Speech Language Pathologist / Speech Therapy

About the role

To perform evaluations, establish appropriate goals, formulate treatment plans, provide treatment interventions, maintain comprehensive documentation, and assist with coordination of care within the scope of practice of speech language pathology for pediatric patients in the inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory care clinic settings.

Responsibilities

• Counsults with patient, caregiver, and other healthcare providers in setting realistic goals and in developing a plan of care that is patient/caregiver focused and outcomes oriented
• Collaborates with patient, caregiver, and other healthcare providers in setting realistic goals and in developing a plan of care that is patient/caregiver focused and outcomes oriented
• Identifies appropriate and measurable long term goals and short term goals for communication and/or feeding skill development that are realistic to the current status and expected outcomes
• Continuously assesses, reassesses and modifies goals and plan of care based upon patient status, patient response to care, caregiver feedback and patient needs
• Develops a plan of care to include frequency of intervention, types of intervention, goal setting
• Provides high quality patient care that reflects appropriate clinical reasoning, evidence based practice and that optimizes patient’s potential for functional gains, improved quality of life, & increased care giver participation in the area of communication &/or feeding
• Adequately prepares for sessions, beginning and ending on time
• Includes caregivers in therapy sessions and provides education, strategies, techniques that can be incorporated into daily routines
• Demonstrates good problem solving skills and ability to adapt without difficulty
• Proactively pursues opportunities to collaborate with other healthcare professionals; provides and accepts information from all members of the multidisciplinary team to facilitate goal accomplishment
• Utilizes effective communication skills with client, caregiver, professionals and other healthcare providers
• Addresses patient attendance issues by educating on and enforcing the department policy and procedure
• Completes comprehensive documentation appropriate to the setting in which the speech therapy intervention occurs and according to hospital and department policy and procedure
• Documentation clearly and concisely records patient status, plan of care, intervention provided, response to care, progress towards goals, patient/caregiver education/home program and need for continued intervention in the area of speech therapy
• Ensures documentation is completed in a professional, timely manner and supports billed charges
• Aids team in providing programs, systems, processes that support high quality care, current clinical practice, outcomes measures, and fiscally responsible practice
• Participates in team meetings by identifying opportunities for improvement & growth, sharing insight into topics under discussion, openly listening to ideas of others
• Contributes towards the completion of new programs, projects, processes by volunteering to assist and completing assigned tasks/responsibilities within identified time frame
• Facilitates growth and skill development of self, team, students and community
• Shares knowledge and expertise with other team members
• Utilizes internal and external resources to enhance own knowledge and skills
• Prepares for and actively participates in educational opportunities provided within the department including presentations, article reviews, in-services, discussions
• Assists with the orientation of new team members into the department and organization including student education and student observations to further promote the profession

Requirements

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Communication Disorders/Speech Language Pathology
• Experience working with pediatric patients or a pediatric clinical internship
• If working with the craniofacial population, completion of a clinical fellowship year within the area of craniofacial anomalies and disorders or at least 5 years clinical experience with up to date evidence based practice within the context of craniofacial speech and language disorders
• Current and valid Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association
• Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from American Speech-Language Association (ASHA)
• Membership with American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA)

Qualifications

Required Education: Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Communication Disorders/Speech Language Pathology

Preferred Education: If working with the craniofacial population, completion of a clinical fellowship year within the area of craniofacial anomalies and disorders or at least 5 years clinical experience with up to date evidence based practice within the context of craniofacial speech and language disorders

Required Experience: Experience working with pediatric patients or a pediatric clinical internship

Preferred Experience: If working with the craniofacial population, completion of a clinical fellowship year within the area of craniofacial anomalies and disorders or at least 5 years clinical experience with up to date evidence based practice within the context of craniofacial speech and language disorders

Required Licenses and Certifications: Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association, Current and valid Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association, Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from American Speech-Language Association (ASHA), Membership with American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA)