Speech Language Pathologist - CommUnityCare Health Centers

Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders.

Essential Duties:
• Responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech, language, cognitive, communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related disorders.
• Develop treatment plans to assist patients with speech problems such as delayed language, inappropriate pitch, stuttering, swallowing disorders or harsh voice problems. Treatment plans should be based on your own assessments as well as recommendations from social workers, physicians and psychologists.
• The Speech Language Pathologist gathers background data, reviews referrals, selects and modifies evaluation tools, and evaluates patients to determine the level of the patient’s physical and psychosocial functioning.
• Evaluates speech and language skills as related to educational, medical, social, and psychological factors.
• Plans, directs, and conducts rehabilitative treatment programs to restore communicative efficiency of individuals with communication problems of organic and nonorganic etiology.
• Assess patient needs and adjust treatments in accordance with patient progression.
• Evaluate language, speech or hearing test results as well as medical information and barium swallow results to diagnose and develop appropriate treatment plan for swallowing, fluency, language, speech and voice disorders.
• Teach clients proper techniques for achieving more effective communication, such as lip reading, voice improvement and sign language.
• Educate patients and/or families about proper safe use and recommend methods for installation of adaptive equipment.
• Instruct patients on how to strengthen the muscles of the face, tongue and jaw to facilitate improved speech.
• Refer clients when appropriate to additional educational or medical services.
• Maintain records, monitors progress, and counsels patients and their family members.
• Reevaluate patient’s progress during treatment at appropriate intervals
• Recommend, acquire, and modify necessary adaptive equipment to augment patient’s independence
• Supervising therapy assistants as appropriate.
• Evaluate outcomes and participate in discharge planning
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
• High level of skill at building relationships and providing excellent customer service.
• Interpersonal savvy and influence skills in managing difficult clients and patients.
• High degree of knowledge and competency in the practice of Speech Language Pathology and associated charting requirements.
• Requisite skills and ability to perform certain clinical tasks as assigned.
• High level of problem solving skill to better serve patients and staff.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to utilize computers for data entry and information retrieval.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and emergency situations successfully.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience/knowledge of Joint Commission accreditation process and requirements, as well as all federal, state and local regulations and standards associated with the delivery of care in a Federally Qualified Health Center.
• Demonstrated understanding and/or experience working in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) environment.
• Demonstrated understanding and/or experience working in an integrated delivery environment.
• Directly affect improvements in patient well-being through accurate and timely diagnosis and delivery of relevant, high quality medical care.
• Ensure all tasks provided and associated with patient care, patient administrative processes and related duties comply with all regulatory and accreditation standards including The Joint Commission, and CommUnityCare Standard Operating Procedures and CommUnityCare Policies and Procedures.
• Develop and maintain favorable internal relationships and partnerships with co-workers, including clinical managers, clinical support staff, providers and business office staff.
• Collaborate with all members of the care team in providing patient-centered care.
• Ensure all actions, job performance, personal conduct and communications represent CommUnityCare in a highly professional manner at all times.
• Uphold and ensure compliance and attention to all company policies and procedures as well as the overall mission and values of the organization.
• Complete all mandatory training and maintain appropriate credentials/licensure.
People Management/Department Management/Business Unit Management:

• Assesses learning needs, develops competency plans and provides opportunities for learning
• Participate in quality strategies to evaluate compliance with evidence-based guidelines, standards and to identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes.
• Participates in departmental and interdisciplinary committees, which influence or determine policies affecting population health practices.
• Develop and maintain favorable internal relationships, partnerships with co-workers, including clinical managers, clinical support staff, providers and business office staff.
• Plan and implement identified CUC strategies and goals, ensuring that his/her allotted department is working in accordance with such goals.
• Collaborate with all members of the care team in providing patient-centered care.

MINIMUM EDUCATION:
Master's degree in speech language pathology from an accredited program

REQUIRED LICENSURE:
Active and unrestricted license to practice as a Speech Language Pathologist in the State of Texas

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS:
Current Basic Life Support Certification for Healthcare Providers through American Heart Association. Will be required to maintain a current BLS certification during employment.