Speech Language Pathologist, Speech Therapy, Per Diem, Weekdays, Late afternoon and some early evening hours

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Heywood Healthcare values its employees and offers competitive wages, great benefits, and generous earned time off. This Per Diem position involves weekday hours, with late afternoon and some early evening availability. The role focuses on providing speech and language therapy services to both inpatients and outpatients, including evaluations, treatment plan creation and implementation, and patient/caregiver education. The position also involves performing swallow evaluations and/or modified barium swallow studies, coordinating care with other healthcare providers, and documenting patient progress and outcomes.

Requirements

Masters or doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology
Experience in evaluation and treatment of pediatric speech-language disorders is required
Current MA State licensure, Speech Language Pathologists
Certificate of Clinical competence in Speech-Language Pathology required

Nice To Haves

Candidates with experience or wishing to gain experience in the evaluation and management of dysphagia (including Modified Barium Swallow studies) and acquired adult neurogenic communication disorders are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Systematically gathers and evaluates relevant information and data from the patient interview and/or all the patient information sources.
Performs Speech and Language Evaluations on both inpatients and outpatients to assess communicative functions and determine the need for habilitation/rehabilitation, using appropriate test protocols.
Communicates findings in the assigned format in accordance with departmental standards to both patient or patient/guardian and pertinent medical or direct care staff.
Identifies variations from expected findings and understands the significance for such variations.
Takes appropriate actions when variations are identified.
If working in the inpatient setting, performs swallow evaluations and/or modified barium swallow studies on both inpatients and outpatients to assess the adequacy of the swallow function and determine the need for dietary modifications and/or intervention.
Communicates evaluation results to the patient/caregiver.
Performs Swallow Evaluations and/or Modified Barium Swallow studies on both inpatients and outpatients to assess the adequacy of the swallow function and determine the need for dietary modifications and/or intervention.
Communicates Swallow Evaluations results to the patient, as well as all necessary medical and direct care staff within 24 hours, particularly as they may involve changes in care.
Creates an Initial Treatment Plan and implements therapy programs for individuals with communication, cognitive, or swallowing disorders to improve functional skills in these areas.
Documents daily treatment notes after each session, consults with family, reports on progress in a written format every 3 months, and communicates with caregivers regarding any significant status changes.
Counsels and educates patients or parents/guardians relative to the communication or swallowing disorder to improve their understanding and facilitate home carryover.
Evaluates the patient’s understanding of his or her condition, treatment, and/or prognosis.
Coordinates care with other healthcare providers and relevant school personnel.
Reassesses the patient’s condition, status and progress on an ongoing basis.
Prioritizes, reprioritizes, and modifies the plan of care based upon patient assessment and patient condition.
Documents the implementation of the plan of care and any adverse and/or unexpected events or outcomes.