Per Diem Speech Pathologist

Under general supervision and using clinical expertise, evaluates the speech and language needs of inpatients and outpatients in a hospital setting. Develops, implements, and documents treatment plans and goals designed to meet patient needs and acts as a clinical resource specialist to other therapists.


This list will be used for temporary opportunities.  If you are interested in such opportunities, please be sure to indicate that on the appropriate questions.

he Power of WE:  Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60 specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.  

 Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

 O'Connor Hospital - O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

 St. Louise Regional Hospital - Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises. 

Regional Medical Center– Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume. 

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Patient Care

• Performs complex evaluation and treatment with advanced skills in clinical reasoning, problem solving and treatment interventions;
   
• Completes intake of the patient's history, current medical diagnosis, patient's prior level of functioning, and patient's goals;
   
• Interprets and analyzes findings of speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disabilities to determine therapy diagnosis and prognosis;
   
• Develops appropriate treatment plans that include specific treatment methods, duration and frequency of treatment, and goals;
   
• Designs, implements and modifies therapeutic interventions to alleviate impairment and functional limitation that are appropriate to patient's diagnosis, age, impairments and prognosis;
   
• Explains remediation procedures to other professionals and non-professionals;
   
• Adapts treatment plans based on continuous assessment, progress made, and patient goals;
   
• Performs indirect patient care duties such as communication and coordination of care with the patient, family, caregivers, and other professionals, conference reporting, documentation, and charging according to procedures;
   
• Conducts patient/family/caregiver education and training;
   
• Manages assigned caseload of patients, which includes scheduling and prioritizing patient care, and responsibility for patient care delegated to Clinical Fellows and Therapy Technicians;
   
• Makes recommendations, including home programs and referrals to others as needed;
   
• Maintains communication with supervisor regarding current caseload;
   
• Serves as a consultant in an area of clinical specialty to staff therapists;
   
• May act as a clinical liaison in specialty clinics.

Clinical Supervisory Responsibilities  

• Supervises Clinical Fellows, Therapy Technicians, students and volunteers as assigned, and conducts clinical competencies of same;
   
• Provides clinical guidance to other Speech-Language Pathologists in areas of expertise;
   
• Assists Speech-Language Pathologist IIIs with training of staff therapists, assistants (PT and OT) and students;
   
• Leads other therapists working on special projects or who are assigned to satellite facilities;
   
• Provides orientation and training of new service personnel.

Administrative Responsibilities  

• Prioritizes and schedules patient treatment as assigned;
   
• Assumes selected responsibilities of other staff during temporary absences;
   
• Assists in the day-to-day operations of assigned service;
   
• Assists with the development and implementation of service policies, procedures, goals and objectives.

Professional Development 

• Participates in internal and external professional and educational activities to enhance personal and professional growth;
   
• Maintains appropriate amount of required continuing education units;
   
• Participates in hospital research as appropriate;
   
• Keeps current with new treatment techniques;
   
• Assists with program development as assigned.

A valid license, or temporary license, to practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist from the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board of California and a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate the possession and application of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

Experience Note The knowledge and abilities are typically acquired through at least two (2) years of professional experience as a Speech Pathologist and two or more specialty areas relevant to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Knowledge of

• Principles, methods, theory and practices of Speech-Language Pathology;
   
• Pathologies and injuries that result in physical disabilities speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disabilities;
   
• Regulatory practice requirements;
   
• Evaluation and treatment methodologies as applied to complex patients;
   
• Basic understanding of the business aspects of therapy services; such as utilization management, charging practices and regulatory compliance;
   
• Basic principles of clinical supervision and clinical instruction;
   
• Code of Ethics and performance standards as outlined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Ability to 

• Evaluate patients, interpret clinical data and make clinical judgments;
   
• Lead other therapists and aides;
   
• Apply advanced clinical skills in treating difficult and complex cases;
   
• Instruct and provide consultation to therapists and other team members in designated clinical specialty;
   
• Develop, implement and adapt treatment programs;
   
• Write clearly and concisely;
   
• Communicate effectively with patients, staff, and other health professionals;
   
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with others;
   
• Efficiently manage time and priorities;
   
• Supervise, train and evaluate staff;
   
• Demonstrate appropriate patient handling skills;
   
• Reach, grasp, manipulate and carry a variety of objects.