SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST III - - COOK COUNTY HEALTH

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Orients junior staff and students to the specialized unit. Instructs them in specialized techniques necessary to evaluate and treat patients covered in this service. Reviews competencies completed during rotation.
• Supervises and evaluates personnel and students rotating through this service. Encourages development of independent thinking and supervisory skills in junior staff.
• Formulates budget recommendations for special service areas.
• Gathers, interprets and summarizes medical, evaluation and treatment information from a variety of a sources into appropriate patient documentation according to department documentation policies.
• Performs appropriate, thorough and timely diagnostic speech, language and/or swallowing evaluations, including video fluoroscopic swallow evaluations, for all assigned adult and/or pediatric patients.
• Develops and performs appropriate treatment programs with subsequent modifications/updating of goals as needed and provides patient/family education and/or counseling.
• Determines the need for communicative assistive devices and/or home activities; develops basic devices and/or activities; and provides ongoing follow-up of their appropriateness and effectiveness.
• Demonstrates familiarity of the purpose and functioning of departmental equipment and supplies and utilizes them appropriately.
• Completes accurate record keeping and documentation in a timely manner, according to Department policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, clinical records, patient billing, statistics, and schedules.
• Serves as a referral resource for patients requiring other services.
• Reviews applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to generate management proposal
• Adheres to the policies and procedures of the Rehabilitation Services Department, Hospital, and System.
• Participates in quality assurance problem identification, data provision and peer review programs of the department.
• Functions as a contributing team member within the department and takes an organizational and leadership role in SLP team activities.
• Maintains an appropriate patient volume and productivity record.
• Reports problems/other important information to management.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, staff and other personnel.
• Organizes and plans activities of specialized unit. Prioritizes patients as necessary.
• May be given additional responsibilities for the following areas: safety, quality improvement, infection control, orderliness, protocols, clinical equipment standards, and competencies.
• Work environment requires flexibility, initiative, and the ability to prioritize tasks when dealing with limited resources and/or unanticipated occurrences such as staff absences and fluctuating
  workload. Provides coverage for other areas when other staff members are absent.
• Positively supports and participates in Department professional activities.
• Complies with all department, hospital, and regulatory agency policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Assists to maintain work area and keep facility tidy, organized, presentable, and clean.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) when interacting with patients, caregivers and other health care professionals.
• Takes responsibility for workflow and assignments in various clinical areas providing coverage when other staff members are absent.
• Attends and contributes to interdisciplinary, hospital and departmental meetings.
• Meets on a regular basis with supervisor and department administration.
• Monitors the quality of patient care in the area.
• Maintains statistics and performs patient billing according to departmental requirements
• Performs other duties as assigned.