Speech Language Pathologist 1 Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing

Summary

The Speech Language Pathologist 1 Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing IP/OP is responsible for conducting patient evaluations and providing treatments in accordance with established policies, procedures, and evidence-based practice serving pediatric patients age birth to 18+ years in both the inpatient and outpatient areas of practice with pediatric feeding and swallowing impairments. This role supports a continuum of care approach. This role may also involve participation in indirect patient care activities as needed. All staff members are expected to participate in a holiday coverage rotation and to cover weekend shifts. In certain circumstances, staff may be asked to cover additional or alternative days. While employees are primarily assigned to a specific site, there is an expectation of flexibility to provide coverage at other Concord Hospital sites when necessary.

Education

Graduate of an accredited Speech Language Pathology program and passed the national certification board Certification, additional coursework and training specific to pediatric feeding and swallowing.

Certification, Registration & Licensure

Required:

• State of NH Speech Language Pathology license- active and in good standing

• American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers or equivalent course

• ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence Preferred:

Preferred:

• Certified Lactation Consultant certification strongly preferred.

Experience

• 3-5 years of experience providing pediatric feeding and swallowing evaluations and therapy working with and/or collaborating with multidisciplinary teams serving children with pediatric feeding disorders (PFD).

• Experience with instrumental evaluation of the swallow with Pediatrics strongly preferred.

• Experience with providing inpatient neonatal and pediatric services strongly preferred

• Knowledge of Infant Driven Feeding-strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a level of productivity that supports patient access and clinic needs: Meets department expectation of 63-67% productivity and/or 78-80% book rate demonstrated in productivity reports. Productivity may vary by 5% for staff who are involved in department directed non-patient care activities and/or other extenuating circumstances. Demonstrates consistent and effective time management skills and effective use of downtime. Helps to identify factors that contribute to cancel/no show rate and offers suggestions for improvement. The therapist has a working knowledge of patient schedule needs, their own and the therapist assistant schedules. Offers assistance to others to support daily operations. Remains positive when presented with variation in daily schedules.

• Manages all insurance, documentation and charging requirements: Understands and effectively manages all insurance requirements and ensures all visits are authorized. Documentation of sessions should be completed within 24-48 hours to support 3rd party payers. Meets the department standard of not more than 1-3 denials for issues within the therapists control such as the provision of uncovered services, lack of supporting documentation, etc. Proactively manages CONNECT/Cerner Insurance Notifications on a regular and consistent basis and makes sure acknowledged comments are accurate and up to date. Appropriately identifies and assigns billing codes based on insurance requirements. Appropriately identifies all noncovered services and seeks out manager support prior to providing/billing for non-covered services. Performance is measured by chart review and supervisor observation.

• Takes responsibility for individual performance goals: Demonstrates a willingness to incorporate new ideas and skills for self. Recognizes own limitations and seeks help from others. Identifies and sets performance goals and development plans in collaboration with supervisor during annual review. Demonstrates an active role in reviewing goals at quarterly meetings and/or throughout the year and works with supervisor to accomplish goals with coaching and support. Takes the initiative to advance own clinical skills, which may include training for a specialty area. Works with supervisor to identify limitations and discusses solutions.

• Completes hospital and departmental requirements according to established departmental procedures including (though not limited to): Timely completion of documentation and discharges; submitting payroll and completing Workday requirements on time. Reviewing meeting minutes and taking the initiative to obtain additional information as needed; completing all clinical competencies; completing all aspects of the self -review portion of the performance review process; contributing meaningful, objective and constructive peer feedback for performance reviews, completing all hospital web  compliance assignments; insuring CPR certification is active. Understands and consistently completes hospital and departmental requirements according to established policies, procedures and guidelines.

• Participates in hospital and/or departmental initiatives/special projects, including though not limited to: Student supervisor; job shadow/resident shadow; community education; program development; professional promotional activities; presenting in services or projects related to coursework; hospital wide projects or initiatives. Actively participates in clinical discussions and consults as a method for sharing clinical expertise and techniques with others. Positively portrays the use of assistants/aides to patients in support of the departments' philosophy of providing a team model for patient care. Encourages input from coworkers/assistants to maximize patient outcomes.  Demonstrates an active role with participation in up to two initiatives per year. The weight of the individual activities/initiatives may vary based on the scope.

