Speech Therapist-PRN

POSITION SUMMARY:

The staff Speech Pathologist shall function as the primary therapist to deliver patient treatment on a day to day basis. The Speech Pathologist has the responsibility for the direction, utilization, supervision, and instruction of professional and supportive staff, volunteers, and students in the area of the speech pathology department/facility. The speech pathologist shall serve as part of the facility and rehabilitation team in coordinating overall patient goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Supervision- To supervise the activities of the speech department/facility including:

• Scheduling patients for treatment and evaluations.
• Preparations of reports and records by department/facility personnel.
• Maintaining inventory of materials and supplies for there are of the department/facility.
• Use of volunteers who may assist in their areas.
• Temporary Speech Pathologist Licensees, Clinical Fellows, and Student Speech Pathologists within their areas.

Evaluations

• To be responsible for the evaluation of all the patients referred for Speech Therapy.
• To be responsible for the evaluation of patients referred for Speech Therapy through HomeCare, Nursing Home, and/or In/Out-patient.
• To be responsible for completion and submission of all reports pertaining to the evaluation.
• To see that all referral sources are advised of the department/facility action with the case referred.

Treatment

• To practice Speech Pathology consistent with the needs of the department/facility.
• To maintain a patient treatment schedule consistent with the needs of the department/facility.
• To confer with the person(s) most closely associated with active management of the patient and to keep them informed of any additional patient needs, treatment modification, and/or process.
• To treat patients and function as a Staff Speech Pathologist as necessary.
• To treat patients of all ages (e.g. infants, children, adolescents, adults, geriatrics, elderly), race, creed, gender, and disability without bias or prejudice.
• To respect and understand the patient's right to treatment and right to involvement in treatment decisions.
• To practice ethical responsibility based on the cultural, ethnic, and religious beliefs of the patients serves and applicable law.

Records and Reports

• To be responsible for the preparation and submitting of department/facility reports, assuring confidentiality of all records including:
• Evaluation reports/summaries.
• Discharge reports/summaries.
• Progress reports to referring physicians and agencies.
• Current progress notes on all patients.
• Special reports requested by the Administration and/or his designee.

Meetings and Conferences

• To attend Department Manager Meetings as required.
• To attend regular department/facility meetings to:
• Report and discuss activities and needs of department.
• Discuss patient's needs and progress.
• Discuss reports and records.
• Discuss expansion in terms of the future goals and needs.
• To see that all department routines and procedures and carried out as outlined

Professional Status and Public Relations

• To keep abreast of new techniques and trends in the field of Rehab Services
• To attend conventions, meetings, or special courses whenever possible, and to share with department/facility personnel information gained thereby.
• To prepare and give talks to community groups as requested.
• To maintain good public relations with all community records.
  Policies and Procedures
• To keep current and adhere to policies and procedures as enumerated in the Policy and Procedures Manual of the department.
• To actively participate and adhere in all policies and procedures as enumerated on the risk management program.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Qualifications

o Master's Degree in communicative Disorders-Speech Pathology.

o Speech Pathologist license in Iowa.

• Work experience

o Must be a graduate of, or have a certificate from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association approved school of Speech-Language-Hearing or corresponding associations; current state licensure is required.

• Education/Certifications/Licenses

o Speech Pathologist license in Iowa.

o Must maintain state of Iowa continuing education requirements.

o Must have verification card of current instruction in CPR.

o Valid Iowa Drivers License.

o Performance Requirements

• Responsibility for interpreting and carrying out the prescription of the physician; good public relations; protection of confidential data; economic use of time, equipment, and supplies; safety and welfare of patients and employees.
• Must know the principles and practices of Speech Pathology; be familiar with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Code of Ethics; department/facility policies, procedures, and regulations; layout of the department/facility; be aware of inter and intra departmental communications; supervision and management techniques.
• Must be able to apply the theory of Speech Language Therapy; have the ability and competency to operate the equipment of his or her position; perform technical procedures, speak intelligently and in a professional manner before others; supervision and management skills.
• Must be able to instill confidence in patients, doctors and personnel; determine proper procedures and methods and evaluate results; must make decisions on his or her own; adapt to emergency situation; alert to changes in the patient's condition; alert to all activities of the department.
• Must have coordination of sight and body movements in various applications of procedures; techniques of assisting and handling patients; ability to handle the machines of the profession.
• Communication Skills
• Has a major role in fostering good public relations
• A high degree of accuracy is required in carrying out prescriptions; in receiving and translating information in charting and reporting.
• Policies and Procedures
• To keep current and adhere to policies and procedures as enumerated in the Policy and Procedures Manual of the department.
• Organization Wide/Department Performance Improvement Plan
• To actively participate and adhere in all policies and procedures as enumerated in the risk management program.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS:

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS:

• Operate office equipment such as computers, printers, copy machine, calculator, facsimile, and scanners.
• Ability to understand oral and written instructions regarding set-up, operations of equipment, preparations of patients for treatment and other related activities.
• Must be able to apply the theory of Speech Pathology, have the ability and competency to operate the equipment of his or her position and profession.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Good physical stamina in this department/facility; energetic, much writing, speaking, seeing, speed and good manual dexterity.

Able to walk, stand, stoop, lift, balance, sit, kneel, hear, reach, pull, talk, see, turn, carry, push, handle, write. The degree to which any of these is done depends on the techniques being used.

Thoughtful of others, gentle, courteous, patient, neat, well-groomed, healthy, friendly, average intelligence, good memory, tactful. Should have ability to organize his or her time in order to treat the maximum number of patients in the allotted working day.

Conducts self with professional dignity, pleasant, tactful. Maintains optimum physical and emotional health; understands the importance of good human relations; able to motivate others; broad interest; possess strength of all extremities and back; initiative and good judgment; flexibility; enthusiasm; thoroughness.

Works inside under normal temperature conditions with adequate light, in a well-ventilated, clean area; some areas are limited in space, usually works around others; sometimes moderate noise.

No unusual hazard risks. Radiation exposure during modified Barium Swallow Assessments. May be exposed to muscular strain in supporting, lifting, and assisting patients.

Conditions of work may involve exposure to communicable diseases and on-the-job injuries.

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

Vision must be correctable to view computer screens and read printed information. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.

Hearing must be in the normal range for telephone contacts and other conversations.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for this job. It is not intended to be a complete statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.