DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

• The Speech Pathologist provides professional skills in the comprehensive evaluation of patients in an acute setting with speech and language, swallowing and cognition impairments; provides habilitative and rehabilitative treatment services.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Consistently provides appropriate patient assessment and documents functional needs and goals.
• Prescribes appropriate rehabilitation plan of care.
• Effectively performs patient and family education and training.
• Proficient in performing objective measurements of receptive and expressive language skills and swallowing efficiency.
• Uses therapeutic process to effectively implement and evaluate the patient plan of care.
• Oversees the care of all assigned patients and all care givers rendering such care, including support staff, volunteers and students.
• Prepares reports and communicates patient progress to appropriate individuals.
• Exhibits clinical expertise and knowledge of speech and language, and swallowing treatment.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Successful completion of clinical training at a Master's level program in speech therapy.
• Graduate of a program satisfying the American Speech and Hearing Association's academic and practicum requirements for the certificate of Clinical Competence, must hold ASHA certification.
• Current Louisiana State License of Speech Pathology.
• Must maintain required hours of in-service per year to meet requirements for CEU's as stipulated by the State Board that governs the profession of Speech Pathology.
• CPR certification.
• Ability to communicate well with patient, family, peers and medical personnel.
• Use of a variety of equipment such as: Audiometer, Therapeutic computer, Refrigerator, Books, Manuals, Telephone, MBS chair, Feeding substances, Adaptive Feeding Equipment, NMES.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Work is medium, usually up to 25 pounds of lifting or carrying without help or over 25 pounds with help, usually in the form of assisting patients, especially pushing wheelchairs.
• Positions required include standing and walking on an occasional basis; sitting on a frequent basis; stair climbing, stooping and bending on an occasional basis; pushing/pulling on an occasional basis, including wheelchairs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.