• Performs patient evaluations and documents in accordance with licensure, scope of practice and department standards (e.g. documentation completion/HIMS/abbreviations, etc.): Collects and analyzes data to determine a clear, concise assessment of the patient’s clinical and functional problems and the patient’s prognosis. Performs and documents comprehensive evidencebased pediatric feeding and swallowing evaluations commensurate with scope of practice, in close collaboration with child’s family and other community professionals and meet requirements for reimbursement.  Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the profound and prolonged impact of acute and chronic illness. Understands the challenges a medical illness/disability has on a patient and family member. Demonstrates clinical competence in the administration of formal standardized tests/scales/tools. Develops a clear assessment and specific plan of care to meet all goals. Treatment plans comply with referral source orders, include specific treatment techniques and indicate realistic frequency and expected duration. Can articulate the rationale confidently within the team.  Identifies complex issues early and seeks additional leadership support.

• Performance will be measured through feedback during medical record review, HIMS results, peer review, observation and/or discussion

• Outpatient: In addition to above, faxes report to child’s PCP and other relevant specialty care physicians. Reviews any needed medical management with child’s PCP and/or specialty care provider and ensures any needed follow-up is scheduled.

• Inpatient: Participates in SCN/Pediatric rounds. Organizes schedule to join families in child’s feedings. Closely collaborates with SCN/Pediatrics families, hospitalists, nurses, dietitians, lactation consultants with: determining child’s feeding readiness; developing feeding plans; supporting families to carryout infant’s feeding plan in accordance with family goals.

• Performs re-evaluations that are comprehensive and are performed at intervals according to state licensing requirements and department standards: Re-evaluates patients according to department standards, insurance requirements and evidence based practice. Develops, re-assesses and updates goals for all patient episodes of care. Treatment plans and goals are appropriately addressed and modified including changes in treatment approach, frequency and duration. Proactively identifies and seeks consults when patients are not progressing. Communicates relevant re-assessment findings with referring providers/care team. Develops realistic and appropriate long and short-term goals with input from the patient and/or family members. Goals are related to identified impairments and are aimed at achieving prior level of function or maximal abilities relative to diagnosis/condition. Goals are functional, measurable, objective and time based. Meets requirements as evidenced in supervisor, peer and HIMS/QA documentation reviews.

• Develops and documents assessments for each patient at evaluation and during treatment: Initial or ongoing assessments demonstrate a thorough understanding of information integrated from the review of the medical record, patient interview, prior level of function and ongoing objective tests and measures. Assessments address the need for skilled therapy and a treatment plan. Consistently compares patient performance across sessions. Will seek leadership support to address barriers to goal attainment as appropriate. Assessments are consistently aware of the progression towards goals, a need to change an approach, recommend a consult or discontinue therapy. Performance will be measured through feedback during medical record review, HIMS results, peer review, observation and/or discussion

• Develops, revises, and documents goals and treatments for all patients during the episode of care: Goals integrate ongoing quantitative and qualitative medical information (e.g. vitals, test findings, PLOF, etc.) addressing functional limitations. They drive realistic, functional, measurable, patient specific and time-based outcomes. Treatment plans are patient-specific and utilize a variety of approaches. Treatments are evidence-based and reflect alignment to functional goals. Develops, revises and documents family-centered, evidenced-based goals and treatments. Routinely identifies barriers to progress and modifies treatment quickly. Goals and treatments are reviewed and adjusted as conditions change and at discharge. Performance will be measured through feedback during medical record review, HIMS results, peer review, observation and/or discussion.

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Physical and Work Requirements

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those that will be encountered by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Dictionary of Occupational Titles Material Handling Classification is LIGHT. The employee must regularly lift, carry or push/pull less than 10 pounds, frequently lift, carry or push/pull up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift, carry or push/pull up to 20 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to hear and speak. The employee is frequently required to bend, do repetitive motion, perform activities that require fine motor skills, reach, squat, and walk. The employee is occasionally required to climb, kneel, sit, and stand. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision, depth perception, far vision, near vision, and peripheral vision.

The employee is frequently exposed to airborne pathogens, bloodborne pathogens, bodily fluids, and moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to electrical hazards - shock, no weather-related heat or cold, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.