Speech Therapist

POSITION OVERVIEW:

This position is responsible for planning, developing and administering speech therapy services to patients with a variety of diagnoses with the goal of improving speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, and fluency.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB: (other duties may be assigned)

• Perform patient evaluations.

• Daily, conduct patient evaluations including all pertinent tests and assessments of speech rhythm, fluency, voice disorders, developmental delays, and cognitive communication.

• Complete evaluations on patients within 24 to 48 hours of receipt of the order from the referring physician.

• Outpatient evaluations must be initiated within 15 minutes of scheduled appointment.

• Complete and document the evaluation results and establish an appropriate plan of care.

• Patient evaluations must be written and completed within one working day of the date the evaluation is performed.

• Establish the plan of care with patient oriented goals that are measurable.

• Develop patient goals in accordance to the hospice philosophy as it pertains to safety, teaching and end of life care in the home setting.

• Document therapy plans and progress reports.

• Write therapy plans and progress reports to indicate progress towards established goals, patient response to treatment, change in symptoms and measurements.

• Utilize SOAP format in evaluations and daily progress notes to indicate the patient's status.
• Perform re-evaluations and write the results every 30 days.

• Write discharge summaries and forward to physician within two days of patient discharge.

• Perform speech therapy treatments.

• Daily administer therapeutic and purposeful activities/treatments relating to daily living and school based activities, sensorimotor, cognitive and psychosocial areas to patients in an age appropriate and safe manner.

• Recognize indications, contraindications and precautions to above areas.
• Perform extensive chart reviews to recognize any contraindications and necessity of speech therapy services.

• Modify patient treatment program when necessary.

• Instruct patients and caregivers of appropriate interventions for home.

• Explain to patient and caregivers the purpose, use and necessity behavior modification, communication-enhancing techniques, and home exercises.

• Provide handouts of used interventions, exercises and provide a schedule of when to perform.
• Obtain patient and caregiver feedback to measure understanding of the explanation and instruction provided.

• Communicate care and treatments with nurse case manager and/or clinical coordinator.

• Ensure that speech therapy services are delivered in accordance with established standards.

• Daily, strictly adhere to American Speech-Language Hearing Association guidelines, department and hospital policies in providing occupational therapy to patients.

• Evaluate and treat patient only if a referral from a licensed physician is supplied.

• Maintain strict patient confidentiality.

• Assist with Performance Improvement Program.

• Involved in Home Health chart review.

• Make recommendations for improvement based on data analysis.

• Participates in quarterly professional advisory committee meetings and record review.

• Provide education to WMC staff as needed regarding speech therapy services.

• Educate WMC staff regarding speech therapy services and interventions for pediatric, adolescent and adult populations.

• Communicate with other professional staff members regarding the benefits of speech therapy as relevant to patient care.

• Provide in-service training as needed for staff education.

• Remain compliant with standard precautions.

• Demonstrate proper bag technique

• Demonstrate proper hand hygiene
• Demonstrate proper respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
• Follow infection prevention policies and procedures

OTHER DUTIES OF JOB:

• Schedule outpatients and home care patients for treatment.
• Maintain a record of patient visits and treatments for billing purposes.
• Conference with other staff members regarding patient care.
• Order and maintain an inventory of speech therapy supplies required to perform the job.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or required.
• Follow standard precaution guidelines.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Supervision is received by the Director of Rehabilitation Services and Home Health/Hospice Director.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF JOB:

This position typically requires:

The ability to manage multiple projects/tasks, provide close attention to detail, work in a constantly changing environment, work under high pressure for results, much travel, meet frequent deadlines, maintain a high level of decision-making, establish own goals, work closely with others, maintain much record-keeping/routine paperwork and use creativity. The ability to frequently stand, walk, lift between 25 and 65 pounds, balance, stoop, repeatedly bend, reach, use repetitive finger movement, use repetitive twisting or pressure involving wrists or hands, use of both hands, use of rapid mental/muscular coordination simultaneously, communicate orally, hear conversation, use specific visual requirements, sue depth perception, and use color vision. The ability to occasionally sit, lift approximately ten pounds, carry approximately 75 pounds, push and pull approximately 120 pounds, pull hand over hand, climb stairs, kneel and crawl is also typically required.

This position typically requires:

Constant contact with patients; frequent work alone, working 10-20 hours per week and exposure to blood and bodily fluids, occasional work outside, exposure to wetness, vibration, work with machinery with moving parts, and working with hands in water.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

This position occasionally requires:

Latex gloves, mask, goggles, gown and CPR mouth shield.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education/Training/License/Certification:

Master's degree or equivalent in a speech-language therapy field required.

Current, valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State Speech-Language Pathologist License required.

Valid Cardio-Pulmonary resuscitation certification required.

Current, valid Pennsylvania drivers' license required.

• Work Experience:

One or two years related experience and/or training preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills as well as interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Act, American Speech-Language Hearing Association guidelines.
• Knowledge of the Code of Ethics required by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
• Basic computer skills.
• Knowledge of patient insurance and coverage.