General Summary: The Speech Therapist plans, directs, and provides speech, language, hearing, and swallowing services to patients. Manages the equipment and quality improvement with regards to Speech Therapy. The Speech Therapist is actively involved in department activities, transdisciplinary team activities, and LifeCare activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations admitted to LifeCare Hospital.

Patient Population: Has contact with patients in a clinical setting; understands and demonstrates appropriate behavior when interacting with patients in the adult (18-65 yrs of age) and geriatric (65 and older) populations.

Supervision: Not applicable.

Standard Essential Functions

• The knowledge and skills necessary to perform the position requirements are demonstrated through the successful completion of competencies established for the position, to include population served and other special needs of patients or customers, served by the department.
• Adheres to LifeCare policies, procedures, all safety plans, and all standards imposed by regulatory organizations.
• Regular attendance and timeliness is required.
  
  

Job-Specific Essential Functions

• Evaluates patients per MD orders and develops patient-specific plans of care that include short- and long-term goals to address speech, language, fluency, voice and swallowing disorders (to include MBSS and bedside swallow).
• Implements plan of care in a safe and supportive manner. Interacts with the patient regarding condition, progress and/or achievement of goals during each treatment session. Documents treatments and patient response. Communicates changing patient needs to physician.
• Evaluates effects of treatment at various stages and adjusts treatments and short- and long-term goals to achieve maximum benefit. The outcome of care provided and progress toward the goals are documented.
• Communicates with transdisciplinary team regarding patient-specific care requirements. Delegates responsibilities appropriately. Works in collaboration with the transdisciplinary team, patient, and family.
• Provides education to transdisciplinary team, patient and family concerning diagnosis, treatment, and post discharge care. Provides training and supervision of speech language techniques and objectives for members of the transdisciplinary team and students (if applicable).
• Plans/organizes work to maintain caseload, effectively schedules patient treatment sessions, maintains patient records and charges. Assures equipment is maintained and is in clean and working order. Reports equipment maintenance and/or repair timely.
  
  

Values

• We COLLABORATE: We develop our treatment plans in collaboration with physicians, clinicians, and patient's families.
• We ADVOCATE: We advocate on behalf of every patient and family.
• We RESPECT: We recognize and value the dignity, rights, and resources of each patient.
• We EDUCATE: We educate our team members and families with purpose and compassion.
• We SERVE: We serve as a TEAM with integrity at all levels focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients.