatory, professional, and organizational standards within a skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or post-acute care setting.

Responsibilities

Evaluation & Treatment

• Conduct comprehensive evaluations of residents' speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication, and swallowing abilities.
• Assess communication deficits, cognitive impairments, dysphagia, and functional communication needs using standardized and clinical assessment tools.
• Develop individualized treatment plans and establish measurable short-term and long-term therapy goals based on assessment findings and resident needs.
• Provide direct therapy services for speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders.
• Implement evidence-based therapeutic interventions and compensatory techniques to improve communication, cognition, and swallowing function.
• Monitor resident progress and modify treatment approaches as needed to maximize functional outcomes.
• Evaluate the need for adaptive communication devices, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, and other assistive technologies.

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate with nursing staff, dietary services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physicians, and other interdisciplinary team members to provide coordinated resident care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care plan meetings, care conferences, discharge planning meetings, and resident reviews.
• Educate residents, families, caregivers, and staff regarding therapy goals, communication strategies, swallowing precautions, and safety recommendations.
• Provide recommendations regarding dietary modifications, feeding techniques, and dysphagia management plans.
• Communicate resident progress, treatment outcomes, and clinical recommendations to the healthcare team.
• Support resident-centered care through effective communication and advocacy.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation of evaluations, treatment sessions, progress reports, recertifications, discharge summaries, and other required clinical records.
• Ensure documentation supports medical necessity, therapy outcomes, reimbursement requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Comply with Medicare, Medicaid, PDPM, managed care, and third-party payer requirements.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA and CMS standards.
• Assist with therapy record management, billing processes, audits, and regulatory reviews.
• Participate in quality assurance and compliance monitoring activities as required.

Professional Development & Quality Improvement

• Remain current with evidence-based practices, clinical research, regulatory changes, and advancements in speech-language pathology.
• Participate in continuing education programs, professional development activities, and competency training.
• Support Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives related to rehabilitation and resident outcomes.
• Contribute to departmental goals, clinical excellence programs, and performance improvement efforts.
• Serve as a clinical resource regarding communication disorders, dysphagia management, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Resident & Family Education

• Provide education and training to residents and caregivers regarding communication strategies, swallowing precautions, home exercises, and compensatory techniques.
• Assist families in understanding therapy goals, resident progress, and discharge recommendations.
• Promote resident participation and engagement in therapeutic activities that support communication and cognitive functioning.
• Provide guidance regarding adaptive communication tools and strategies to maximize independence.

Qualifications

• Regular and reliable attendance is required to perform the essential functions of this position.
• Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited program.
• Current, unrestricted state licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) preferred or as required by state regulations.
• Experience in skilled nursing, post-acute care, rehabilitation, long-term care, or related healthcare settings preferred.
• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, CMS regulations, PDPM, managed care, and third-party payer documentation requirements.
• Strong clinical skills in the evaluation and treatment of speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, and swallowing disorders.
• Ability to develop, implement, and modify individualized therapy programs effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and education skills.
• Competence in electronic medical records (EMR), therapy documentation, and rehabilitation software platforms.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and clinical decision-making abilities.
• Commitment to evidence-based, resident-centered care and continuous quality improvement.
• Current CPR certification preferred or as required by state regulations or facility policy.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Facility-based work performed in skilled nursing, rehabilitation, post-acute, and long-term care environments.
• Requires standing, walking, bending, reaching, and occasional assistance with residents during therapy sessions.
• Ability to manage multiple residents and prioritize clinical responsibilities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to perform clinical assessments, therapeutic activities, and operation of therapy-related equipment.
• Exposure to resident care-related conditions requiring adherence to infection prevention and safety protocols.
• Visual and auditory acuity sufficient to assess communication abilities, swallowing function, resident performance, documentation, and treatment outcomes.
• Must be able to lift, transfer, push, pull, or support up to 75 pounds, with or without assistance, when necessary to safely perform resident care activities.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Direct resident-facing work performed in resident rooms, therapy gyms, treatment areas, dining areas, and common spaces.
• Frequent interaction with residents, families, physicians, nursing personnel, therapy staff, dietary staff, and interdisciplinary healthcare team members.
• Occasional exposure to bodily fluids, infectious materials, and medical equipment during resident care activities.
• Work may involve standing, walking, bending, lifting, positioning residents, and participating in swallowing assessments and therapy sessions.
• Environment requires adherence to infection prevention standards, safety protocols, and proper use of therapy equipment.
• Collaborative and fast-paced rehabilitation setting focused on improving communication, cognitive function, swallowing safety, independence, and quality of life.

Disclaimer

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.