Speech Pathologist - Physical Therapy

Description Summary: As a member of the health care team, evaluates and treats patients with cognitive, communication, and swallowing deficits within the scope of a licensed Speech/Language Pathologist. Collaborates with other hospital personnel to ensure quality care for the patient. Supervises the activities of Therapy Technicians, Speech/Language Pathology Clinical Fellows, and Speech/Language Pathology Students. Responsibilities: Evaluation of Patients

• Gathers pertinent data from chart and other caregivers, discusses with the physician as necessary.
• Independently assess all patient types assigned.
• Demonstrates ability to recognize additional needs during evaluation; exercises good judgment in decision-making.
• Interprets results and formulates relevant, measurable, realistic and attainable goals.
• Reassess patient progress regularly per department policy, or when need arises.
• Identifies appropriate equipment, discusses with patient and family and makes appropriate referral to social services and/or vendor.
• Able to assess vent dependent patients with minimal assistance.
• Able to assess voice and fluency cases with some assistance.

Care of the Patient

• Able to independently design a treatment plan that addresses identified problems, deficits, and discharge needs and assist with reducing LOS.
• Consistently delivers effective treatment focused on the rehabilitation of communication, cognition, and/or swallowing disorders.
• Actively seeks out a diagnosis to facilitate the ability to independently treat throughout the hospital.
• Demonstrates skilled expertise when monitoring patients during treatment. Able to apply reasoning and judgment to skilled observations and reports adverse reactions to the physician and/or nursing.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of speaking valve usage and contraindications. Ensures patient safety. Offers alternatives to the physician when appropriate.
• Actively seeks research-based treatments and applies to daily treatment.
• Develops creative and innovative ways to provide treatment i.e. group sessions, summer speech camps, structured and interactive adult group/individual sessions etc.

Communication with and Education of Patients and Families

• Explains the role of Speech Pathology, provides information on what to expect and works to build rapport.
• Determines the education needs of patient and family. Actively engages other care givers to ensure educational needs are met.
• Provides written home program as appropriate. Educates patient and family prior to discharge.
• Recognizes the need for additional education and incorporates into treatment plan and discharge planning.
• Collaborate with coworkers in order to promote co-treatment when appropriate. 
• Actively works to educate patient/families on coworker expertise and provide assurance of competency of all clinicians which will encourage and improve patient attendance.

Conferences and Collaboration

• Prepares for Team Conference in advance. Reports patient status objectively.
• Understands role in discharge planning during conferences, and provides pertinent information that aids timely discharge.
• Takes initiative to discuss length of stay with case management/social worker.
• Recognizes when a physician needs to be informed of patient status or d/c needs. Consistently contacts the appropriate caregiver. 

Time Management

• Anticipates patient?s needs during scheduled absences. Provides endorsements prior to departure.
• Coordinates with peers so that support personnel are maximized, down time is limited and supervision meets department guidelines. 
• Meets productively standard 90% of the time.
• Attitude towards time management result in daily behaviors that limits the amount of evals that are held, treatments that are not performed due to time restrictions and maximizes productivity.

Documentation

• Documents the content of home program and patient?s response.
• Documents effectively to enable another therapist to treat clients with minimum explanation.
• Consistently documents education sessions in the Knowledge Deficit Care Plan. Document who received the material, the content teaching method, as well as effectiveness and if further education is needed.
• Reassessment of patients per dept. policy is clearly evident in documentation; goals are updated and adjustments in care plans are visible to all caregivers.

Department Business

• Attends at least 85% of department meetings.
• Readily identifies clinical development needs and participates in clinical development.
• Actively participates to problems solve issues that rise daily and demonstrates good judgment. Looks for timely resolution remaining calm and effective.
• Promptly removes any faulty equipment from service, forwards equipment to bio med and notifies supervisor.
• Takes responsibility to ensure that base/annual competencies are completed prior to scheduled review date.
• Takes opportunities to educate physician and other health care workers on the role of S.T. and appropriate use of services.
• Demonstrates flexibility and collaboration with all therapy locations, readily accepts work assignments at all locations.

Professional Growth

• Completes education of new employees as requested by manager.
• Completes self-assessment and identifies educational needs. Consults with manager regarding opportunities to fulfill identified needs.
• Presents 2 in services to peers annually.
• Adheres to professional code of ethics, established by professional organization.
• Maintains CPR certification and state licensure. Provides manager with a copy 15 days prior to expiration date.
• Participates in clinical student affiliations. Teaches proper therapy techniques and procedures and provides constructive feedback.
• Applies knowledge of growth and development from infancy to mature adult and is able to modify interventions for care based on each stage.

Follows Hospital Policies

• Accrues no more than 3 unscheduled absences. Reports to work at designated time.
• Follows established call-in procedures.
• Consistently follows hospital and/or departmental procedures for dress, hygiene, and ID badges.
• Follows safety precautions.
• Has no avoidable accidents or injuries during the 12 month review period.
• Attends and/or completes all mandated infection control and safety programs on or before the scheduled performance review date.
• Adheres to hospital policies and department rules consistently.
• Follows the CHRISTUS Health Guidelines related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), designed to prevent or detect unauthorized disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI).
• Associate timely completes all required educational assignments.

Requirements: Education/Skills

• Graduate of an accredited school of Speech/Language Pathology with a MA/MS Degree in Speech/Language Pathology. Eligible/completed ASHA certification.

Experience

• New graduate or experienced therapist

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Must hold or be eligible for a license in the State of Texas as a Speech/Language Pathologist. Requires a safe driving record and a valid Texas Driver?s license, as job duties may include driving a vehicle frequently.

Work Schedule:
5 Days - 8 Hours Work Type: Full Time

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CHRISTUS Health is an international faith-based, not-for-profit health care system based in Irving, Texas, with more than 60 hospitals in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. CHRISTUS Health is made up of 50,000 Associates providing compassionate and individualized care at more than 600 centers, including community hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and health ministries. Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to every individual we serve.

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