Speech Therapist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Speech and Language Pathologist

Rehabilitation Department

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Director of Rehabilitation

Overview of the Position:

Provides and directs all aspects of quality patient care, including evaluation and treatment, treatment planning, goal setting, family education and documentation according to organizations guidelines, professional standards and community needs. Serves as a patient and rehabilitation advocate for current prospective patients, to all internal and external customers. Participates in quality assurance and customer service activities.

Essential Job Functions:

• Directs and supervises the work of assistants AND students as applicable with State and Federal guidelines.
• Follows all organizational and facility safety procedures regarding one's personal protection and patient safety.
• Expands and enhances self, in both clinical and professional knowledge through associations and continuing education.
• Keys information into computer systems, including EMR and rehab systems
• Supports and participates in department operations and development.
• Communicates patient status and needs to the patients, family, caregivers, or other members involved with patient care.

Job Functions:

• Evaluations are initiated per M.D. orders-payer authorization and facility/payer source guidelines.
• Develops treatment plan and provide treatment, consistent with benefit and reimbursement level for best functional outcome for patient.
• Educates staff, other health care professionals and third party payer on the benefits and functional outcomes of intervention.
• Appropriately and effectively completes documentation including evaluations, daily progress notes, summaries, or monthly reports as required.
• Screens all individuals who may benefit from therapeutic intervention.
• Uses professional judgment to ensure safety of self, patients and others at all times.
• Achieves quality patient care through interdisciplinary co-op, co-treatment, setting up protocols and programs.
• Attends continuing education seminars/workshops to keep abreast of new clinical skills, programs or techniques. Provides inservice training sessions or other educational presentations to company, team or facility in order to enhance one's clinical and professional knowledge and skills.
• Provides assistants and rehab techs clear directives concerning patients and treatment plans prior to initiation of patient care.
• Confers with Program Specialists and supervisor to develop and implement new programs/techniques to enhance program utilization.
• Maintains appropriate state licensure, certification and credentialing.
• Must be able to key information into computer systems
• Submits billing, payroll, and expense documentation in a timely manner.
• Makes appropriate referrals to other members of the rehab team.

Physical Capacities: (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination.
• Must be able to lift up and over 100 pounds with assistance according to resident's abilities.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and walk for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to travel to reach assigned destination in a reasonable time frame.
• Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull as needed especially in fulfilling resident care activities.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Education: Graduate of an approved curriculum in Speech and Language Pathology.

Is in good standing with all regulatory agencies and licensing boards.

Working knowledge of Medicare and other payor sources.

Full knowledge of resident's rights.


License: Current, active license as Speech Pathologist, and is able to practice unencumbered.

CPR Certification, as required for license renewal.

Work Experience: Experience in long term care preferred

Able to work on multiple tasks at the same time.


Language Skills:

• Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language.

Mathematical Skills:

• Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume.

Communication Skills:

• Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies.
• Exudes professionalism in presentation.

Environmental Conditions:

Inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.

HIPAA is a law that must be followed by all healthcare personnel at every level. This position is a Mandated Reporter regarding the suspicion of elder abuse and may have access to Protected Health Information (PHI).