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Job Summary:

Provides direct patient care to members having communication and swallowing disorders by evaluating, diagnosing, developing and implementing therapy/treatment programs.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Upholds Kaiser Permanente's Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities, and applicable state, federal and local laws.

• Administers diagnostic tests and provides individualized treatment to adults and children for a variety of communication disorders, voice and swallowing impairment and neurological defects.

• Advises physicians of test results and subsequently recommends and implements appropriate treatments.

• Monitors status of results and collaborates with physicians when altering treatment program.

• Serves as a consultant on interdisciplinary teams.

• Serves as a clinical expert in specialized areas such as pediatric speech, traumatic brain injury, etc.

• Trains CFY candidates.

• Ensures compliance with TJC, federal, state, and local requirements.

• May participate in the development of department policies and procedures.

• Develops protocols and treatment programs within specialized areas.

• Develops and presents in service programs in area of specialty.

• Performs diagnostic clinical swallowing evaluations on a diversified patient population, including adults and children with a wide variety of neurologic and medical diagnosis and surgical histories.

• Interpret and report the results of evaluations/tests to referring physicians, therapists and other medical staff.

• Participates in the design and implementation of therapy programs addressing speech/language voice and swallowing problems for a diversified patient population.

• Documents patients progress; maintains accurate records.

• Adjusts program to improve effectiveness.

• Meets client needs and determines further courses of treatment or intervention that may be necessary.

• Performs diagnostic voice evaluations on a diversified patient population.

• Interprets and reports results and provides recommendations regarding the need for further evaluation or services in the area of speech and pathology when appropriate.

• Administers and analyzes test results to determine patients' communicative abilities; examines patients' medical history, neurological ad psychological test results in order to determine necessary therapy.

• Treats speech and language impairments such as functional articulatory disorders, stuttering, voice problems, delayed speech and organic disorder including cleft palate, cerebral palsy, aphasia and impaired hearing.

• Interprets findings and treatment to patients' families, teachers or other concerned parties; provides guidance and counseling.

• Plans and conducts remedial programs designed to improve or restore communicative facility.

• Administers treatment in individual or group sessions with patients; may refer patients to specialists in medicine, dentistry, psychology education or related areas.

• Writes report on diagnostic findings, therapy used, and progress made.

• Provides in-service training in the basic elements of speech therapy to members of the health care staff and supervises the development and treatments of Speech Pathology Assistants.

• Keeps abreast of developments in the field of speech therapy by attending professional seminars and workshops.

• Establishes and maintains courteous cooperative relations with other departments and other personnel.

• Demonstrates professional competence in assessing patient's condition at the onset and through all phases of the speech pathology program.

• Demonstrates professional competence in the planning and implementation of treatment program/plan.

• Demonstrates professional competence and rehabilitative techniques particular to the speech pathology field.

• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively.

• Performs other duties as assigned.