Speech Therapist

The Speech Therapist provides direct speech/language pathology services to patients of all ages who are referred to the department. They assess patients' communication and swallowing abilities, and develop individualized treatment programs to restore or maximize functional skills.

Plans treatment programs based on physician referral, evaluation results, patient/family goals, and clinical judgment. Administers age-appropriate daily treatments and adjusts as necessary. Completes all competency assessments pertaining to patient care.

Communicates with healthcare team, family members, and caregivers to ensure optimum care for the patient. Identifies when patient is ready for discharge and plans for continued care if necessary. Administers and interprets initial assessments to determine patient's status in areas of function such as verbal expression, comprehension, and swallowing skills.

Completes all documentation according to departmental policy. May supervise speech pathology students and interns at the request of manager.