Overview

You Matter Here! Heywood Healthcare values our employees! We offer competitive wages, great benefits and generous earned time off. Come work where you will matter!

Hours: 32 Hours, Days, Weekend and Holiday Rotation

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Systematically gathers and evaluates relevant information and data from the patient interview and/or all the patient information sources.
• Performs Speech and Language Evaluations on both inpatients and outpatients (and inpatients, if indicated) to assess communicative functions and determine the need for habilitation/rehabilitation, using appropriate test protocols. 
• Communicates findings in the assigned format in accordance with departmental standards to both patient or patient/guardian and pertinent medical or direct care staff 
• Identifies variations from expected findings and understands the significance for such variations.
• Takes appropriate actions when variations are identified.
• If working in the inpatient setting, performs swallow evaluations and/or modified barium swallow studies on both inpatients and outpatients to assess the adequacy of the swallow function and determine the need for dietary modifications and/or intervention.
• Communicates evaluation results to the patient/caregiver.
• Performs Swallow Evaluations and/or Modified Barium Swallow studies on both inpatients and outpatients to assess the adequacy of the swallow function and determine the need for dietary modifications and/or intervention.
• Communicates Swallow Evaluations results to the patient, as well as all necessary medical and direct care staff within 24 hours, particularly as they may involve changes in care.
• Creates an Initial Treatment Plan and implements therapy programs for individuals for individuals with communication, cognitive, or swallowing disorders to improve functional skills in these areas
• Documents daily treatment notes after each session, consults with family, reports on progress in a written format every 3 months, and communicates with caregivers regarding any significant status changes.
• Counsels and educates patients or parents/guardians relative to the communication or swallowing disorder to improve their understanding and facilitate home carryover.
• Evaluates the patient’s understanding of his or her condition, treatment, and/or prognosis.
• Coordinates care with other healthcare providers and relevant school personnel.
• Reassesses the patient’s condition, status and progress on an ongoing basis.
• Prioritizes, reprioritizes, and modifies the plan of care based upon patient assessment and patient condition.
• Documents the implementation of the plan of care and any adverse and/or unexpected events or outcomes.

Statement of Other Duties This document describes the major duties and responsibilities for this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described. Functional Demands Physical Requirements Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Frequently reaches (extending hands and arms in any direction), and handles (seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or working with hands). Organizational Expectations Behavioral Attributes The following behavioral attributes are required: achievement motivation, concern for order, flexibility, initiative, self-confidence, customer service oriented, interpersonal effectiveness, teamwork, analytical thinking and information seeking.

Qualifications

Job Requirements Minimum Education

• Masters or doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology

Minimum Work Experience

• Experience in evaluation and treatment of pediatric speech-language disorders is required
• Candidates with experience or wishing to gain experience in the evaluation and management of dysphagia (including Modified Barium Swallow studies) and acquired adult neurogenic communication disorders are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Licenses and Certifications

• Current MA State licensure, Speech Language Pathologists
• Certificate of Clinical competence in Speech-Language Pathology required