Speech Pathologist | PRN

About the Role

The Speech Pathologist provides professional skills in the comprehensive evaluation of patients with speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive impairments and facilitates habilitative and rehabilitative treatment services. This role includes participation and certification in scoring outcome measures as required by IRF regulation. The Speech Pathologist documents and communicates evaluation results, daily progress notes, weekly summaries, and discharge notes in the electronic medical record, and maintains communication with patients, staff, families, and physicians both in writing and orally.

Reports directly to the Director of Physical Medicine.

Responsibilities

• Consistently provides appropriate patient assessment and documents functional needs and goals on IRF-PAI.
• Prescribes appropriate rehabilitation plan of care.
• Documents swallow precautions in the dining room and medical record.
• Effectively performs patient and family education and training.
• Proficient in performing objective measurements of receptive and expressive language skills and swallowing efficiency.
• Exhibits clinical expertise and knowledge of speech and language treatment.
• Uses the therapeutic process to effectively implement and evaluate the patient plan of care.
• Oversees the care of all assigned patients and all caregivers rendering such care, including support staff, volunteers, and students.
• Prepares reports and communicates patient progress to appropriate individuals in the medical record.
• Documents weekly change in function on patient indicators for comprehension and expression.

The above statements are a representative summary of major duties; incumbents may be requested to perform other job-related tasks.

Requirements

• Successful completion of clinical training at a Master’s level program in speech therapy.
• Graduate of a program satisfying the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) academic and practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence; must hold ASHA certification.
• Current Louisiana State License in Speech Pathology.
• CPR certification.
• Must maintain required hours of in-service per year to meet CEU requirements as stipulated by the State Board governing Speech Pathology.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, peers, and medical personnel.
• Proficiency in using equipment such as: audiometer, therapeutic computer, refrigerator, books, manuals, telephone, MBS chair, MBS recording system, feeding substances, adaptive feeding equipment, FM wireless microphone, and FM amplification unit.
• Preferably certified in Vital Stim for facial weakness and dysphagia.

Physical Demands

• Work is medium, typically involving lifting or carrying up to 25 pounds without help, or over 25 pounds with assistance (e.g., assisting patients, pushing wheelchairs).
• Positions required include: occasional standing and walking; frequent sitting; occasional stair climbing, stooping, and bending; occasional pushing/pulling (e.g., wheelchairs).

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About the Organization

“Experience Memorial” reflects our commitment to exceptional patient care, our community, and our team members. As a nationally certified Great Place to Work, Lake Charles Memorial Health System fosters a culture that supports both outstanding patient care and the well-being and professional growth of our employees. Join us to be part of a team where your contributions are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your success is celebrated.