Speech Therapy

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Provides differential diagnostic and therapeutic services by assessing and treating inpatients and outpatients with central or peripheral disorders of speech, language, voice, and/or swallowing.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

• Shown are duties intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities.
• Defines patient’s degree and type of speech, language, voice and swallowing impairment by selecting and administering the most appropriate test instruments; preparing written diagnostic reports.
• Counsels patients and their families by informing them about available treatment options.
• Minimizes delays in diagnosis and/or therapeutic intervention by coordinating and prioritizing the patient caseload.
• Improves the function of patients with speech, language, voice and/or swallowing impairments by planning treatment.
• Modifies therapy program by periodically re-evaluating therapy goals.
• Minimizes communicative impairment by providing counseling to the parents of the preschool, pre-lingual child who is at risk for speech or language stimulation and other home-based methods.
• Improves quality results by studying, evaluating and re-designing processes and implementing changes.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal and professional networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances speech pathology and hospital reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Maintains patient confidence by keeping information confidential.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations.
• Complies with national, state and local legal and certification requirements by studying existing and new legislation. Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.

Patient Education:

• Facilitates movement toward a healthcare partnership between providers, the patients and their families.
• Educates patient/family regarding therapeutic exercises, activities and equipment.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Documents patient encounters in appropriate format according to hospital policies.
• Provides statistics as requested.

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS:

• Knowledge of rehabilitative treatment techniques as utilized by the generalist in treating multiple age groups.
• Knowledge of the regulations and practice standards of Pediatric Speech Language Pathology.
• Knowledge of direct patient care of Speech Language Pathology to pediatric patients.
• Knowledge of equipment and instruments used in daily activities.
• Skill in treating Pediatric Speech Language Pathology patients.
• Skill in using applicable equipment and instruments.
• Skill in assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands.
• Skill in critical thinking in the performance of Pediatric Speech Language Pathology.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with others.
• Skills in maintaining good working relationships with community resources, referral sources, agencies and colleagues (PT and OT).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.
• Minimum one (1) year of experience working exclusively with a pediatric population.
• Participation in continuing education in pediatric therapy subjects as required by the Speech Language Pathology governing authority.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• May be required to work outside the traditional work schedule.
• May be called to work off-shift in emergency situations.
• Should be efficient in using MS Word and other online teleconsulting health software.

MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Problem-Solving, Physiological Knowledge, Medical Teamwork, Bedside manners, Use of Medical Technologies, Verbal Communication, Listening, Creating a Safe/Effective Environment, Self- Development, People Skills, and Professionalism.