Speech Therapist

Overview

UnityPoint at Home

Speech Therapist / Pathologist

PRN; work as needed

Patients are seen Monday-Friday, 8am-4 : 30pm (No holidays, call or weekends!)

Cover Cedar Rapids area

The Speech Therapist (ST) uses clinical expertise, physical assessment, teaching and skilled therapy interventions to deliver high quality patient care in the patient’s place of residence. The ST develops or contributes to the development of the home health plan of care under the direction of the physician and facilitates appropriate interdisciplinary involvement to ensure the best outcome for each patient. The ST delivers therapy intervention and treatment directed by the physician as established in the home health plan of care that is consistent with clinical best practices and results in high quality, improved outcomes and exceptional patient experience.

Responsibilities

Patient Care / Care Coordination

• Makes visits to the homes of patients requiring home health physical therapy services and assumes responsibility for an ongoing interdisciplinary assessment of the patient.
• Performs initial and comprehensive assessments on all patients in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Conducts appropriate evaluations identifying dysfunctional language or swallowing and cognition and memory deficits.
• Oversees use of treatment modalities and communication devices / aids as necessary.
• Develops specific speech therapy procedures based on patient evaluation and includes them in the home health plan of care.
• Ensures quality and safe delivery of services to patients according to the care plan.
• Uses equipment and supplies safely, effectively, and efficiently.
• Promotes patient independence by teaching patients and family members to understand the following as well as any additional education needs identified by the assessing clinician and / or physician :
• Treatment and disease management
• Medications purpose, use, side effects, potential adverse effects
• Proper use, safety hazards, and infection control issues related to the use and maintenance of any equipment provided
• Patient plan of care
• Emergency preparedness
• Provides the services that are ordered by the physician as indicated in the plan of care.
• Provides patient, caregiver and family counseling and education as indicated in the plan of care.
• Develops and continually updates a plan of care that specifies the care and services required to meet patient-specific needs determined during the comprehensive assessment and includes measureable outcomes that will occur as a result of implementing and coordinating the plan of care.
• Develops and updates patient’s discharge plan on every visit ensuring patient and caregiver education and training is facilitating timely discharge and measureable goals and outcomes are attainable, realistic and up-to-date.
• Includes the patient, representative and caregiver in all plan of care decisions.
• Assesses the need for plan of care updates and every visit and includes the patient and family in care planning decisions and communicates care plan revisions to the patient, representative, caregiver and all physicians issuing orders for the home health plan of care.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of clinical records and time / travel entries.
• Receives, relays and documents verbal orders in accordance with state and federal regulations and in a timely manner to prevent adverse patient outcomes.
• Is responsible for obtaining physician orders prior to initiation of care and notifying the physician of any changes in the patient’s condition.
• Communicates with all physicians involved in the plan of care and other health care practitioners related to the current plan of care.
• Identifies patient’s risks for hospitalization and / or emergency department use and proactively intervenes to prevent adverse events.

Home Care Performance Criteria

Qualifications

Education : Master’s degree in speech-language pathology

Education Preferred : Doctoral degree in speech-language pathology

Experience : One year experience caring for similar patient population as to be assigned.

Experience Preferred : Home care experience. 2 years' experience

License(s) / Certification(s) :

Licensed as a speech-language pathologist by the state(s) where providing services.

If state does not require SLP license – completion of 350 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum; completions of 9 months of supervised full-time speech-language pathology services after obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree; and completion of a national examination in speech-language pathology approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Valid licensed driver with automobile insurance in accordance with state(s) and / or organizational requirements.

Mandatory Reporter : Child & Dependent Adult Abuse.

Person Centered Care (PCC) course completion within first 12 months of hire and annual completion of competency validation activities.

CPR : Maintain a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider Card with Re-certification.

Preferred : Certification in programming applicable to home care population

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities :

Basic knowledge of current, frequently used medications, including modes of administration, actions and side effects.

Strong interpersonal skills.

Ability to work as a collaborative team member

Ability to understand and apply guidelines, policies and procedures.

Ability to navigate and perform basic use of Microsoft Office products.

Maintains a reliable mode of transportation and has the ability to drive safely during all day and night hours and in all types of inclement weather

Preferred : Experience with documentation in an electronic health record.

Lifiting Requirements : Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and / or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and / or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Why UnityPoint Health?