Speech-Language Pathologist - Pediatric Outpatient

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Organization:

Speech Pathology - Peds 4

Job Summary:

JOB SUMMARY
Evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognition, fluency, auditory (re)habilitation, and swallowing/oral feeding disorders. Educates and counsels patients and families. Provides independent therapeutic services and identify area(s) of clinical specialization and competency. Supervises graduate students as assigned in clinical specialty area. Participates actively in identifying and conducting quality improvement activities. Collaborates with clinical practice team to achieve patient outcomes and system objectives.

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Speech-Language Pathologist - Pediatric Outpatient

Locations (Split Position):

• Medical Center East (MCE), South Tower - Outpatient Services 1215 21st Ave South, Nashville, TN 37232

• Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center - Preschool for Children with Autism

This role is a 50/50 split between outpatient pediatric therapy and a preschool-based autism program.

Schedule: Full-Time | Monday-Friday

• No weekends

• No holidays

Help Young Children Find Their Voice at Vanderbilt Health

Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to join our outpatient pediatric rehabilitation team. This unique role blends individual outpatient therapy with preschool-based group treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ideal for an SLP who enjoys variety, collaboration, and supporting early communication development.

This position includes dedicated time within The Preschool for Children with Autism at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, along with individual outpatient pediatric speech therapy services.

Learn more about the Preschool for Children with Autism:

How You'll Spend Your Time

Approximately 50% - Preschool-Based Group Therapy

Provide group speech-language therapy within a classroom setting as part of The Preschool for Children with Autism, an intensive, communication-focused program for young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Co-treat alongside another experienced Speech-Language Pathologist
Provide group therapy to a small cohort of children focused on early communication, social interaction, and functional language development
Deliver care within a structured preschool classroom environment

Collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary team, including Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Feeding Therapists, Behavior Analyst Consultants, and specially trained teaching assistants

Preschool Schedule:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Classroom-based time consists of therapeutic group treatment and is considered direct clinical care.

Approximately 50% - Outpatient Pediatric Speech Therapy

The remainder of your schedule will focus on individual outpatient treatment and diagnostics, resulting in a primarily treatment-focused role.

Responsibilities include:

• Evaluating and treating children with speech, language, and cognitive-communication disorders (typically no more than 8 patients per day)

• Addressing developmental delays and pediatric communication challenges

• Developing individualized treatment plans aligned with child and family goals

• Providing caregiver education to support carryover at home

• Collaborating with pediatric providers and audiology professionals

• Documenting care in Epic in accordance with Vanderbilt Health standards

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited program

• ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) required at time of hire

• Current Tennessee SLP license or eligibility for licensure

• Minimum of one (1) year of post-Master's pediatric clinical experience in a school, outpatient, or rehabilitation setting

• Hands-on experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

This position is not open to Clinical Fellows (CFs), new graduates, or graduate clinicians.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with early childhood populations (birth-5)

• Familiarity with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and documentation skills

• Demonstrated success in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment

Please note: This role does not focus on feeding, swallowing, or voice therapy.

Why Vanderbilt Health

• Join a nationally recognized pediatric rehabilitation program

• Work in a highly collaborative, supportive interdisciplinary environment

• Day One benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and generous PTO

• Ongoing professional development and continuing education opportunities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* Analyzes comprehensive information from formal and informal assessment that is pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine a rehabilitation treatment diagnosis.
* Collaborates with stakeholders in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the rehabilitation continuum.
* Applies appropriate, evidence-based interventions to ensure effective outcomes and re-evaluates performance to assess patient's progress towards goals.
* Employs strategies to promote successful return to home, community, and school/vocational environments.
* Supervises graduate students by providing instruction, guidance/counsel and training to ensure provision of competent patient care and completion of appropriate documentation.
* The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
* Speech Pathology Treatment Implementation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency providing treatment consistent with physician prescription and established plan of care. Identifies treatment objectives based upon assessment results and family input. Writes functional objectives in measurable terms that are consistent with the family's goals and resources. Applies evidence based clinical management practices. Identifies and recommends additional/alternative services when appropriate.
* Speech Pathology Patient Evaluation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with speech-language, auditory, and/or swallowing/oral feeding deficits using the appropriate testing methods and equipment for the patient type, diagnosis, and reason for the referral. Demonstrates the ability to obtain the case history and selects appropriate measures and performs a functional assessment to document patient's status requiring skilled therapy. Interprets the results of the assessment and their significance for the patient, family, referring physician and other members of the health care team.
* Discharge Planning (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in the discharge planning process. Informs patients, family and members of team of the patient's needs based upon the assessment and/or treatment. Makes recommendations for continued services, follow-up, or referrals to other services. Seeks guidance consistently on the transition and discharge process including transition services and referral resources. May anticipate transition and discharge needs of the patient based upon understanding of pathology/diagnosis and relationship to their present functional status. Will have completed at least one year of experience with transition and discharge planning.
* Speech Pathology Patient & Family Education (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature. May supervise, educate and train students from professional programs of speech-language pathology.
* Rehab Therapist Patient Documentation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in documentation practices. Documents in the appropriate templates and utilizes only approved abbreviations within patient documentation. Meets institutional standards for quality and timeliness of documentation.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health's reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

LIC-Speech Pathologist - Tennessee

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

1 year

Education:

Master's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.