Speech Pathologist

Overview

Responsible to complete all aspects of care for assigned patient load including evaluations, formulating plan of care, collaboration of care plans with patient/family/other disciplines, performing therapeutic interventions, education, and meeting all documentation requirements outlined in department

Responsibilities

Review, collect and evaluate relevant clinical data.

Formulate and implement an appropriate patient care plan based on patient needs and best practice.

Collaborates and coordinates patients care plans with patient/family and other care providers.

Perform therapeutic procedures for clients as outlined in patient’s plan of care.

Participates in patient/family teaching.

Maintain clinical and professional competency.

Completes all documentation requirements in the established time frame.

Responsible for supervision of all care delivered by assistants or aides, communicating routinely as to patient needs/goals

Attends in service programs and departmental or hospital meetings.

Shares experience by mentoring students, new employees, volunteers and presenting in services.

Maintains involvement in department and hospital activities.

Provides feedback to the Manager.

May assist with staff competencies.

Assist in departmental planning, staff training, performance improvement, and clinical service development.

Assist with departmental productivity by fulfilling individual work responsibilities and reporting significant variances in patient volume that may require manager adjustments to staffing.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Current Alabama Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Speech & Language Pathology licensure      Maintains active status with license in good standing with the state board or licensing agency.  Can write legibly, speak and read English. Maintain current license in one of the previous listed clinical specialties.  

WORK CONTEXT

• Must be able to analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals
• Must be able to enter patient or treatment data into computers
• Must be able to collaborate with others to plan or provide treatment
• Must have normal vision and hearing or correctable to normal
• Must be careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Must be reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Must be pleasant with others on the job and display good nature, cooperative attitude.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing
• Must be able to exert almost continual physical effort such as pushing, pulling, bending, climbing, lifting, and walking.
• Exposure to human bodily fluids, disease, infection and hazardous materials may occur. Common protective or safety equipment may be required in job task. 

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Physical activities include: Talking, hearing, bending, twisting, walking, running, kneeling, crouching, stooping, crawling, climbing, balancing, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, repetitive motion, standing, and/or using hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Requirements:
• PT/OT/Speech
  • Heavy work. Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
  • Light work. Exerting 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. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.