Speech Pathologist - Inpatient Acquired Brain Injury -2A

Job Responsibilities

• Evaluates patient’s speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing abilities and develops a Plan Of Care that is individualized towards the patient’s cognitive-linguistic and/or swallowing capabilities to maximize their functional independence and safety.
• Completes appropriate diagnostic assessments via standardized and non-standardized means to create an individualized and patient centered plan of care.
• Plans and delivers education and training so that the patient and/or caregiver understand the patients current cognitive-linguistic and /or swallowing capabilities and how these clinical recommendations can impact the patient’s environmental and safety needs.
• Integrates comprehensive diagnostic information to differentiate between motor speech, cognitive-communication, language, voice and dysphagia disorders.
• Makes recommendations for specialty services or consultations as needed.
• Uses evaluation and treatment findings to determine appropriate discharge planning needs.
• Effectively participates in intra-departmental staff meetings, and intra-departmental discipline/program committee assignments.
• Will participate in education programs by teaching and/or supervising students.
• Participates in research projects as warranted by departmental and/or organizational needs.
• Completes all required Speech Therapy documentation in accordance with the polices and expectations of Shepherd Center.

Required Minimum Education

• Master's or Doctoral degree from an accredited program in speech-language pathology.

Required Minimum Certification

• Licensed to practice in the state of Georgia.
• Current certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association or eligible for completion of Clinical Fellowship leading to ASHA certification.

Required Minimum Experience

• Placement within programs will depend on prior experience with given population and/or successful completion of identified clinical competencies.

Required Minimum Skills

• Basic computer skills.
• Effective time management skills.
• Knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for speech, language, cognitive, swallowing impairments.
• Able to design a plan of caregiver that is patient centered with ability to address functional needs based upon the patient and caregiver environment of care.
• Successful completion of identified core competencies pertinent to specific treatment setting as it relates to age specific patient needs (i.e. adolescent, adult and geriatric).
• Demonstrates competency in time management, organization, planning to manage and maintain the demands of patient care caseload and all corresponding job responsibilities.
• Takes initiative for personal and clinical growth via opportunities for continuing education and maintaining licensure and certification.
• Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
• Collaborates with the organizational support structure (ST Therapy Manager, Program manager and/or director) in adapting to the changing work demands and environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure or experience with diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurological impairments.

Physical Demands

• Delivers therapy in a variety of modes such as at bedside, wheelchair level or in a table top manner.
• May involve walking or standing or exerting up to 15 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• May include assisting with and/or performing transfers as appropriate and positioning of patients, consistent with lifting up to 30 lbs.

Working Conditions

• Normal patient care environment.
• Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.
• Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.