Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

Provides evaluation and therapeutic management for patients with speech, language and/or cognitive disorders.

Qualifications

Required

• Current licensure to practice as a Speech Pathologist in the State of Utah.

Preferred

• Experience in the following areas; dysphagia, stroke, head trauma, diffuse brain pathology, neurologic diseases and disorders, developmental language delay, dysfluency, voice pathology, motor speech disorders, cognitive disorders.

This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated vaccination requirements, or be approved for an exemption, prior to the first day of work. We protect our patients, coworkers and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

• Evaluates patients' abilities and limitations.
• Establishes treatment goals based on the evaluation, reason for the referral and team interaction.
• Administers therapy according to the established plan, utilizing appropriate procedures, equipment and techniques within the scope of practice of Speech Pathology.
• Educates the patient and the caregiver about the goals of the program, methods of accomplishing goals, how to perform the home program and injury prevention.
• Recommends adaptive equipment, completes the equipment justification forms and arranges for the delivery of the equipment.
• Re-evaluates patients, assesses their progress and makes recommendations regarding discharge.
• Consults and co-treats with therapists from other disciplines.
• Provides documentation of patient care according to established criteria.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement projects.
• Supervises the patient care activities of aides, assistants, attendants and volunteers.
• Participates in in-services, medical conferences, staff meetings, continuing education courses, team meetings and other related activities.
• Assists with departmental maintenance and supplies.
• Provides in-services for staff, other departments and the community.

Problem Solving

• Ability to provide evaluation and/or treatment for speech, language, and swallowing and/or cognitive disorders and develop and implement treatment plans.
• Ability to provide work direction to aides, volunteers and students; identify program needs; develop new areas of activity; and respond to emergency situations.
• Knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development.
• Ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.
• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.

Comments

The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.  The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.