POSITION TITLE: Speech Language Pathologist

REPORTS TO: Clinic and/or Area Manager

FUNCTION: Operations

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Provides patient/resident assessment, care planning, direct treatment and consultation to a general rehab caseload. Participates in the clinical team process. Provides teaching and training to care giver staff. Involvement in clinical program development. Supervises other licensed therapists, assistants, technicians, aides and students as required. In programs with two or more speech language pathologists/assistants, may provide additional administrative duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

May supervise Speech Language Pathologist Assistants, Rehab Techs and/or Rehab Aides, CFY’s and students involved in the program.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Screens patients/residents.
• Evaluates patients/residents and develops appropriate care plans.
• May perform additional assigned administrative duties such as: assigning and overseeing patient/resident care activities, medical record oversight, assuring execution of physician orders, ordering supplies, etc.
• Under a physician’s order, provides direct patient/resident treatment in accordance with an established plan of care. Treatment venue includes one-on-one, supervised and group.
• Contributes to the team meeting and decision-making process as defined by the program.
• Provides consultation and training to patients, residents, families, and care givers.
• Monitors efficiencies on an ongoing basis in collaboration with supervisor.
• Documents activities according to the company’s clinical documentation system on a timely basis.
• Demonstrates consistent knowledge and application of Medicare and other reimbursement regulations.
• Communicates effectively with patients/residents, families, care givers, team members, customer and supervisor.
• Promotes positive customer relations.
• Provides appropriate consultation to the facility.
• Participates in clinical program development and implementation.
• Participates in the training and orientation of other staff.
• Participates in census building and marketing activities.
• Demonstrates an ability for continuous new learning to remain current in the field.
• May perform additional duties as requested by supervisor.
• Participates in quality improvement activities.
• Responsible for service and operational excellence of all assigned activities to ensure the delivery of quality services and/or outcomes required to meet or exceed the expectations of those utilizing or impacted by the department.
• Exhibits courtesy, compassion and respect to patients, residents, families, care givers, visitors, physicians, administrators and co-workers.

The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be involved in the position.

DIMENSIONS:

• All of Millennium Rehab & Consulting, Inc.
• Involved with a variety of employees in a geographically dispersed area.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

Environmental Demands:

• Work is performed in the Rehabilitation Department and on patient care units. Occasional exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, anti-neoplastic pharmaceuticals and other materials and substances that may be used in patient care or on the patient care unit.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required for attendance at Regional Meetings, training, etc.
• Light to moderate travel to other sites may be required.

Essential Physical Demands:

• Position requires 40% standing, 20% sitting, 40% walking.
• Position requires effective verbal and written communication, adequate visual acuity for chart review and clinical tasks, adequate hearing acuity for communicating with patients, families, and other professionals.
• Frequent physical effort with lifting medium to heavy, bulky, and awkward objects and patients. Adequate physical endurance for walking, standing, lifting, reaching, transferring patients/residents, weighing between 100 to 250 lbs. is frequently required, or pushing carts.
• Position requires considerable effort on ongoing basis as in pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, and assisting in restraining patients.
• Complete range of motion including fine motor skills of both hands is needed. Manual dexterity needed for documentation needs, for manipulation of equipment and for direct patient care.
• Good visual skills needed for patient/resident’s assessment, documentation, and report analysis.

Essential Mental Demands:

• Requires intense attention and concentration.
• Ability to cope with periodic associated with changing census and staffing demands.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage time effectively for self and other.
• Ability to deal with a wide range of personality types, ages and diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to articulate and comprehend the English Language.
• Bi-lingual skills may be required for certain facilities.

External and internal candidates, as well as, position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job specific responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the company on a case-by-case basis.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master of Science Degree in Speech Language Pathology and Professional Licensure where required by state law; two years clinical experience preferred.
• Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize independent clinical judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Utilizes effective time management skills.
• Ability to function effectively in multi-faceted systems and to interact effectively with all levels of staff and customers.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.