SPEECH THERAPIST

Full-Time Speech Language Pathologist

Speech Therapist needed to perform evaluation and treatment of patients in our pediatric outpatient setting. Will also have opportunities to evaluate and treat in the Inpatient, Long Term Care and Home Health setting with opportunities to expand programs. Benefits include: IPERS, Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Long Term Disability. PTO accrual begins first day of employment.

Job Relationships

Reports to: Director of Rehab Services

Supervises: Rehabilitation Aides, Speech Therapy Students, and Volunteers

Interrelationships: Works in conjunction with physicians, nurses, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other health care team members.

Job Overview

Responsible for the evaluation, planning, directing and administering of speech therapy treatments and modalities under the direction of a licensed physician. Administers treatments in an effort to restore function and prevent disability following injury, disease, or physical disability. Assists patients of all ages to reach their maximum performance and level of functioning, while learning to live within the limits of their capabilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:

• Provides quality care by assessing and interpreting evaluations and test results in order to develop effective speech therapy treatment plans
• Evaluates patient's speech, language, and swallowing abilities and level of function
• Helps meet the patient's goals and needs by administering appropriate exercises and speech therapy techniques in compliance with the state practice act.
• Supervises patient care and other appropriate tasks of therapy aides and other hospital staff.
• Evaluates effects of speech therapy treatments by observing, noting, and evaluating patient's progress and adjusting treatment plan as appropriate.
• Completes discharge planning by consulting with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care workers.
• Assures continuation of therapeutic plan following discharge by designing home exercise programs; instructing patients, families, and caregivers in home exercise programs; recommending and/or providing assistive equipment; recommending outpatient or home health follow-up programs.
• Documents patient care services in an accurate and timely manner by charting in patient and department records.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects hospital operations by keeping information confidential.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Complies with federal, state, and local legal and professional requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions.
• Completes other tasks and attends meetings as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Graduate of an accredited speech language pathology curriculum.

Licensure: Speech therapy licensure in Iowa or eligible for licensure in Iowa

Valid driver's license

CPR certification for Health Care Providers (or equivalent)

Experience: 3 years' experience as a Speech Therapist preferred

Skills/Abilities:

• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Basic knowledge of computer concepts
• Ability to meet time frames for work completion
• Effective skills for teamwork/team facilitation
• Ability to evaluate critically and think creatively
• Able to read and understand a variety of patient related documentation

Physical Demands

• Hearing: Adequate to perform job duties in person and over the telephone.
• Speaking: Must be able to communicate clearly to patients in person and over the telephone.
• Vision: Visual acuity adequate to perform job duties, including visual examination of patient and reading information from printed sources and computer screens.
• Other: Requires occasional lifting and carrying items weighing up to 30 pounds unassisted, including assisting patients when required.
• Adequate physical ability including sufficient manual dexterity to perform the requisite health care services.
• Requires frequent bending, reaching, repetitive hand movements, standing, walking, squatting and sitting, with some heavy lifting, pushing and pulling exerted regularly throughout a regular work shift.
• Exerting up to 50 to 75 pounds of force rarely, and/or up to 10-25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds constantly
• Transferring patients to and from various surfaces and equipment.
• Pushing patients in wheelchairs, gurneys, relaxer chairs and athletic equipment.
• Lifting and carrying of patient care equipment.
• Handling of patient care supplies and equipment
• Keyboarding and use of computer mouse and photocopying.
• Touching and palpating patients/athletes
• Listening to patients, school personnel, parents and other members of the health care team.
• Driving to and from assignments.

Mental Demands

• Heavy concentration nearly constant and involves pre-planning and a high degree of organization

Work Environment

• Moderate temperature and humidity, vapors and fumes occasionally
• Frequent handling of medical equipment
• Frequent patient contact with potential for frequent exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment.
• Frequent computer use

Equipment/Supplies Used

• Electronic and mechanical patient care equipment, office equipment

Protective Equipment

• Nitrile gloves, gait belt, gowns, mask when necessary