Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is responsible for providing skilled speech-language pathology services to residents of the skilled nursing facility in accordance with physician orders, individualized plans of care, professional standards of practice, facility policies, and applicable federal and state regulations.

The SLP evaluates residents with actual or potential impairments involving speech, language, voice, cognition, communication, feeding, and swallowing and develops individualized treatment plans designed to improve, restore, compensate for, or maintain functional abilities and promote resident safety and independence.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Perform comprehensive speech-language pathology evaluations and screenings as indicated by resident needs, physician orders, facility protocols, and referrals from the interdisciplinary care team.

• Assess and treat speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, feeding, and swallowing disorders within the SLP's professional scope of practice and demonstrated clinical competency.

• Evaluate swallowing function and identify signs and symptoms of dysphagia and aspiration risk. Develop appropriate treatment interventions and make recommendations regarding swallowing precautions, compensatory strategies, positioning, diet texture, liquid consistency, and additional diagnostic assessment when clinically indicated.

• Develop individualized plans of care that establish measurable, functional short- and long-term goals based upon evaluation findings, resident needs, prior level of function, prognosis, and resident-centered goals.

• Provide skilled therapeutic interventions designed to improve or maintain communication, cognition, swallowing, and functional independence.

• Monitor and reassess resident progress, response to treatment, and changes in condition and modify the treatment plan as clinically appropriate.

• Complete evaluations, progress notes, treatment documentation, care plan updates, discharge summaries, and other required clinical records accurately and within established timeframes.

• Educate residents, families, caregivers, and facility staff regarding communication strategies, cognitive supports, swallowing precautions, therapeutic techniques, adaptive strategies, and recommendations necessary to support resident safety and functional outcomes.

• Collaborate with physicians, nursing, dietary services, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social services, activities staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to coordinate resident care.

• Participate in resident care plan meetings, interdisciplinary team meetings, utilization review activities, discharge planning, and other clinical meetings as requested or appropriate.

• Identify significant changes in resident condition and communicate findings and recommendations promptly to appropriate members of the healthcare team.

• Assist in discharge planning by recommending appropriate follow-up services, caregiver education, equipment, strategies, referrals, and other resources necessary to support a safe transition to the next level of care.

• Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based speech-language pathology practices and applicable federal, state, professional, Medicare, Medicaid, and skilled nursing facility requirements.

• Maintain resident privacy and confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, resident rights, infection prevention and control standards, safety practices, emergency procedures, and all facility policies.

• Maintain all required professional licenses, credentials, certifications, and continuing education requirements.

• Use facility equipment and supplies appropriately and report unsafe conditions, equipment concerns, resident safety concerns, or suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation in accordance with facility policy and applicable reporting requirements.

• Demonstrate professional, ethical, respectful, and compassionate interactions with residents, families, visitors, coworkers, and other healthcare professionals.

• Perform other duties within the scope of professional practice as assigned and as necessary to meet resident and facility needs.

The Speech-Language Pathologist is expected to provide services consistent with each resident's comprehensive plan of care and to support the resident's highest practicable level of communication, swallowing safety, functional ability, and quality of life.