Speech Therapist

Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients within twenty-four (24) hours, or 1 business day of physician referral; document cause for delay if evaluation cannot be completed within 24 hours.
• Develop effective treatment plans and obtain approval from the referring physician.
• Treat patients according to the physician-approved treatment plan.
• Supervise Speech Language Pathologist Assistants in direct patient care and related activities, adhering to the state practice act.
• Communicate with supervisors and other health team members regarding patient progress, problems, and plans.
• Participate in Patient Care Conferences, Utilization Review meetings, and Rehabilitation Conferences as needed.
• Participate in in-service training programs for other facility staff.
• Record evaluations, daily treatment notes, weekly progress notes, recertification documentation, and treatment changes per state practice act and payer requirements.
• Instruct patients' families or nursing staff in maintenance programs and caregiver training for discharge preparation.
• Participate in discharge planning.
• Act as a clinical preceptor for affiliating Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) or Registered Fellowship Program (RFP) Speech Language Pathologists and student programs.
• Comply with the Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Bureau State Practice Act and facility policies and procedures.
• Relate positively, effectively, and appropriately with patients, residents, families, staff, and professional colleagues.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervise Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) Speech Clinical Fellows, if applicable.
• Assist nursing staff with training Restorative Aides.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology; preference for graduates of Master’s or Doctorate programs in Speech Language Therapy.
• Proficient in computer skills, including data entry into programs such as Casamba and Point Click Care.

Skills

• Language Skills:
  • Ability to read technical procedures and policy/procedure manuals.
  • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, coworkers, and families.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Reasoning Ability:
  • Ability to solve practical problems.
  • Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Licensed as a Speech Therapist in the state of practice.
• Must meet continuing education requirements per state practices.
• Must maintain a license in good standing with the state board at all times.

Physical Demands

• Standing and/or walking very frequently.
• Sitting occasionally.
• Reaching with hands and arms frequently; pushing/pulling very frequently.
• Talking and/or hearing very frequently.
• Tasting and/or smelling very frequently.
• Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling occasionally.
• Close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception in vision; ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment is usually low to moderate in noise level. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.