Speech & Language Pathologist- complex neuro

Advocate Health • Park Ridge, IL

8d • $38 - $57

About The Position

The Speech & Language Pathologist evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders. The role interprets physician referrals, develops written plans of care, delivers individualized treatment, monitors outcomes, adjusts treatment plans, and communicates patient status to physicians and other teammates. The position also supports patient comfort, discharge planning, home programs, patient and family education, community referrals, transitions of care, and equipment orders as appropriate.

The pathologist maintains complete and timely clinical and administrative documentation, including evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries. Responsibilities also include recording care and progress, completing statistics, billing and scheduling, applying insurance authorization guidelines, and meeting productivity standards. The role maintains a safe and orderly treatment area, uses equipment and modalities appropriately, follows safety and infection control measures, and participates in quality improvement and caseload coverage.

The position supports ongoing professional development and may orient new staff, provide coworker feedback, supervise non-licensed personnel, delegate care while maintaining responsibility for the plan of care, and support student clinical education by monitoring and directing at least one student per year when students are available. This is a part-time, 0.5 FTE position of 20 hours per week. The listed pay range is $38.20–$57.30, with a $2,500 sign-on bonus for experienced hires.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from an accredited school, or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation.
• Maintain continuing education requirements mandated by applicable state professional standards.
• Speech Language Pathologist license issued by the state in which the teammate practices; if supporting multiple states, licensure in at least one of those states is required before hire.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association, obtained within 90 days unless the department leader determines it is not required.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organization skills.
• Excellent organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Successfully complete competency assessments and requirements related to patient care and site standards.
• Maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications such as DNV or CARF, as applicable.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills to provide age-appropriate patient care, including knowledge of growth and development across the lifespan and the ability to assess patient data and identify age-specific needs.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist; lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead; and lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a reasonable distance.
• Ability to push or pull with 30 lbs. of force and perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand use, including simple grasping of 5–15 lbs. for 20% of the workday, pushing or pulling up to 75–100 lbs. for 10% of the day, and fine hand manipulation during massage and joint mobilization.
• Functional use of senses to communicate effectively.
• Ability to wear protective clothing as needed due to exposure to electrical and chemical hazards, blood, and body fluids.
• Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.

Responsibilities

• Interpret physician referrals and conduct speech and language evaluations for patients with speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.
• Establish written plans of care and provide individualized treatment based on evaluations, functional goals, and appropriate techniques.
• Monitor and evaluate patient outcomes, adjust treatment plans as needed, and provide status updates to physicians and teammates.
• Identify and address factors affecting patients’ physical and psychosocial comfort.
• Plan and complete patient discharge, including home programs, patient and family teaching, community referrals, transition planning, and equipment orders as appropriate.
• Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to support optimal patient care.
• Complete required documentation according to department policy and accreditation standards, including evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries.
• Record patient care and progress, complete daily statistics, billing and scheduling, apply insurance authorization guidelines, meet productivity standards, and follow billing and documentation policies and timelines.
• Clean up after treatment, put away equipment, and keep the treatment area neat and orderly.
• Perform manual techniques, patient positioning, and patient transport duties, including lifting and pushing or pulling using proper technique.
• Use available modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices according to department orientation and demonstrate knowledge of indications and contraindications.
• Promote patient safety and follow safety and infection control measures.
• Participate in performance improvement activities to resolve problems affecting patient outcomes and improve quality of care.
• Manage assigned caseload, inform site leadership of coverage needs and availability, and assist with coverage based on department and regional needs.
• Pursue professional growth through continuing education, department in-services, and professional literature.
• Orient new staff to clinical and department policies and provide feedback on coworkers as requested.
• May supervise non-licensed personnel, delegate patients to assistive personnel, provide direction and ongoing supervision, and remain responsible for patient plans of care and goals.
• Support student clinical education by monitoring, observing, and providing work direction to at least one student per year unless students are unavailable.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program
• Competitive compensation, premium pay for select circumstances, incentive pay for select positions, and the opportunity for annual performance-based increases
• $2,500 sign-on bonus for experienced hires

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time