The purpose of this position is to provide diagnostic and therapeutic services to evaluate, treat, document and/or facilitate care for residents with impaired ability to swallow or communicate due to disease process; participate in the interdisciplinary team meetings as required; assist the Director of Nursing Service to develop communication and/or swallowing decline prevention policies and procedures.

• Evaluate resident’s functional needs when referred by the resident’s attending physician or interdisciplinary team.

• Follow physician’s orders, facility policies and procedures to evaluate and treat residents and complete required documentation for care provided.

• Assist the Director of Nursing Service in establishing communication and/or swallowing decline prevention policies and procedures.

• Participate in discharge planning when appropriate.

• Perform diagnostic tests, evaluate and document evaluations of referred residents in accordance with facility policies and procedures.

• Provide appropriate treatment to help residents maintain or attain the highest level of communication and/or swallowing function possible within the confines of his/her physical abilities.

• Recommend and/or provide appropriate treatment, preventative measures and assistive devices to prevent decline in resident’s function.

• Provide appropriate resident or caregiver education to help residents maintain or attain the highest level of communication and/or swallowing function possible within the confines of his/her physical abilities.

• Maintain timely and accurate resident reports as required by federal, state and local regulatory agencies and third-party payers.

• Observe infection control procedures.

• Be responsible for the safety of residents under his/her supervision.

• Assume duties related to completion of Minimum Data Set assessments as assigned.

• Complete documentation related to evaluations, treatment plans, MDS assessments, resident care plans and progress notes in a timely manner.

• Participate in resident care conferences, interdisciplinary care conferences and rehabilitation conferences as scheduled.

• Participate in implementation of programs to improve resident care related to Quality Indicators.

• Assume Quality Assurance duties as assigned.

• Observe all facility policies and procedures.

• Observe all facility safety policies and procedures.

• Observe guidelines in the employees’ handbook.

• Follow facility Residents’ Rights policies.