Speech Language Pathologist - Acute Care

Speech Language Pathologist

We are currently seeking a Speech Language Pathologist to join our acute care team. This fulltime role will work Monday to Friday and will include weekend rotations based on the department rotation. Preferred candidates will have experience with modified barium swallows, cognitive-linguistic in a level 1 trauma center. Purpose of this position: Under general supervision, an employee in this job class performs work in a licensed professional position providing diagnostic, treatment, and education services to patients with communication and swallowing disorders of functional or organic etiologies.

Responsibilities:

• Provide direct clinical services utilizing a wide range of standardized and impressionistic techniques to evaluate patients with communication, cognitive, and swallowing disorders (e.g., aphasia, apraxia of speech, dysarthria, oropharyngeal dysphagia, specific reading or writing disorders, impaired visual or auditory perception, and disorders of articulation of speech, fluency (stuttering), alaryngeal speech or vocal quality). Includes patients across the age spectrum from neonates to geriatric.
• Upon completion of competency training, use instrumentation such as video fluoroscopy, endoscopy or stroboscopy to observe, collect data and measure parameters of communication and swallowing and when clinically appropriate, application of a topical decongestant and/or anesthetic to the patient prior to instrumentation.
• Plan and administer a speech-language, cognitive and/or swallowing plan of care.
• Document progress through daily progress notes and care plan summaries per department standards.
• Provide education and counseling within speech pathology scope of practice for patients and/or family members.
• Document the initial evaluation results, progress notes/treatment summaries and/or discharge summaries for outpatients within 48 hours of the appointment. Inpatient documentation completed on day of service.
• Confer with providers, nurses and team members from other disciplines as indicated to provide coordinate, high quality patient care.
• Complete daily charge entry, inpatient check in and any billing requirements pertaining to specific payers per department standards.
• Provide supervision/mentoring for speech pathology graduate students and Clinical Fellows.
• Represent the speech pathology department on committees as assigned.
• Coordinate patient care with other clinical team members ensuring optimal care and communication, as noted in the clinical record.
• Strive for excellent patient hand offs when sharing cases or following single day or weekend coverage.
• Participate in LEAN process improvement as it relates to patient care and department workflow.
• Orient and mentor new staff members.
• Maintain and enhance personal knowledge, as well as promoting professional standards in speech language pathology. (Maintain MDH Licensure by reporting 30+ hours of approved continuing education every 2 years. Maintain Certificate of Clinical Competence by reporting 30+ hours of approved continuing education every 3 years.)