Speech Therapist (SLP)- Acute

Advocate Health•Chicago, IL

11d•$38 - $57•Onsite

About The Position

This per diem Speech-Language Pathologist position provides acute-care rehabilitation services at Advocate Trinity and South Suburban Hospitals. The role evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders; develops individualized plans of care; monitors outcomes; and coordinates treatment and discharge planning with patients, families, physicians, and other care-team members. The position requires at least one weekend day of coverage per month to maintain active status. The therapist completes required clinical and administrative documentation, billing, scheduling, and daily statistics; follows insurance authorization and documentation requirements; maintains productivity standards; and supports patient safety, infection control, and quality-improvement efforts. The role may include supervising non-licensed personnel and supporting clinical education by supervising at least one student per year when students are available. Work may involve travel between sites, physical assistance with patient movement, and exposure to electrical and chemical hazards and blood and body fluids.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from an accredited school, or educational requirements commensurate with graduation date.
Current Speech-Language Pathologist license in the state where practicing; if supporting multiple states, licensure in at least one of those states is required before hire.
Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association, obtained within 90 days unless the department leader determines it is not required.
No prior work experience required.
Intermediate computer skills.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, 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 applicable hospital-based certifications.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills to provide age-appropriate care, including understanding growth and development across the lifespan and assessing and interpreting age-specific patient needs.
Meet physical requirements including sitting, standing, walking, and squatting throughout the workday; lifting up to 50 pounds from floor to waist, 10 pounds from waist to overhead, and carrying up to 40 pounds at waist height; pushing or pulling with 30 pounds of force; and performing a 150-pound sliding transfer with a second person present.
Perform repetitive hand use, including simple grasping, pushing and pulling, and fine hand manipulation during massage and joint mobilization.
Have functional use of senses for effective communication and the ability to wear protective clothing as needed.
Operate equipment necessary to perform the job.
Maintain at least one weekend day of coverage per month to remain active in the role.
CCC SLP required.

Responsibilities

Interpret physician referrals and evaluate patients with speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.
Develop written plans of care and deliver individualized treatment using appropriate techniques and functional goals.
Monitor and evaluate treatment outcomes, adjust care plans based on patient response, and provide updates to physicians and teammates.
Identify and address factors affecting patients’ physical and psychosocial comfort.
Plan and complete patient discharges, including home programs, patient and family education, community-service referrals, transition planning, and equipment orders as appropriate.
Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to support optimal patient care.
Complete evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, discharge summaries, and other required documentation according to department policy and accreditation standards.
Record patient care and progress; complete daily statistics, billing, and scheduling; apply insurance authorization and visit guidelines; and meet productivity standards and documentation timelines.
Clean and organize the treatment area and put away equipment after treatment.
Use manual techniques, position and transport patients, and operate equipment and modalities in accordance with department training and safety requirements.
Follow patient-safety, safety-initiative, and infection-control measures.
Participate in performance-improvement activities to address problems affecting patient outcomes and quality of care.
Manage the assigned caseload, communicate coverage needs and availability to site leadership, 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 when requested and provide coworker feedback during evaluation processes when requested.
May supervise non-licensed personnel, delegate patients to assistive personnel, provide direction and recommendations, and maintain responsibility for patient plans and goals.
Support clinical education by monitoring, observing, and directing at least one student per year when students are available.

Benefits

Compensation within the listed pay range, based on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and training.
Premium pay, such as shift or on-call pay, based on the role.
Incentive pay for select positions.
Opportunity for annual performance-based increases.
Paid time off programs.
Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits, subject to eligibility.
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health-care and dependent-care expenses.
Adoption assistance and paid parental leave, subject to eligibility.
Defined-contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
Educational Assistance Program.