Speech Language Pathologist - Per Diem

Qualifications

• Graduate of an ASHA accredited master's program in speech-language pathology
• Connecticut License or requirements met to begin a Supervised Professional Experience in speech-language pathology
• ASHA certificate of clinical competence or eligibility in speech language pathology
• Certification in the diagnosis and management of cognitive communication and swallowing disorders
• Valid driver's license (NBU only)

Job Summary

The speech-language pathologist is a member of an interdisciplinary team responsible for accurate diagnosis and quality management of cognitive, communication and swallowing disorders. He/She is also responsible for communicating relevant information to others and providing education to staff, patients, and families as necessary.

Physical Demands

• Carrying of documents, books, materials or small equipment
• Transport, transfer or assistance in lifting of patients
• Frequent walking, standing, sitting during many treatment sessions or meetings usually no more than ninety minutes
• Reaching and bending to access file drawers or cabinets
• Participation in physical restraint of patients
• Lifting and carrying of children
• Manual dexterity to write, type, or use computer, cut, manipulate materials including toys and equipment, feed patients, and provide oral motor manipulation
• Endurance for up to one and one-half hour periods of constant sitting and one hour periods of independent mobility
• Occasional need to initiate body position changes such as climbing, squatting, kneeling or crawling
• Lifting or carrying objects up to 10 pounds continuously, to 50 pounds occasionally
• Possibility of pushing/pulling over 60 pounds occasionally throughout the day for patient transport
• Intact/corrected vision needed for observation of patient's non-verbal responses
• Able to tolerate up to four hours of consecutive work

Cognitive Demands

• Independent problem identification
• Abstract reasoning and adaptability to new situations, changing environments and information and quick decision-making are required
• A high degree of selective attention, discernment, perception, and/or concentration in the presence of noise/distraction is necessary
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information, to discriminate relevant from irrelevant information and to determine prognosis through interpretation of information
• Ability to learn new techniques and apply knowledge of injury, deficits, and prognosis to therapeutic intervention, discharge planning, and communication with patient/family and treatment team
• Able to apply theory to functional context and demonstrate reading and auditory comprehension of abstract information and an ability to make inferences
• Able to demonstrate writing proficiency including attention to detail, adherence to all elements of style and ability to postulate
• A working knowledge and familiarity with medical terms and definitions is required
• A working knowledge of current Medicare guidelines and requirements for documentation and billing is required
• Able to communicate with multiple parties including expression of abstract/complex ideas, use of negotiation and active listening and an ability to dialogue
• Able to modify communication skills to the listener's level of ability or readiness to comprehend
• Able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide with all units of measure, and the ability to perform these operations with common and decimal fractions
• Able to compute ratio, rate and percent and perform arithmetic operations involving all American monetary units
• Able to manipulate test scores and related statistics and ability to interpret statistical information

Work Demands

• Primarily working indoors with an occasional need to be outdoors
• Working regularly around many others and continuously with some others
• Schedule fluctuation is frequent and often unpredictable due to census, documentation requirements or program development
• Exposure to body fluids, contagious disease and occasionally blood borne pathogens and radiation
• Exposure to cigarette smoking in Neurobehavioral Program

Essential Functions

• Provides evaluation of patients with communication, cognitive, and swallowing impairments as dictated by the state practice act and licensure requirements
• Recognizes physiological, psychological, and age related changes in the patient, consults with other Health Care Team members, and establishes measureable goals with the patient and family based on appropriate patient care protocols and critical paths
• Plans, implements, delivers, and delegates patient care by utilizing appropriate interventions based on assessments, revising treatments when needed, instructing patient/family through verbal, written, and audiovisual materials and participating in discharge planning including recommendations to community resources to meet patient needs throughout the continuum of care
• Maintains knowledge of advances in the care delivery through evidence based review, peer reviews, case discussion and continuing education
• Coordinates time management of self and support personnel by organizing schedules to meet patient care needs, carrying a patient load that meets productivity requirements and reflects standards of care of the service area collaborating with team members for assistance and coverage when needed to meet patient outcomes and department goals and standards
• Supervises responsibilities that have been delegated to supportive personnel
• Documents in a timely manner all patient and professional interactions such as evaluations, assessments, progress towards goals, equipment purchase orders, statistical reports, home programs and discharge summaries to maintain continuity of patient care for department standards, JCAHO and outside regulatory and insurance agencies
• Supervises responsibilities that have been delegated to supportive personnel