Speech Therapist

Overview

Mercy Medical Center a Dignity Health member has been building a rich history of care in our community for more than 100 years. We have grown from a small one-story wooden structure into a major healthcare provider with a new 186-bed main campus offering the latest in facility design and technology. Mercy also operates Outpatient Centers a Cancer Center and several rural clinics.Wherever you work throughout our system you will find faces of experience with dedication to high quality personalized care. Joining our 1300 employees 230 physicians and many volunteers you can help carry out our commitment to providing our community with the excellence they have come to associate with Mercy Medical Center.

Responsibilities

Ability to deliver care to patients in a variety of hospital settings including outpatient and home health. The majority of care will be performed within the hospital and outpatient setting. In keeping with the Dignity Health core values, is responsible for effective and competent delivery of care. Able to administer diagnostic and treatment techniques designed to comprehensively evaluate and treat patient conditions. These interventions will help to relieve pain, develop or restore speech, language, and improve oral pharyngeal functioning according to the patient plan of care. The Speech Therapist will work in an acute hospital, outpatient and home health setting. The Speech Therapist will work with a variety of patient types and ages including, but not limited to infants, adults and geriatrics.

• Functions independently to identify, collect, and develop a database of biophysical, environmental, self-care educational, emotional, and discharge planning needs in order to establish priorities for patients in accordance with the patient's age, disorder, and ethnic background Identifies those patients requiring specialized therapy services, including preventative, rehabilitative, and restorative care; and those requiring nursing, physical, occupational therapy, and medical social worker, and care management services. Performs assessment functions including the patient's psychosocial, physical, functional, and resource systems as required to assure competent therapy care provision. Assesses functional skills, reasoning, skills, memory skills, and reading/writing skills.
• Plans and develops care plans according to accepted national therapy practice standards and age-related issues. Evaluates progress and appropriateness that is consistent with established goals-outcomes. Demonstrates a working knowledge of Tittle 22, Medical Conditions of Participation, JCAHO standards, and admission/discharge criteria for home health agency services.
• Performs swallowing evaluations to determine safety in oral foods, appropriate consistency, and swallowing capacity. Performs modified barium swallows (fluoroscopic). Provides therapeutic exercises, word-finding/matching tasks, and oral-motor facial exercises. Documents all care provided according to established policy and procedure utilizing appropriate tools. Communicates with attending physician as needed to assure safe, competent care provision, including patient's general status, any untoward signs and symptoms, effects of treatment or lack of progress toward identified outcomes. Coordinates and manages the patient's care with the entire team, including, as appropriate: nursing, physical, occupational therapy, medical social worker, care coordinator, and physicians Instructs patients and families in exercise and treatment regimens, use of adaptive equipment and orthotic devices in a manner appropriate to the age and developmental status of patient.
• Educates the nursing staff, patient,, and family/caregiver in speech/language exercises, feeding precautions, and diet recommendations . Offers in-services to the hospital departments as requested and approved by Director. Open to taking CFY speech pathologists, Assure compliance with the patient plan of care and applicable licensing/JCAHO standards.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Demonstrates competent working knowledge of the principles, practice standards, procedures, and equipment utilized. This includes the use of Fluoroscopy in performing Modified Barium Swallows.
• Must possess and maintain a current Speech and Language Pathology Therapist Registration License with the State of California.
• Must possess and maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate.
• Must demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a professional manner exhibiting tactful and effective communication with fellow staff members, physicians, hospital departments, and the general public.
• Ability to work independently and be a functional team member in a team oriented environment.
• Ability to be flexible with caseload, within any given day through prioritization of patients based on their needs. Be an advocate for the hospital's mission, vision, and values and the community in which it serves. Must be able to drive a motor vehicle safely for moderate period of time.
• Able to work weekdays and open to weekend and holiday rotation, as established.

Preferred:

• Home health experience desirable. Pediatric experience.
• Second language skills in Spanish.