Speech Therapist (SLP) - Outpatient

Advocate Health • Algonquin, IL

7d • $38 - $57

About The Position

The Speech Therapist evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders in an outpatient rehabilitation setting. The therapist interprets physician referrals, conducts evaluations, develops individualized written plans of care, delivers treatment, monitors outcomes, adjusts treatment as needed, and communicates patient status to physicians and teammates. The role includes supporting patient comfort and safety and planning discharges with home programs, patient and family education, community referrals, transition planning, and equipment orders when appropriate.

The position requires completing patient-care documentation, daily statistics, billing, and scheduling in accordance with department policies, accreditation standards, insurance guidelines, and productivity standards. The therapist maintains an orderly treatment area and uses available modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices appropriately. The role also includes participating in quality improvement, managing caseload and coverage needs, pursuing continuing education, orienting staff when requested, and contributing feedback on coworkers. The therapist may supervise non-licensed personnel and supports student clinical education by overseeing at least one student per year when students are available.

This is a part-time outpatient position with a 20-hour work week and one required late night until 7:00 p.m. The listed pay range is $38.20–$57.30, and the posting advertises a $2,500 sign-on bonus for a part-time Speech Therapist hire. The role is based in the Outpatient Rehabilitation department at Advocate Sherman Hospital. The position may require travel and involves exposure to electrical and chemical hazards, blood, and body fluids; protective clothing must be worn as needed.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from an accredited school, or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation.
• Speech Language Pathologist license issued by the state in which the teammate practices; if supporting multiple states, licensure in at least one supported state is required before hire.
• CCC SLP required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers 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 organizational skills.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Successfully complete competency assessments and requirements for patient care consistent with site standards.
• Maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications, such as DNV or CARF, as applicable.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate patient care, including knowledge of growth and development across the lifespan and the ability to assess and interpret patient information in relation to 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 and up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.
• Ability to 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, pushing and pulling, and fine hand manipulation during massage and joint mobilization.
• Functional use of senses to communicate effectively.
• Ability to wear protective clothing as needed when exposed to electrical and chemical hazards, blood, and body fluids.
• Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.

Nice To Haves

• Previous outpatient experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interpret physician referrals and evaluate patients with speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.
• Establish written plans of care and provide individualized treatment based on evaluation results, functional goals, and appropriate techniques.
• Monitor and evaluate treatment outcomes, adjust plans of care based on patient response, and provide status 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 when appropriate.
• Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to support optimum patient care.
• Complete required documentation, including evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries, in accordance with department policies and accreditation standards.
• Record patient care and progress; complete daily statistics, billing, and scheduling; follow insurance authorization and visit guidelines; and meet established productivity standards.
• Follow billing and documentation policies, procedures, and timelines.
• Clean up after treatment, put away equipment, and keep the work area neat and orderly.
• Perform manual techniques, patient positioning, and transporting duties using proper technique.
• Use available modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices according to department orientation and demonstrate knowledge of modality indications and contraindications.
• Promote patient safety and follow applicable 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 about 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 when requested and provide coworker feedback when requested.
• May supervise non-licensed personnel, delegate patients to assistive personnel, provide direction and treatment recommendations, and maintain responsibility for patient plans of care and goals.
• Support student clinical education by monitoring, observing, and directing the work of at least one student per year when students are available.

Benefits

• $2,500 sign-on bonus for a part-time Speech Therapist hire.
• 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 opportunity for annual increases based on performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time