The purpose of this job/position is to function as a member of the Rehabilitation Services patient care team by providing speech/language pathology services to the pediatric developmental and rehabilitation patient/client population. This position will have competency and experience with assessment and intervention activities for feeding and swallowing, as well as speech and language services.

The speech-language pathologist will be able to treat and evaluate feeding/swallowing disorders, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and Passy Muir valves in multiple areas including outpatient, NICU, PICU, and DCH acute care settings. Therapists will be able to complete MBSS and FEES with appropriate caregiver education, plan of care, and follow-up.

Dependent on department needs this speech-language pathologist would also be expected to serve clients in the outpatient setting for speech and language evaluation/therapy. This may include but is not limited to the following: stuttering, early intervention, autism, articulation disorders, and expressive/receptive language disorders/delays.

Therapists evaluate each patient referred, establish treatment goals/objectives, develop and treatment plan, and implement the plan. Therapists are expected to supervise therapy interns, assist with other educational research activities conducted by the department or the hospital, and meet hospital standards regarding documentation and productivity. This position may include weekend shifts.

Provides a safe therapeutic environment

• Ensures the safety and welfare of patients and fellow employees
• Utilizes proper posture, sound body mechanics and principles for safe patient handling
• Considers the needs of patients, employees, medical staff, volunteers, vendors and members of the community in an informative, courteous and compassionate manner
• Maintains general good physical and mental health and self-care in order not to jeopardize the health and safety of self and others in the hospital

Professionalism

• Maintains current knowledge of professional practice responsibilities and relevant national and state laws and issues which affect their practice
• Models ethical appropriate behavior, professional standards, compliance, and personal integrity
• Identifies and pursues continuing education opportunities; applies and shares new knowledge
• Participates in departmental staff meetings, daily huddle and in-service education programs
• Takes responsibility for special projects and assignments, and additional caseload when needed
• Displays mature, empathetic and effective professional relationships by exhibiting compassion, integrity and concern for others
• Conducts oneself in an ethical and legal manner, upholding the ASHA Code of Ethics, OHSU, federal privacy policies, and state statues/OAR’s specific to discipline
• Adapts to changing and demanding environments

Service

• Practice is consistent with ASHA guidelines for the Clinical Fellowship Year
• Reports program development needs and inservice education needs to supervisor and assists in implementation of it
• Demonstrates excellent customer service and communication skills in all interactions with patients and family, including both telephone and face-to-face situations
• Demonstrates active listening skills and supportive, professional behavior at all times, to patients, families and staff
• Addresses complaints and problems promptly and courteously, involving management when indicated
• Communicates with patients and families, other healthcare team members, in a time and cost-efficient, courteous manner

Evaluation and Caseload Managemeny

• Prioritizes patients care needs given medical necessity, discharge plan, medical stability and appropriateness to participate in rehabilitation
• Evaluates patients to determine appropriateness of referral
• Identifies rehab potential, establishes treatment goals specific to the scope of acute care rehabilitation, including functional outcomes, quantitative measures and target dates
• Performs diagnostic tests and maintains clinical competence (e.g. MBS, FEES)
• Develops treatment plans to achieve identified goals
• Documents evaluations in patient’s medical record in compliance with DNV, OHSU, OAR’s and third-party payer criteria
• Enters accurate codes for services performed and bills time in patient care accurately
• Provides surveillance and/or consultation in a time-efficient manner for patients, specific to care area; requesting orders and/or providing guidance to the patient’s team regarding activity or prevention of complications (including but not limited to diet/feeding recommendations)

Provides skilled rehabilitation treatmen

• Prioritizes care needs given medical necessity, discharge plan, medical stability and appropriateness to participate in rehabilitation
• Performs and documents skilled patient care activities, including direct treatment and caregiver/patient/family education
• Monitors and adjusts treatment plans specific to patient progress
• Communicates patient needs and promotes carryover of communication strategies, swallowing precautions, etc. with nursing and other caregivers
• Updates recommendations to team regarding continuing rehabilitation needs and plan as patient’s condition and situations warrant
• Directs, supports and providers supervision as required for aides and volunteers
• Develops and enhances patient care program and patient outcomes in specialty area
• Documents treatment and other patient contacts in patient’s medical record in compliance with DNV, OHSU, OAR’s and third-party payer criteria

Care Coordination

• Collaborates with patient, family, and medical team in multidisciplinary patient rounds, ensuring a common level of understanding of the patient’s rehabilitation needs, and providing recommendations for rehab after discharge
• Requests patient/family conferences as appropriate, and participates in conferences representing department, heightens awareness of and advocates for rehab needs of patient
• Enhances patient safety both during and after hospitalization by assisting the team in problem-solving, including but not limited to dysphagia, communication and cognition impairments
• Provides feedback and educates physicians, fellows, residents, and other health care providers about rehabilitation (including but not limited to medical necessity for skilled rehabilitation services and appropriate referrals and expectations for rehab outcome and intensity at various levels of care)

Performance Improvement and Professional Development

• Maintains current knowledge of and complies with hospital and department policies and procedures, union contracts, etc.
• Ensures baseline skills for patient management in all inpatient areas and maintains proficiency through regular exposure and patient care activity, mentoring with other staff and formal or informal peer review
• Participates in ongoing professional development, mentoring and competency assessment for self and other staff. Includes but is not limited to: attends educational classes appropriate to a job development, communicates additional training needs to direct supervisor, attends staff meetings and orients new staff, cross-trains for position in assigned or other areas
• Assists in department quality improvement. Independently maintains an organized schedule, solves schedule conflicts through peer collaboration and informs supervisor when adequate patient coverage in not available
• Completes 2 hours (or specific DNV requirement) specific continuing education, including but not limited to, attendance in continuing education courses, grand rounds, departmental competencies.

Department Operations

• Maintains a clean, safe and orderly environment for the patients, family and staff. Includes, but is not limited to: maintaining supplies, equipment and forms, notifying appropriate personnel when cleaning or repair of equipment is needed, following infection control policies
• Ensures scheduler/manager has ongoing, current availability for scheduling
• Responds in a timely manner to scheduling requests
• Meets or exceeds departmental efficiency standards

• Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and possess a valid Oregon State license
• When the position is for a Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY), meet educational requirements, have an OR state conditional license and be in the process of accumulating the supervised experience required for licensure (completion of Clinical Fellowship year).
  • An Oregon State License must be obtained within one year of appointment or employment will be terminated
• Requires knowledge of acute complex medical conditions to appropriately evaluate, establish and implement a plan of care.
• Must have knowledge of inpatient medical environments and equipment such as ventilators.
• Must be experienced with video fluoroscopy
• Exhibit the ability to respond quickly and appropriately to medical situations that may arise
• Current American Heart BLS CPR certification
• Current State of Oregon Speech Language Pathology License

• Compliance with Code of Conduct, Respect in the workplace and Applicable policies, procedures and agreements related to position, department or OHSU as a whole

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

• Acute Care speech-language pathology practice

Pay Range: $42.77 - $58.71 per hour (Commensurate with qualifications, experience and internal equity)

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.