Speech-Language Pathologist

Veterans Health Administration • Buffalo, NY

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Speech-Language Pathologist works in the Speech Therapy Clinics at the VA Western New York Healthcare System, at the Buffalo or Batavia campus, within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. The position conducts, plans, and coordinates clinical and administrative aspects of speech-language pathology services for patients with speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.

The clinician independently assesses and evaluates referred patients, interviews patients and appropriate family members or friends, selects and administers diagnostic tests, interprets results, and reports findings to other professionals. The role plans, conducts, coordinates, and monitors patient-centered treatment and rehabilitation to maximize or restore physical and social functioning. It includes developing and adjusting treatment plans, establishing therapy relationships with patients and caregivers, and collaborating with other healthcare practitioners on swallowing care.

The Speech-Language Pathologist serves as a consultant on difficult and complex cases and as a subject matter expert in speech-language pathology. The role also includes patient scheduling, assessment, goal setting, education, treatment implementation, and discharge planning, as well as maintaining professional competency through continuing education and professional learning.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under applicable law.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Master's degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university, plus one year of creditable experience; or a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• For GS-12: one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level, in addition to the basic requirements, and a full, current, and unrestricted license.
• For GS-12: skill applying contemporary, evidence-based speech-language pathology diagnosis and treatment principles and techniques for adult patients across the range of speech and patient populations.
• For GS-12: skill administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations.
• For GS-12: ability to assess clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to unique patient conditions.
• Complete a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program; and complete required onboarding and application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• Meet the described physical demands, including frequent stooping, bending, walking, handling wheelchairs, and lifting, with occasional heavy lifting in unforeseen situations; use safe machinery techniques and protective clothing as required.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience in acute care.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess and evaluate patients referred to Speech-Language Pathology, including complex cases.
• Interview patients and appropriate family members or friends; select, administer, and interpret diagnostic tests for speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.
• Report assessment findings to other professional workers and collaborate with the interdisciplinary healthcare team in diagnostic and clinical judgments.
• Plan, conduct, coordinate, and monitor patient-centered treatment and rehabilitation, assessing clinical outcomes and adapting care as needed.
• Administer and interpret tests of speech, language, voice, fluency, and cognition, including measures of vocal pitch and loudness, speech rate, disfluency, and articulation.
• Develop comprehensive swallowing-disorder care plans in collaboration with other healthcare practitioners.
• Establish and maintain effective therapy relationships with patients, families, and caregivers; adjust treatment plans in response to patient progress.
• Consult facility personnel on difficult and complex cases and serve as a subject matter expert in speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.
• Maintain professional competency through professional journals, continuing education, professional learning, and communication with other professionals.
• Complete patient scheduling, assessment, goal setting, patient education, treatment implementation, and discharge planning.
• Perform and interpret tests and measurements of patient status to formulate comprehensive treatment plans.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and are available through the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior