Speech Language Pathologist

Shriners Hospitals for Children•Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) practices communication care and considers the needs, abilities, values, preferences, and interests of patients and families when making clinical decisions, together with current research evidence. The SLP provides individualized evaluations and treatment plans, educates and trains families, and provides staff education to meet patients’ communication needs. The role works with local leaders and follows the Shriners Hospitals for Children FOCUSED Program, a system-wide model emphasizing patient- and family-centered care. Following a referral from a licensed independent practitioner, the SLP conducts comprehensive, systematic patient examinations and evaluations using national standards, AMA CPT codes, appropriate assessment methods, and advanced instrumentation and technologies. The SLP formulates prognoses and measurable goals, develops and implements individualized treatment plans, and uses evidence-based practice in treating communication, feeding, swallowing, and related functional disorders. The position collaborates with patients, families, multidisciplinary teams, vendors, and third-party payers to support appropriate equipment and services. The SLP also contributes to clinical programs and practice guidelines, discharge planning, patient and caregiver education, documentation, scheduling and authorization paperwork, compliance, and departmental education. The position maintains current knowledge of professional and regulatory standards and pursues ongoing professional growth and development.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Speech Pathology.
Licensed in the state of practice.
Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC).
CPR/BLS certification, per hospital policy.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the pediatric specialty of the hospital, which may include outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation.
One year of experience in a healthcare setting.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities in working with children at various levels of care.

Responsibilities

Conduct systematic, comprehensive, patient- and family-centered examinations and evaluations after receiving a licensed independent practitioner referral.
Use culturally and linguistically appropriate observations, standardized or criterion-referenced tools, records, case histories, interviews, and advanced instrumentation and technologies in assessment.
Synthesize assessment information and determine a prognosis, likely intervention outcomes, timelines, and measurable, achievable goals.
Design, develop, and implement individualized treatment plans for communication, feeding, swallowing, and related functional concerns.
Use evidence-based practice and advanced instrumentation and technologies in the management and care of patients.
Collaborate with patients and families, multidisciplinary teams, vendors, and third-party payers to arrange appropriate orthotic devices, adaptive equipment, pressure garments, assistive technology, prosthetics, and durable medical equipment.
Assist in identifying and developing clinical programs and clinical practice guidelines.
Ensure interventions comply with department policies, professional practice standards, and regulatory guidelines.
Develop discharge plans collaboratively with patients, families, care management, community resources, schools, and outside therapy clinics; participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
Assess patient and caregiver education needs and provide understandable discharge instructions and home programs, using written or demonstrated methods as appropriate.
Coordinate discharge referrals with medical vendors and outside therapeutic services and arrange durable medical equipment as needed.
Maintain accurate, thorough, ethical clinical documentation that meets payer, regulatory, professional, hospital, Joint Commission, AMA CPT, and applicable CARF requirements, and supports medical necessity, skilled intervention, and progress toward goals.
Assist with documentation audits as requested and complete paperwork for scheduling, prior authorization, adaptive equipment, and patient care statistics.
Reflect on professional practice and seek clinical education to advance skills and evidence-based practice.
Participate in departmental education, including staff in-services and competencies.
Review federal, state, payer, AMA CPT coding, and State Practice Act requirements, and assist peers in meeting applicable standards.
Maintain high ethical, professional, and technical standards and integrate organizational core values into daily work.