The Requirements
To meet the basic qualifications for this role you will have legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. To be a good fit for the Speech-Language Pathologist opportunity, you also should have:- A master's degree or higher in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited therapy program.
- Current licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist by the California Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board.
- Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator (CPR/AED) certification.
- Successful completion of Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) under supervision of a licensed speech/language pathologist.
- Excellent clinical and observational skills.
- Experience with home health care is preferred, but at a minimum, you should be able to work, visit patients and follow CVHCare procedures with minimal supervision.
- Sufficient computer skills to operate and complete documentation in a timely manner in an electronic medical record (EMR) application. Quick question for you - click here
- The ability to learn Medicare regulations, including how to perform an Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), within three months.
- Bilingual skills are a plus, but we offer translation services in more than 150 languages.
- A passion for excellent patient care.
- Solid interpersonal and communication skills, including:
- A confident and encouraging bedside manner.
- The ability to interact effectively with diverse patients and families.
- A proactive approach to collaborating with multidisciplinary care team members.
- The ability to communicate clinical observations to the physician.
- Strong self-motivation and the ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.
- Flexibility, adaptability and excellent problem-solving skills.
If you drive to visit patients, you will need a current valid driver's license and a registered, insured vehicle.
The Role
You will report to the Director of Patient Care Services and get most of your daily direction and support from the Director of Rehabilitation or Rehabilitation Manager.You will assess, treat and prevent speech, voice, swallowing and other related disorders. Quick question for you - click here This will include using written and oral tests, as well as special instruments, to evaluate the nature and extent of impairment and to record and analyze speech, language and swallowing irregularities. You'll help patients develop or recover reliable communication skills and maximize speech, language, cognitive and swallowing abilities. If you are full-time you can expect to visit about six patients a day.
More specifically, you will:
- Conduct appropriate evaluations, assesses home environment (as appropriate) and identify equipment needs relative to speech/language function.
- Identify functional speech defects and establish a plan of care to improve patient's function.
- Administer speech therapy program utilizing specialized therapeutic techniques and/or equipment as licensed by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance.
- Recommend communication devices/aids as indicated.
- Confer with referring physician and other organization personnel to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care contributes to the total plan of care.
- Participate, as appropriate, in case conferences, in-services and other meetings required to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care.
- Prepare and submit notes per organization policy.
- Maintain clinical competency in speech-language pathology practice and theory.
- Identify patient and family/caregiver needs for other services and refer as appropriate.
- Instruct patient, family/caregiver and other organization health care personnel in the patient's treatment regime as indicated.
- Supervise, in some cases, Home Health Aides in procedures directly related to the speech-language therapy plan of care.
- Perform other duties as required to facilitate the delivery of speech-language pathology services.
More Reasons to Join Us
'Own' your caseloadIn contrast to most clinical settings, you will enjoy significant one-on-one time with your patients. This will allow you to observe and assess each patient holistically, including hazards in the environment, available support networks and other factors that will shape your care plan. Our patient census is growing rapidly, so you'll carry the caseload you want, whether you're full or part time.
Setting you up for success
At CVHCare, our leaders take pride in being open and responsive to employee input. For example:
- We created an operational support team for clinicians to reduce documentation, like pre-populating the medication reconciliation, Plan of Care formulation, coding, tracking down DME orders, getting MD signatures, chart auditing, lab follow-up, etc.
- We brought in an IT team to develop a proprietary EMR system that will facilitate documentation. It is in the pilot stages but should be in production soon.
- You'll work with a dedicated scheduler, who will get to know your preferences and be a great daily resource.
You'll have a good deal of leeway in scheduling your hours and even days, as long as you accommodate patient needs. You can choose to work Monday through Friday, or work one weekend day and have a weekday free. In general you'll work standard hours, but you also could take a two-hour break between morning and afternoon patients, making up those two hours in the early evening.
Supportive leadership
Your supervisors are happy to take calls or meet with you to answer care questions, brainstorm ideas or help clear up confusion. Our executives take turns in a 24-hour on-call rotation to make themselves available to you at any time. We'll provide the tools you need, including a smartphone, laptop/tablet, visit bag, clinical equipment and field devices.
Professional development
You'll enjoy paid orientation, which includes extensive classroom and hands-on training, and incorporates a simulation skills lab and 1:1 field training with seasoned peers and clinical management. Our dedicated Clinical Training Department offers ongoing learning, and we pay for continuing education and training. If you have the ambition, and once you've proven yourself in this role, you might set your sights on moving up to a clinical trainer, agency manager or division lead role.
Great culture
We are committed to fostering a culture of trust and honesty, recognizing that it helps motivate all of us to provide high quality care. We regularly survey employees regarding job satisfaction, supervisor performance and feedback regarding the workplace. We also recognize and reward top performers.
Full spectrum care
You'll work with clinicians in a variety of specialties, including skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work and registered dietitians. Our patient population is largely geriatric, but may include people of all ages.
Excellent benefits
Full and part time employees (those who work at least 32 hours per week) can enroll in benefits after 30 days. Health and dental insurance are 100% covered for employees. You'll start accruing PTO on day one, with two weeks offered during the first year. You also can enroll in the 401(k) plan after 90 days.
Keys to Success
If you are new to home health care, we think you will find it very rewarding. At the same time, it is different from working in a clinical setting. Working in the field means you'll need to be resourceful and self-sufficient in solving problems and achieving goals. Flexibility and adaptability are also essential; for example, the schedule you start with in the morning may change during the course of the day.We have created a strong support infrastructure, so you won't feel like you are on an island. Just the same, you should be proactive about communicating with patients, families, physicians, other clinicians, your supervisor, your scheduler and other stakeholders. We have tools to help you do so, but it will be up to you to put them to good use. You should be comfortable incorporating technology into your work routine.
Those who excel at CVH are passionate about patient care, and about making a difference in the lives of patients and their families. In addition, they are:
- Motivated to go above and beyond, and enjoy taking on challenges.
- Honest and forthright while also being respectful and collaborative.
- Highly engaged in the CVHCare mission and vision.