Job Summary and Scope

The SLP will provide quality diagnostic and therapeutic care to individuals who have or are suspected of having communication, swallowing, feeding, or cognitive disorders. They will educate and instruct in home programming and preventive measures as appropriate to patient, family, and caregivers. They will work as an integral part of an interdisciplinary team of professionals. The SLP will ensure adherence to Hospital and departmental policies and procedures. They will serve as a role model to promote the SRMC Values, a positive work environment and efficient quality patient care. The SLP will work in the acute inpatient units, the outpatient clinic, and will also perform outpatient video swallow evaluations. Patient care assignments include adolescent, adult, and geriatric.

Essential Functions:

• POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, and quality assurance programs.

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops.

• Maintains and adheres to the values outlined in the ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) code of ethics.

• Diagnoses, evaluates, educates and provides treatment to individuals who have or are suspected of having dysphagia.

• Evaluates and treat patients with cognitive-communicative disorders resulting from traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury.

• Evaluates and treat patients with speech and language disorders.

• Evaluates and treat patients with tracheostomy tubes and augmentation communication devices.

• Evaluates and treat ENT patients.

• Establishes a clinical impression and patient problem list for patients with wide variety of injury or disease processes with appropriate indications/contraindications for treatment in order to implement and execute an appropriate individualized treatment plan

• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.

• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments; by following standards of care set governing agency regulations.

• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.

• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.

• Maintains continuity among multidisciplinary teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs.

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

• Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem-solving methods.

• Collaborates with the healthcare team, implementing and documenting individualized plans of care incorporating age specific considerations and nursing interventions, including discharge planning and patient/family teaching.

• Participates in the hiring, orientation, precept, evaluation, and/or retention of co-workers.

• Contributes and participates in team huddles to identify barriers and obstacles and in support of realigning processes toward organizational and department goals.

• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

SRMC Core Values

Integrity: Our words and actions match our values

To Serve: We put the needs of others before our own

Excellence: We strive to exceed expectations and/or standards in every activity, every encounter, and every initiative

Safety/Quality: We provide evidence-based care, programs, services, and an environment that achieves the best outcomes

Teamwork: We enjoy the ability and power to work collaboratively to deliver exceptional service

Communication Skills

• Contacts are normally made with others within UNM-SRMC.

• Contacts are frequently within the Department of Rehabilitation Services, but often outside of the department working in a multidisciplinary setting.

• Contacts contain some discussion about confidential/sensitive matters.

• Contacts are most often made face to face, but also include via the electronic medical record.

• Contacts are 75% with patients and 25% with non-patients.

Required Qualifications

• Must be able to set and manage goals for patient using a team approach for progression of goals and established plan of care.

• Must be able to establish a personal and professional rapport with patients and others involved in patient’s care and in a position to understand care requirements.

• Must be able to establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, family members, and friends.

• Must be able to work in collaboration within the multidisciplinary healthcare team to assure continuity of care.

• Must be able to communicate effectively (written and verbal) presenting data effectively.

Education/Experience

Education: Graduate of an accredited Speech and Language Pathology Program

Licenses/Certifications:

One of the following:

License to practice as a Speech Language Pathologist in State of New Mexico or obtain within 30 days of position

Certificate of Clinical Competence through American Speech Language Hearing Association or Clinical Fellowships will be considered

CPR Certification or must obtain within 30 calendar days of date of position

Work Experience:

1 year video swallow study experience

1 year rehabilitation interdisciplinary team experience

1 year directly related experience

Supervision

• The position can require the supervision and direction of the therapy technician. May also provide clinical instruction of SLP graduate students.

Conditions of Employment

• Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check, reference checks and a post offer drug screen.

• Must be employment eligible as verified by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Government Services Administration (GSA).

• Tuberculin Skin Test required annually

• Hospital required vaccinations

• Hospital required competencies

Working Conditions

• Typical office and/or patient care, acute care hospital environment.

• Must be able to travel locally between facilities and within the surrounding community.

• Occasional exposure to minimal physical risk