Demonstrates the highest level of communication and professionalism with patients, caregivers, rehabilitation staff, providers, and other health care professionals, both within the academic medical center and in the community.
• Exhibits effective and professional verbal and non-verbal communication
• Communicates clearly, respectfully, and honestly with patients and/or caregivers, and colleagues
• Communicates proactively with other caregivers involved in patients’ care
• Adjusts communication and response to the level of understanding of the listener
• Evaluates speech, voice, language, feeding/swallowing, and/or cognitive impairments
• Establishes diagnosis, prognosis, and individualized plans of care
• Implements treatment intervention based on plan of care, considering precautions, indications, and contradictions
• Directs and coordinates patients’ rehabilitation plan of care
• Evaluates patients’ progress and revises goals and plan of care accordingly
• Educates and trains patients/caregivers
• Anticipates and communicates discharge/home needs and resources
• Completes documentation and charges timely and accurately, in compliance with department policy
• Completes clinical documentation reflecting eligibility/ medical necessity of services in compliance with professional and regulatory standards
• Consistently applies evidence-based practice to all aspects of clinical care
• Seeks additional guidance when necessary to assure safe and effective patient care
• Recommends and refers for additional diagnostic testing and/or services
• Develops, selects, and prescribes multimodal augmentative and alternative communication systems, including unaided strategies (e.g., manual signs/gestures) and aided strategies (e.g., speech-generating devices, manual communication boards, picture schedules).
• Selects, fits, and establishes effective use of appropriate prostheticdaptive devices for communication and swallowing (e.g. electrolarynges, speaking valves.).
• Uses instrumental technology to diagnose and treat disorders of communication and swallowing (e.g. Videofluoroscopy for speech and swallowing, Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, Videostroboscopy, Videnonasophagyngoscopy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, computer technology).
• Services patients and their families/caregivers with hearing loss (e.g., auditory training for patients with cochlear implants and hearing aids; speech and language intervention secondary to hearing loss).
• Provides assessment and intervention for patients diagnosed with auditory processing disorders.
• Screens patients for hearing loss or middle ear pathology using conventional pure-tone air conduction methods.
• Modifies and/or enhances communication performance (e.g., accent modification, care and improvement of the professional voice).Additional Duties
• Complies with hospital and departmental policies and guidelines
• Participates in strategic departmental quality improvement initiatives
• Provides education to other hospital departments/personnel, students, and outside agencies/schools.
• Demonstrates ability to flex schedule based on department, patient, and/or caregiver need
• Determines priorities according to departmental and patient care need
• Participates in community based professional events.
• Participates in ongoing educational activities.
• Supports and promotes departmental teamwork
• Completes mandatory departmental and hospital training on time