POSITION SUMMARY:
The staff Speech Pathologist shall function as the primary
therapist to deliver patient treatment on a day to day basis. The Speech
Pathologist has the responsibility for the direction, utilization, supervision,
and instruction of professional and supportive staff, volunteers, and students
in the area of the speech pathology department/facility. The speech pathologist
shall serve as part of the facility and rehabilitation team in coordinating
overall patient goals.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Supervision- To supervise the activities of the speech
department/facility including:
- Scheduling patients for treatment and evaluations.
- Preparations of
reports and records by department/facility personnel.
- Maintaining
inventory of materials and supplies for there are of the
department/facility.
- Use of
volunteers who may assist in their areas.
- Temporary
Speech Pathologist Licensees, Clinical Fellows, and Student Speech
Pathologists within their areas.
Evaluations
- To be responsible for the evaluation of all the patients referred
for Speech Therapy.
- To be
responsible for the evaluation of patients referred for Speech Therapy
through HomeCare, Nursing Home, and/or In/Out-patient.
- To be
responsible for completion and submission of all reports pertaining to the
evaluation.
- To see that all
referral sources are advised of the department/facility action with the
case referred.
Treatment
- To practice Speech Pathology consistent with the needs of the
department/facility.
- To maintain a
patient treatment schedule consistent with the needs of the
department/facility.
- To confer with
the person(s) most closely associated with active management of the
patient and to keep them informed of any additional patient needs,
treatment modification, and/or process.
- To treat
patients and function as a Staff Speech Pathologist as necessary.
- To treat
patients of all ages (e.g. infants, children, adolescents, adults,
geriatrics, elderly), race, creed, gender, and disability without bias or
prejudice.
- To respect and
understand the patient's right to treatment and right to involvement in
treatment decisions.
- To practice
ethical responsibility based on the cultural, ethnic, and religious
beliefs of the patients serves and applicable law.
Records and Reports
- To be responsible for the preparation and submitting of
department/facility reports, assuring confidentiality of all records
including:
- Evaluation reports/summaries.
- Discharge reports/summaries.
- Progress
reports to referring physicians and agencies.
- Current
progress notes on all patients.
- Special reports
requested by the Administration and/or his designee.
Meetings and Conferences
- To attend Department Manager Meetings as required.
- To attend
regular department/facility meetings to:
- Report and discuss activities and needs of department.
- Discuss
patient's needs and progress.
- Discuss reports
and records.
- Discuss
expansion in terms of the future goals and needs.
- To see that all
department routines and procedures and carried out as outlined
Professional Status and Public Relations
- To keep abreast of new techniques and trends in the field of Rehab
Services
- To attend
conventions, meetings, or special courses whenever possible, and to share
with department/facility personnel information gained thereby.
- To prepare and
give talks to community groups as requested.
- To maintain
good public relations with all community records.
Policies and Procedures - To keep current
and adhere to policies and procedures as enumerated in the Policy and
Procedures Manual of the department.
- To actively
participate and adhere in all policies and procedures as enumerated on the
risk management program.
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
o
Master's Degree in communicative Disorders-Speech
Pathology.
o
Speech Pathologist license in Iowa.
o
Must be a graduate of, or have a certificate from the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association approved school of
Speech-Language-Hearing or corresponding associations; current state licensure
is required.
- Education/Certifications/Licenses
o
Speech Pathologist license in Iowa.
o
Must maintain state of Iowa continuing education
requirements.
o
Must have verification card of current instruction in CPR.
o
Valid Iowa Drivers License.
o
Performance Requirements
- Responsibility for interpreting and carrying out the prescription of
the physician; good public relations; protection of confidential data;
economic use of time, equipment, and supplies; safety and welfare of
patients and employees.
- Must know the principles and practices of Speech Pathology; be
familiar with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Code of
Ethics; department/facility policies, procedures, and regulations; layout
of the department/facility; be aware of inter and intra departmental
communications; supervision and management techniques.
- Must be able to
apply the theory of Speech Language Therapy; have the ability and
competency to operate the equipment of his or her position; perform
technical procedures, speak intelligently and in a professional manner
before others; supervision and management skills.
- Must be able to
instill confidence in patients, doctors and personnel; determine proper
procedures and methods and evaluate results; must make decisions on his or
her own; adapt to emergency situation; alert to changes in the patient's
condition; alert to all activities of the department.
- Must have
coordination of sight and body movements in various applications of
procedures; techniques of assisting and handling patients; ability to
handle the machines of the profession.
- Communication
Skills
- Has a major role in fostering good public relations
- A high degree
of accuracy is required in carrying out prescriptions; in receiving and
translating information in charting and reporting.
- Policies and
Procedures
- To keep current
and adhere to policies and procedures as enumerated in the Policy and
Procedures Manual of the department.
- Organization
Wide/Department Performance Improvement Plan
- To actively
participate and adhere in all policies and procedures as enumerated in the
risk management program.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS:
Physical Activity Requirements | Up to 33% | 34-66% | 67-100% | N/A |
Sitting | X |
Standing | X |
Walking | X |
Climbing | X |
Bending/Stooping/Kneeling | X |
Repetitive Motion | X |
Lifting/Carrying | X |
Hearing | X |
Seeing | X |
How often are these weights lifted
or carried? | Up to 33% | 34-66% | 67-100% | N/A |
2-10 pounds | X |
11-20 pounds | X |
21-30 pounds | X |
31-40 pounds | X |
41-50 pounds | X |
51 pounds or more | X |
EQUIPMENT/TOOLS:
- Operate office equipment such as computers,
printers, copy machine, calculator, facsimile, and scanners.
- Ability to
understand oral and written instructions regarding set-up, operations of
equipment, preparations of patients for treatment and other related
activities.
- Must be able to
apply the theory of Speech Pathology, have the ability and competency to
operate the equipment of his or her position and profession.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Good physical stamina in this department/facility;
energetic, much writing, speaking, seeing, speed and good manual dexterity.
Able to walk, stand, stoop, lift, balance, sit, kneel,
hear, reach, pull, talk, see, turn, carry, push, handle, write. The degree to
which any of these is done depends on the techniques being used.
Thoughtful of others, gentle, courteous, patient, neat,
well-groomed, healthy, friendly, average intelligence, good memory, tactful.
Should have ability to organize his or her time in order to treat the maximum
number of patients in the allotted working day.
Conducts self with professional dignity, pleasant, tactful.
Maintains optimum physical and emotional health; understands the importance of
good human relations; able to motivate others; broad interest; possess strength
of all extremities and back; initiative and good judgment; flexibility;
enthusiasm; thoroughness.
Works inside under normal temperature conditions with
adequate light, in a well-ventilated, clean area; some areas are limited in
space, usually works around others; sometimes moderate noise.
No unusual hazard risks. Radiation exposure during modified
Barium Swallow Assessments. May be exposed to muscular strain in supporting,
lifting, and assisting patients.
Conditions of work may involve exposure to communicable
diseases and on-the-job injuries.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals
with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Vision must be correctable to view computer screens and
read printed information. Specific vision abilities required by the job include
close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and ability to
adjust focus.
Hearing must be in the normal range for telephone contacts
and other conversations.
The above is intended to describe the general content of
and requirements for this job. It is not intended to be a complete statement of
duties, responsibilities or requirements.