Patologo(a) del Habla

About the role

The Speech Pathologist position at HHA is exempt, with the purpose of assisting in the daily operations of the Home Care Clinical Services department; evaluating, documenting, and providing speech pathology services to Best Option Healthcare patients, as well as reviewing the norms and procedures manual, creating educational materials, updating protocols to comply with new practice guidelines and Medicare standards, coordinating trainings for contracted contractor speech pathologists, as necessary, among other responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for conducting comprehensive evaluations of assigned patients initially, follow-up, or recertification, using critical judgment and clinical skills, based on practice standards and identified needs of each patient, family, and community.
• Completes OASIS at all times for assigned patients.
• Performs vital signs measurement and analysis, documents during each patient estimate, takes necessary measures, and notifies the attending physician.
• Develops and implements care plans and treatments for each assigned patient, considering identified needs and limitations that may affect achieving goals or objectives for the patient/family.
• Plans, controls, and executes speech pathology care using standardized tools and interpreting them to achieve positive results, according to each patient's need.
• Coordinates interdisciplinary actions and interventions, taking into account detected needs from initial evaluation and integrating additional disciplines as necessary.
• Assists and initiates patient and family education about admission to HHA services, rights and obligations, HIPAA, fall prevention, and effective recovery orientations, as well as family emergency plans.
• Collects and documents activities carried out, as well as identified problems and needs in the patient's home, maintaining constant communication with the interdisciplinary team and attending physician, prioritizing the patient's wellbeing.
• Complies with aseptic and sterile work principles, executing established Best Option Healthcare protocols.
• Advises colleagues on care planning to obtain positive outcomes in rehabilitation and recovery of the patient.
• Participates in interdisciplinary case discussions and meetings.
• Conducts initial diagnostic evaluations, prevents and rehabilitates following aseptic and infection control guidelines, determining the most appropriate treatment according to professional protocols.
• Documents and obtains necessary signatures and consents for reevaluations, transfers, and discharges based on the needs of assigned patients.
• Utilizes knowledge of the following diagnoses: Speech Disorders (Apraxia/ Dysarthria/ Articulation/Voice/Tourette's), Language Problems (Aphasias and Cognitive Deficits) and Swallowing Problems.
• Maintains continuous updates through participation in continuing education.
• Assists and performs other tasks as assigned.

Authority and Critical Thinking

Usual and regular, the Speech Pathologist position at HHA exercises a moderate level of authority and critical thinking independently regarding the performance of tasks and functions assigned to the same, following the practice standards of PR.

Education

Master's degree in Speech Pathology.

Experience

1 to 2 years of experience in intervention with Home Care, Hospitals.

Competencies

• Ability to apply holistic care knowledge to patient care.
• Extensive service skills as a Speech Pathologist.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge and skills in electronic documentation on computer.
• Empathy, professionalism, values, responsibility, confidentiality, motivation, and trust.

Mental Effort

Work that includes complex activities, requiring problem detection, solution, and adjustment or alteration of work methods for the performance of this. Ability to handle extensive documentation where concentration, reading, comparison, and writing of more than 60% of the time is required in the performance of the position.

Physical Effort

Work that includes activities and effort requiring exertion of less than 50 pounds of force. Ability to stand for 60% to 100% of the time in the performance of the position. Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds or more approximately 15% of the time in the performance of the position.

Vision

Work that requires acute attention, concentration, or fixation of the eyes. Ability to focus and read documents of moderate to extensive content more than 60% of the time in the performance of the position.

Certifications or Licenses

The Speech Pathologist position at HHA requires possessing a license approved by the Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists, Speech-Language Pathologists & Therapists board, as well as having an active annual license from the Health Professionals Board.

Languages

• Write, read, and speak Spanish 100% of the time.
• Write and read English approximately between 25% to 50% of the time.

Travel

The Speech Pathologist position at HHA requires travel in the performance of its functions and responsibilities. Being capable of driving safely and responsibly in one's own vehicle.

Contact External Contacts

The Speech Pathologist position at HHA in the performance of its functions interacts with the following external contacts: Doctors, Social Workers, Nursing Staff, Pharmacy, Assignment Officers, Care Coordinators, Clinical Supervisors, and Equipment Distributors.

Confidential Information Management

The Speech Pathologist position at HHA in the performance of its functions has access to protected patient information.

Equipment to Use

The Speech Pathologist position at HHA requires the ability to use: laptop/tablet, glucometer, thermometer, pulse oximeter, scale, blood pressure monitor, and other office equipment.