Speech-Language Pathologist – Pediatric Outpatient

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to join our outpatient pediatric rehabilitation team. This unique role blends individual outpatient therapy with preschool-based group treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ideal for an SLP who enjoys variety, collaboration, and supporting early communication development. This position includes dedicated time within The Preschool for Children with Autism at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, along with individual outpatient pediatric speech therapy services. The role is a 50/50 split between outpatient pediatric therapy and a preschool-based autism program. The Speech-Language Pathologist evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognition, fluency, auditory (re)habilitation, and swallowing/oral feeding disorders. They educate and counsel patients and families, provide independent therapeutic services, and identify areas of clinical specialization and competency. The role also involves supervising graduate students as assigned, participating in quality improvement activities, and collaborating with the clinical practice team to achieve patient outcomes and system objectives. This position is not open to Clinical Fellows (CFs), new graduates, or graduate clinicians.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited program
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) required at time of hire
Current Tennessee SLP license or eligibility for licensure
Minimum of one (1) year of post-Master’s pediatric clinical experience in a school, outpatient, or rehabilitation setting
Hands-on experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level : 1 year
Education: Master's

Nice To Haves

Experience with early childhood populations (birth–5)
Familiarity with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems
Experience in evaluating and treating children with speech, language, hearing loss/cochlear implants, and cognitive-communication disorders
Strong interpersonal, communication, and documentation skills
Demonstrated success in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment

Responsibilities

Evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognition, fluency, auditory (re)habilitation, and swallowing/oral feeding disorders.
Educates and counsels patients and families.
Provides independent therapeutic services and identify area(s) of clinical specialization and competency.
Supervises graduate students as assigned in clinical specialty area.
Participates actively in identifying and conducting quality improvement activities.
Collaborates with clinical practice team to achieve patient outcomes and system objectives.
Provide group speech-language therapy within a classroom setting as part of The Preschool for Children with Autism, an intensive, communication-focused program for young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Co-treat alongside another experienced Speech-Language Pathologist.
Provide group therapy to a small cohort of children focused on early communication, social interaction, and functional language development.
Deliver care within a structured preschool classroom environment.
Collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary team, including Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Feeding Therapists, Behavior Analyst Consultants, and specially trained teaching assistants.
Evaluating and treating children with speech, language, hearing loss/cochlear implants, and cognitive-communication disorders (typically no more than 8 patients per day).
Addressing developmental delays and pediatric communication challenges.
Developing individualized treatment plans aligned with child and family goals.
Providing caregiver education to support carryover at home.
Collaborating with pediatric providers and audiology professionals.
Documenting care in Epic in accordance with Vanderbilt Health standards.
Analyzes comprehensive information from formal and informal assessment that is pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine a rehabilitation treatment diagnosis.
Collaborates with stakeholders in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the rehabilitation continuum.
Applies appropriate, evidence-based interventions to ensure effective outcomes and re-evaluates performance to assess patient's progress towards goals.
Employs strategies to promote successful return to home, community, and school/vocational environments.
Supervises graduate students by providing instruction, guidance/counsel and training to ensure provision of competent patient care and completion of appropriate documentation.
Demonstrates proficiency providing treatment consistent with physician prescription and established plan of care.
Identifies treatment objectives based upon assessment results and family input.
Writes functional objectives in measurable terms that are consistent with the family's goals and resources.
Applies evidence based clinical management practices.
Identifies and recommends additional/alternative services when appropriate.
Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with speech-language, auditory, and/or swallowing/oral feeding deficits using the appropriate testing methods and equipment for the patient type, diagnosis, and reason for the referral.
Demonstrates the ability to obtain the case history and selects appropriate measures and performs a functional assessment to document patient's status requiring skilled therapy.
Interprets the results of the assessment and their significance for the patient, family, referring physician and other members of the health care team.
Demonstrates proficiency in the discharge planning process.
Informs patients, family and members of team of the patient's needs based upon the assessment and/or treatment.
Makes recommendations for continued services, follow-up, or referrals to other services.
Seeks guidance consistently on the transition and discharge process including transition services and referral resources.
May anticipate transition and discharge needs of the patient based upon understanding of pathology/diagnosis and relationship to their present functional status.
Will have completed at least one year of experience with transition and discharge planning.
Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process.
Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature.
May supervise, educate and train students from professional programs of speech-language pathology.
Demonstrates proficiency in documentation practices.
Documents in the appropriate templates and utilizes only approved abbreviations within patient documentation.
Meets institutional standards for quality and timeliness of documentation.