Speech Language Pathologist, Inpatient (Acute Care)

“The speech-language pathologist (SLP) is defined as the professional who engages in professional practice in the areas of communication and swallowing across the life span. Communication and swallowing are broad terms encompassing many facets of function. Communication includes speech production and fluency, language, cognition, voice, resonance, and hearing. Swallowing includes all aspects of swallowing, including related feeding behaviors.”

There is a “delineation of practice areas in the context of eight domains of speech-language pathology service delivery: collaboration; counseling; prevention and wellness; screening; assessment; treatment; modalities, technology, and instrumentation; and population and systems. In addition, five domains of professional practice are delineated: advocacy and outreach, supervision, education, research and administration/leadership.”

Reference: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Scope of Practice in Speech Language Pathology

• 1 year of post graduate experience in acute care setting with neurogenic speech, language and swallowing disorders.
• Master's Speech Language Pathology Required
• Licensed as a Speech Language Pathologist by the Virginia Department of Health Professionals
• American Heart Association BLS certification required

• Uses current evidence, patient values, and personal experiences in making clinical decisions
• Selects appropriate examination components based on the initial systems screen in order to define the patient’s therapy needs
• Advanced practice includes a combination of advanced and distinctly increased clinical and analytical skills, knowledge, clinical reasoning, attitudes and experience. This may occur within a specialty or in generalist practice.
• Specialty skills for SLP include, but are not limited to, the following: FEES, MBS, care of medically complex and critically ill patients
• Justifies need for skilled care with impairments listed, pre/post treatment measurements, detailed reassessments that demonstrate medical necessity with revisions to plan of care and/or goals when appropriate

• Works collaboratively as part of interdisciplinary team for discharge planning assessing the expectations and desires of all stakeholders with an understanding of regulations imposed by the healthcare systems and payers.
• Limits co-treating to allow patient to obtain more individualized sessions
• Provides treatment with evaluation when appropriate
• Assigns appropriate frequencies to meet patient needs with attention to hospital resources
• Properly prioritizes caseload per department procedure when staffing is limited
• Monitors patient status in cases of medical instability, transfer to another unit, or other changes in status. Communicates with the healthcare team to determine when patient can participate in therapy.
• Actively participates in care coordination rounds providing information on patient status and helping to facilitate coordinated interdisciplinary care
• Takes on additional roles: scheduler, charge therapist, lead therapist; preferred

• Paid Major Holidays
• Generous Paid Time Off / Vacation
• Sick Time
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Undergraduate Student Loan Repayment
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Health Fitness & Education Class Discounts
• Employee Wellness Benefits
• Hospital Discount for Employees and Family
• VHC Retirement Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Free onsite parking
• Commuter Benefits
• Career Coaching
• Family Leave
• 401(k) + Match
• and much more!