Speech Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologist

Providence at Home with Compassus is seeking a speech-language pathologist for home care services. The speech-language pathologist is responsible for speech therapy evaluations, treatment planning, implementation, and discharge planning for clients in the home setting in accordance with established facility/agency policies while maintaining the highest degree of quality client care. As a member of the multi-disciplinary Homecare team, the speech-language pathologist assumes responsibility for communication of client related issues for appropriate team members or other agency staff and participates in the collection and evaluation of data necessary to assess the appropriateness of care at home.

The Homecare Speech-language pathologist works with the clients and family in the home setting without direct supervision.

Position Specific Responsibilities:

• Evaluates physical and functional status as well as cognitive, psychological and perceptual function to determine the client's capabilities to function safely at home.
• The home and family/caregiver are assessed for safety risks, and ability to support and care for the client at home.
• Results are utilized to develop a therapy plan of care in collaboration with the client's physician.
• The plan of care is communicated with the multidisciplinary Homecare team to form a collaborative client care plan.
• Provides care in accordance with physician orders and the established plan of care.
• Assesses the effectiveness of treatment and modifies treatment to achieve goals.
• Demonstrates an ability to treat the wide range of diagnoses and be knowledgeable in therapy treatments, goals and contraindications for treatment.
• Treatments are adapted to the unique home setting and to the client and/or caregiver's ability to follow through safely and correctly.
• Requests consultation supervision or continuing education when appropriate, to learn specialized techniques or treatment approaches.
• Provides client/family education and counseling regarding issues related to rehabilitation treatments and goals, safety risks and/or other issues within scope of practice.
• Teaches home exercise programs and compensatory techniques or skills for managing ongoing physical or functional deficits in the home.
• Provides case management of the client's care plan and provides supervision and ongoing coordination of services and resources as indicated in the client's care plan.
• Communicates pertinent medical and clinical information to the client's physician, including information regarding the client's care plan, implementation of changes per physician order and assuring adequate medical follow-up.
• Also communicates pertinent information to team members, supervisor, and facility/agency staff and external sources as appropriate.
• Plans for discharge.
• Participates in team reassessments and discharge planning.
• Teaches client or family discharge therapy program.
• Recommends and facilitates appropriate medical and/or rehabilitation followed up once Homecare services have been discontinued.
• May provide bereavement visits to family members.
• Evaluates, recommends and assists in obtaining adaptive equipment such as communication devices.
• Fabricates adaptive equipment as needed.
• Adapts equipment and techniques for use to the home setting assuring optimum function and safety.
• Provides consultation or makes appropriate referrals regarding resources and barriers in the community.
• Independently manages own case load, plans and schedules home visits coordinating with other team members as needed to maximize effectiveness of overall care plan.
• Organizes weekly schedule to attend required meetings within schedule of client care needs.
• Responds to urgent client needs by prioritizing and triaging treatments.
• Communicates schedule and work plan to scheduling coordinator, supervisor and other team members as appropriate.
• Organizes and coordinates transfer of client information for coverage during absences or if transferring client care to another clinician within or outside of the Agency.
• Educates agency staff, hospital staff and community resources regarding Speech therapy services in the home.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of homecare nursing, MSW, HHA and other rehabilitation disciplines in order to make appropriate referrals for those services.
• Instructs and supervises home health aide in rehabilitation programs to be carried out by the home health aide including functional skill techniques, exercise and activity programs needed to achieve rehabilitation goals.
• Instructs other disciplines in the rehabilitation techniques to reinforce in order to reach goals.
• Participates in agency in-service programs and community continuing education needed to remain clinically current in evaluation and treatment techniques.
• Provides in-services to Homecare staff regarding new treatment or techniques learned.
• Documents all evaluations, treatment and coordination of care contacts in appropriate agency format.
• Completes documentation on the day of the visit per the agency time guidelines for completing documentation.
• Documentation reflects good clinical documentation as well as meeting agency billing and reimbursement requirements.
• Meets agency productivity standards established for Speech therapy.
• Uses time efficiently and effectively.
• Attends required team and rehabilitation meetings.
• Participates in agency committees as assigned by supervisor.
• Participate in agency program planning, gives input to program policy discussions particularly in those areas impacting client care.
• Demonstrates good working knowledge of multiple funding source regulations.
• Understands and integrates homecare certification, accreditation and licensing regulations into clinical practice as indicated.
• Observes safety and infection control policies.
• Has a working knowledge of agency and hospital policies and procedures and follows accepted policies and procedures in performance of clinical care and job duties.
• Supervises students assigned by the supervisor.
• Participates in the orientation of new Homecare staff members by orienting them to the unique clinical practice of their discipline in the home setting.
• When providing services for clients in settings other than a private home, i.e. Adult Family Home, Nursing Home or other, coordinates care, provides consultation and training, and meets additional documentation requirements specific to that setting.

Education and/or Experience:

• Required - Bachelor's Degree Speech Pathology
• Preferred - Master's Degree Speech Pathology
• Required - 2 years Speech Therapy experience with adults with physical disabilities.
• Preferred - 3 years Speech Therapy experience in home care or in related rehabilitation setting.

Skills:

• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from leaders, team members, investors, and external parties. Strong written and verbal communications.
• Language Skills: Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. Articulates and embraces integrated healthcare at home philosophy.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to follow appropriate communications channels.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Demonstrated knowledge of phone etiquette.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Demonstrates competency by maintaining positive, collaborative, and constructive interpersonal relationships.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Understands and practices the principles of effective teamwork.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Demonstrates ability to prioritize work assignments and meet productivity and quality standards.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Adapts easily to changes in work assignments and environment, is willing to assume additional responsibility and learn new procedures.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Effective organizational skills.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Access to daily use of an insured reliable vehicle or an alternate ability to travel to sites as required.

Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations:

• Required within 30 days of hire: National Provider BLS - American Heart Association (Vendor Managed)
• Required within 30 days of hire: National Provider Identifier (NPI) number
• WA: Required upon hire: Washington Speech Language Pathologist License (Vendor Managed)

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The demands of this role necessitate a team member to effectively perform essential functions. Adaptations can be made to accommodate team members with disabilities. Regular standing, walking, and manual dexterity are fundamental,