Speech-Language Pathologist (PRN)
About The Position
The Speech-Language Pathologist evaluates residents, under physician referral, for swallowing and communication disorders; develops treatment plans and obtains approval for services from the referring physician; and completes required assessments for Medicare skilled, Medicare A, and Medicare B clients. The role communicates and teaches families and other healthcare team members to improve outcomes and support use of compensatory strategies and diet changes. It also conducts in-services and assigned resident screenings to identify people at risk who may need services. This PRN position offers flexible, as-needed hours. The Speech-Language Pathologist maintains treatment schedules and billing records, coordinates care with other disciplines, documents resident progress and changes in medical status, and participates in care planning, department meetings, competency reviews, and quality assurance activities.
Requirements
- Master of Science or Master of Arts degree from an accredited college or university.
- Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
- Current Virginia state licensure.
- Maintain yearly adult CPR certification.
- Ability to deal tactfully and compassionately with residents, family members, caregivers, and coworkers.
- Ability to motivate residents to participate as fully as possible in rehabilitation programs.
- Professional dress, demeanor, and presentation.
- Enthusiasm, flexibility, and ability to adapt to a changing healthcare work environment.
Responsibilities
- Provide speech therapy evaluations and treatments to address losses of communication and swallowing abilities due to disease or trauma.
- Communicate resident progress to physicians, nursing staff, and other team members through accurate treatment notes, progress reports, 14-day and monthly reevaluations, and discharge summaries, following department policies and Medicare guidelines.
- Copy progress notes to the interdisciplinary team (IDT) record.
- Coordinate resident treatment with nursing, dietary, occupational therapy, and physical therapy staff.
- Report changes in residents’ medical status to the charge nurse and document changes in IDT notes according to department policy.
- Participate in care plan meetings and discharge planning for assigned caseload patients; monitor the care plan list and brief the attending therapist when not assigned to a meeting.
- Maintain accurate billing records for PPS treatment minutes, Medicare B units and treatment codes, and Managed Care clients according to facility protocol.
- Maintain treatment schedules for patients under the plan of care and coordinate daily treatment times with other disciplines.
- Notify the rehabilitation MDS coordinator when scheduled patients cannot be seen or receive less treatment time than specified in the plan of care.
- Attend the weekly Medicare A meeting when possible or provide updates on patients before the meeting if it conflicts with scheduled clients.
- Communicate the initiation of Restorative Nursing Programs to the Staff Development Coordinator and train floor nursing staff in resident-specific programs.
- Participate in the annual speech therapy competency review process.
- Participate in quality assurance studies as assigned by the Director of Rehabilitation.
- Teach and communicate with families and healthcare team members about strategies and diet changes that support resident outcomes and follow-through.
- Conduct assigned in-services and resident screenings to identify those at risk and in need of services.
Benefits
- Daily Pay: work and get paid the same day.
- Tuition assistance for career development.
- Tutoring for ESL, citizenship tests, and GED.
- Referral program with earnings of up to $3,000 for referring friends and family.
- Free meals.
- Access to a fitness center and pool.
