Staff Speech Language Pathologist

STAFF SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST / FULL TIME/ 40 HOURS / DAYS / BOSTON, MA

The Speech-Language Pathologist, with an unrestricted Massachusetts license, is responsible for providing evaluation and treatment services for patients referred with speech, language and/or swallowing disorders. Services are provided on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Rehabilitation Services at Brigham and Women's Hospital provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and swallow services, and orthopedic technology services to patients on a consult basis to those on our inpatient floors, ICUs, and the Emergency Department. Brigham and Women's Hospital is a nationally ranked academic medical center located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts.

Staff speech language pathologists will be joining a team with a diverse background in clinical care and expertise. The primary responsibility of the staff physical therapist is to provide patient care in accordance to State licensing regulations, departmental standards, and policies, and accepted professional standards of care.

In addition to regular collaboration with other rehab disciplines as well as the multidisciplinary team, therapists will have many opportunities for clinical growth through regular internal continuing education programming offered, financial support for continuing education courses and conferences.

Opportunities to advance along our established merit based clinical ladder program allow clinicians to be recognized for their contributions and accomplishments (i.e., staff therapist, senior therapist, clinical specialist)

Therapists can also participate in a variety of Rehabilitation Department Committees to enhance their professional growth in addition to their clinical care. These committees include: The Community Resource Committee, Practice Standards Committee, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee, Staff Development Committee, Rehab Recognition Committee, and Research Committee.

This staff therapist position is an excellent opportunity for a Massachusetts licensed Physical Therapist seeking clinical and professional development growth at a dynamic academic medical center.

Practice Locations: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Inpatient Hospital within Brigham and Women's Hospital; potential for occasional ambulatory care.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Provides skilled speech-language and swallowing services as assigned to patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital and at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in accordance with State Licensure Statute and Regulations, Professional Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, applicable federal, state and regulatory agencies' standards and regulations, hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Specifically:

• Examines and evaluates patient's communication and swallowing function using Clinical Evaluations, Videofluoroscopic Oropharyngeal Swallowing Evaluations and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES). Identifies speech, language and/or swallowing disorders and associated dysfunction(s). In collaboration with the patient and/or caregiver, develops a treatment plan with treatment goals directed towards maximizing function.

• Demonstrate competency in all clinical knowledge and skills specific to the patient case type(s) in assigned area of care.

• Consults with other members of the health care team to insure coordination and effectiveness of therapies provided.

• Assists in implementation of triaging, prioritizing, monitoring admissions, referrals, and discharges to and from the service as assigned.

• Manages patient caseload assigned.

• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills. Maintains documentation per departmental policy and format that is accurate, complete and timely.

• Participates in activities directed towards increasing knowledge and skill and professional development.

• Participates in departmental meetings, which help to formulate policies, procedures and program development.

• Supervises graduate student interns and support personnel as appropriate. Peer-mentors new employees.

• Trains radiology residents in technique and procedures for video swallow studies.

• Performs all other duties as assigned.

• The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served by the Speech and Swallow Service.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited university program.

• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association.

• Possess or be eligible for licensure in Speech-Language Pathology from the state of Massachusetts.

• Demonstrate expertise in the diagnosis and remediation of oropharyngeal dysphagia and neurogenic communication disorders preferred.

• Experience with videofluoroscopic oropharyngeal swallowing and FEES evaluations preferred.

• Work requires up to three months' orientation to acquire necessary familiarity with department and hospital policies and procedures, and the specific quality standards of care and procedures unique to the assigned patient area.

Skills/Abilities:

• Possess interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively with a variety of individuals.

• Must possess effective communication skills (written and verbal) to interact with patients, colleagues and other health care personnel.

• Competent/able to achieve competency in Video Swallow Studies and FEES.

• Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands.

• Must possess the physical abilities needed to assist with moving patients (pulling, pushing and lifting) from stretcher to stretcher/chair for swallow studies and to push stretchers from the radiology suite to inpatient reception (100 feet). Also, must have the physical abilities needed to assist patients with stand pivot transfers. Must be able to push portable workstations for video swallow and FEES evaluations.

• Must possess the stamina to do standing work over 75% of the day and the fine motor skills necessary to work a keyboard.