Speech Pathologist

Job Responsibilities:

• Evaluates patients speech language cognitive and swallowing abilities and develops a PlanOfCare that is individualized towards the patients cognitive-linguistic and/or swallowing capabilities to maximize their functional independence and safety.
• Completes appropriate diagnostic assessments via standardized and non-standardized means to create an individualized and patient centered plan of care.
• Plans and delivers education and training so that the patient and/or caregiverunderstand the patients current cognitive-linguistic and /or swallowing capabilities and how these clinical recommendations can impact the patients environmental and safety needs.
• Integrates comprehensive diagnostic information to differentiate between motor speech cognitive-communication languagevoiceand dysphagia disorders.

• Makes recommendations for specialty services or consultations as needed.

• Uses evaluation and treatment findings to determine appropriate discharge planning needs.

• Effectively participates in intra-departmental staff meetings and intra-departmental discipline/program committee assignments.
• Willparticipate in education programs by teachingand/orsupervising students.
• Participates in research projectsaswarranted by departmental and/or organizational needs.
• Completes all required SpeechTherapydocumentation in accordance with thepolicesand expectations of Shepherd Center.
• Performance isconsistent withShepherd Center standards clinical policies andadheres to State of Georgia licensure and ASHA Certification guidelines.
• Adheres to Professional behaviors and expectations.
• Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.
• Actively participates in center-wideinitiativesthat affect speech therapy practiceand delivery
• Effectively Collaborateswithteam members othercolleaguesand community stake holders.
• May float to inpatient or post-acute programs to provide patient evaluation or treatment sessions as needed.
• Performs other duties as required/requested.

Required Minimum Education:

• Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited program in speech-language pathology.

Required Minimum Certification:

• Licensed to practice in the state of Georgia.

• Current certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing. Association or eligible for completion of Clinical Fellowship leading to ASHA certification.

• BLS Certification.

Required Minimum Experience:

• Placement within programs will depend on prior experience withgivenpopulation and/orsuccessfulcompletion of identified clinicalcompetencies.

Required Minimum Skills:

• Basic computer skills.

• Effectivetime management skills.

• Knowledge in diagnosis andtreatmentfor speech languagecognitive swallowingimpairments.

• Able to design aplan of caregiverthat is patient centered with ability to address functional needs based upon the patientand caregiverenvironment of care.

• Successful completion of identified core competencies pertinent to specific treatment setting as it relates to age specific patient needs(i.e.adolescent adult and geriatric)

• Demonstrates competency in time management organizationplanningto manage and maintain the demands ofpatient care caseload and all corresponding job responsibilities.

• Takesinitiative for personal and clinical growth via opportunities for continuing education and maintaining licensure and certification.

• Communicates effectively using timely verbal non-verbal and written communication.

• Collaborates with theorganizationalsupportstructure (ST Therapy Manager Program manager and/or director) in adaptingtothechanging work demands andenvironment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exposure or experience with diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurological impairments.

Physical Demands:

• Delivers therapy in a variety of modes such as at bedside wheelchair level or in a table top manner.

• May involve walking or standing or exerting up to 15 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift carry push pull or otherwise move objects including the human body. May include assisting with and/or performing transfers as appropriate and positioning of patients consistent with lifting up to 30 lbs.

Working Conditions:

• Normal patient care environment.

• Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.

• Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.