Speech Therapist

BETHESDASPEECH THERAPYJOB DESCRIPTIONJob Summary

Provides Speech Therapy services for residents/clients across Bethesda’s care settings, including the Skilled Nursing Facility, Home Health, and Outpatient programs, including evaluation, treatment, development, and execution of therapy plans, and completion of all required documentation and communication.

Job Relationships

• Reports to: Director of Rehabilitation
• Internal: SNF Administrator, Home Health and Hospice Director, Director of Nursing, Social Services, Human Resources, Accounts Payable, Billing.
• External: Physicians, Medical Director, MDH personnel, CMS surveyors, hospital discharge planners, referral sources, patients and families, and the general community.

Hours of Work: Casual Shifts. Dress Code: Clean, fitted scrubs in solid colors or simple pattern.

Essential Requirements of Work: (Minimum qualifications necessary to function at full productivity.)

• Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an Accredited Speech Therapy Program
• Current accredited MN Speech Therapist License

• Experience:

• One to three years of prior experience in a rehabilitation setting, such as acute care, inpatient rehab, outpatient clinics, SNFS, long-term care, assisted living, memory care, or home health.
• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations.

• Personal:

• Highly developed communication skills, both oral and written..
• Self-motivated with strong attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to adapt to various work settings and changing priorities.
• Ability to work varying hours, including weekends and holidays.

• Job Responsibilities:

• Optimize communication, cognitive and swallowing skills of resident/client by performing or supervising therapy staff in the following activities: initiating referrals; evaluating and treating appropriate patients; appropriately documenting progress toward identified objectives and communicating patient status and needs to the resident/client, the resident/clients family, the staff and other professionals as appropriate.
• Conducts screenings of patients at regular intervals to determine need for intervention/treatment.
• Establishes individual patient schedules in conjunction with other team members.
• Develops treatment plans by identifying a problem list, including long and short-term goals and methods to achieve identified goals.
• Coordinates treatment plan with resident/client, family, and other team members.
• Implements and conducts treatment as outlined in the treatment plan.
• Monitors patient’s response to intervention and modifies treatment as indicated to attain goals in accordance with the physician’s orders.
• Develops appropriate home or community programming to maintain and enhance the performance of the resident/client his/her own environment.
• Documents results of resident/client assessment, treatment, follow-up, and termination of services.
• Adapts treatment to meet the individual needs of the resident/client.
• Instructs resident/client, family, and staff in appropriate speech language procedures or home program to allow carryover of therapeutic remediation and goals in daily activities.
• Participates in discharge planning.
• Participates in resident/client, family, and staff education.
• Confers formally and informally with other team members in coordinating the total rehabilitation program of the patient.
• Provides in-service education to the members of the resident/client care team and to members of the community.
• Assumes responsibility for ongoing continuing education and professional development.
• Provides treatment in accordance with established standards of practice, department procedures, and efficiency standards.
• Consistently demonstrates sound judgment in the evaluation, planning, implementation, and follow-up of the patient therapy programs.
• Follows universal precautions, facility infection control guidelines, sanitation and safety standards of practice in all work and activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands of the Job:

• Standing and walking required for extended periods.
• Occasional kneeling, stooping, squatting, twisting, and bending.
• Sitting required for documentation, administrative, and computer-based tasks.

Professional and Personal Growth:

• Report for and leave the work area on a timely basis.
• Participate in the annual performance evaluation process.
• Participate in all required in-service programs at Bethesda.
• Maintain professional conduct and a positive, collaborative attitude toward staff, patients, and visitors.
• Be willing to learn and adapt to meet the evolving needs of the organization.