Speech Therapist

PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION

The purpose of this position is to provide for patient evaluation and the application of a wide variety of therapeutic techniques for the rehabilitation of patients with speech and language disorders, hearing disorders and oral motor disorders.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Duty 1: Examines, tests, diagnoses, and administers treatments for patients with speech and language disorders, hearing disorders, and oral motor/swallowing disorders.
• Duty 2: Performs evaluations with particular attention to receptive and expressive language skills, speech fluency, vocal and oral motor competence, articulation, auditory skills and swallowing ability.
• Duty 3: Ensures understanding with the patient, family, referring doctors and other professionals regarding progress, problems, home programs, and other issues related to the therapeutic process.
• Duty 4: Develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic speech and language programs and services that promotes Speech Therapy
• Duty 5: Provides speech articulation therapy and works with patients to develop language skills and swallowing skills as appropriate.
• Duty 6: Facilitates behavior management in patients and families as appropriate to the needs of the patient; teaches parenting skills as required.
• Duty 7: Accurately maintains records of work performed to ensure documentation, billing are in compliance to organizational and regulatory standards.
• Duty 8: Maintains equipment and supplies used as part of the therapeutic process.
• Duty 9: Practices safety, environmental, and/or infection control methods.
• Duty 10: Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Duty 11: Continues professional growth by attending educational meetings, workshops, visiting related facilities, and reading professional literature as regulated by governing boards, and licensure requirements.
• Duty 12: Participates in 4 activities per year within the community that promotes the rehabilitation department. Attends 10 staff meetings per year to ensure proper communication of departmental/organizational progress, and /or changes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters Degree in Speech Therapy
• State and national licensure in speech therapy
• A valid driver's license is required (if you do not have a valid Ohio driver’s license you must obtain one within 30 days of your residency in the state) and you must also meet BVHS's company fleet policy requirements
• Positive service-oriented interpersonal and communication skills required.
• Individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient served on his/her assigned unit/department.
• The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to their age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the area’s policies and procedures.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

General

Occasionally pushes patients in wheelchairs (100-350 lbs.) into and out of treatment areas and adjusts patient’s position for table or computer access. Also assists patients to adjust extremities or re-position upper body in chair. Frequently travels to patient’s homes to provide Home Health speech therapy. Frequently travels within building to locate patients on units, treat patients in other clinical areas, or to assist in patient transport. Frequently transports patient folders, treatment materials and office supplies (1-5 lbs.). Frequently pushes/pulls file and storage cabinet drawers to retrieve and return materials. Frequently changes body position from sit-stand or stand-sit during treatment, documentation, general office activities. Occasionally provides steadying or light assistance to ambulatory patients for standing or walking within the department or in hallways. Occasionally lifts/adjusts patient seated in wheelchair with or without assistance.

Fine Motor Coordination:

Frequently writes or keyboards to document patient care or to demonstrate or assist patient during treatment; frequently assists patients in computer treatment activities, occasionally may enter charges or other departmental administrative data. Frequently uses fine motor skills during dysphagia evaluation and treatment (e.g., resistance exercises, thermal gustatory stimulation, palpation of muscle function, or deep muscle massage.

Verbal Expression:

Frequently presents treatment stimuli verbally for speech, language, voice, and cognitive evaluation and treatment tasks, provides verbal model for remediation of patient speech production. Presents information verbally to other professionals in formal and informal meetings, case staffing, and in telephone consultations.

Hearing:

Relies upon hearing to discern speech and voice impairments, and to determine adequacy of spoken language and cognitive responses during evaluation and treatment activities. Hearing also involved in receiving verbal information from other professionals.

Vision:

Frequently observes patient visually to assess orofacial movements, adequacy of gestures, other pragmatic aspects, and written language. Frequently must read literature, reports and other written materials from other professionals, and CIS and billing computer terminals.

Environmental Factors:

The practice of medical speech pathology involves occasional risk of infection (e.g., MRSA, hepatitis, other blood borne pathogens) which requires to the use of safety precautions such as surgical masks, gowns, gloves and special hand-washing procedures. Materials and treatment surfaces may also require special handling.

This position is classified “at risk” for possible occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens (HBV, HIV, etc.)