Job Summary:

Plan and administer a speech therapy program for patients/residents to facilitate rehabilitation of disabled patients/residents following illness, disease or injury.

Responsibilities:

1. Review and evaluate physician referrals and patient/resident medical records to determine speech therapy treatment required.
2. Plan and prepare written treatment program based on evaluation of available patient/resident data.
3. Confer with physician and other health practitioners to obtain additional patient/resident information, suggest revisions in treatment program, and integrate speech therapy treatment with other aspects of patient/resident care.
4. Record patient/resident treatment, response, and progress.
5. Assist the rehab director, medical director and administrator in planning speech therapy services as needed.
6. Supervise speech therapy aides. May instruct and supervise the clinical portion of training for students participating in speech therapy programs.
7. Diagnose and evaluate speech and language competencies of individuals, including assessment of speech, language, swallowing and aural skills a related to educational, medical, social and psychological factors.
8. Plan, direct and conduct treatment programs to restore communicative efficiency of individuals with communication problems of organic and non-organic etiology.
9. Diagnose and treat patients with swallowing disorders utilizing bedside assessment techniques as well as swallow studies performed by outside consultation.
10. Select treatment programs suited to individual capacity to achieve maximum functional benefit.
11. Maintain documentation consistent with third party reimbursement.
12. Conduct on the job training for new employees. Adapt existing training materials to meet immediate needs.
13. Assist in the recruitment of staff to provide needed treatment.
14. Attend department meetings and/or sit on required committees.
15. Participate in developing and updating department policies and procedures, and maintain required records and reports as outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
16. Participate in department budget planning with rehab director.
17. Develop specifications for commonly used items.
18. Maintain confidentiality of necessary information.
19. Utilize supplies and equipment properly and without waste.
20. Think and act calmly and logically to meet unusual occurrences of the job without being thrown off stride.
21. Perform any miscellaneous work assignments as may be required.
22. Follow established infection control precautions; adhere to Universal Blood and Body Fluid precautions following policy and center specific infection control policies and procedures.

Job Requirements:

1. Credentialed graduate of an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in speech language pathology and valid Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), or completing Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY). Licensed in the state where practicing.
2. Prior experience in speech pathology preferred.
3. Ability to lift 50 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds
4. Travel within a local area as needed for patient treatment.
5. Ability to work inside with exposure to some disagreeable conditions.
6. Communicate effectively with residents, other therapy staff, and facility staff in general.