Inpatient Speech Pathologist

Cook Children's; Fort Worth (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cook Children’s in Fort Worth seeks a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in pediatrics and feeding/swallowing disorders to evaluate and treat medically complex patients in acute care settings.

You will conduct comprehensive assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, and collaborate with nurses, physicians, dietitians, lactation, and rehab therapists to improve patient outcomes. Weekend and holiday coverage is required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology or related field.
• At least 2 years of pediatric feeding/swallowing experience in an acute pediatric hospital preferred.
• BLS certification required within 30 days of employment.
• State license or eligible for state licensure.
• CCC-SLP or eligible for application; must obtain within 12 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, diagnose, and treat medically complex pediatric patients across medical/surgical and ICU settings.
• Perform comprehensive feeding evaluations and instrumental swallow assessments; manage feeding/dysphagia.
• Develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans for cognitive communication, speech, and language disorders; aim to restore function and prevent disability.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (nurses, physicians, dietitians, lactation, respiratory, PT/OT) to optimize outcomes.
• Engage in family-centered care with caregiver education; support discharge planning; document electronically; attend rounding; contribute to quality and safety initiatives.
• Rotating weekend coverage, holidays, and inclement weather coverage as required.

Skills

Pediatric feeding/swallowing

BLS certification

State licensure

Clinical Fellowship Year eligibility

CCC-SLP eligibility

Education

Master’s degree in speech-language pathology

Job description

Location

Location: Medical Center - Fort Worth Department: Rehab-Downtown FW Shift: First Shift (United States of America) Standard Weekly Hours: 40

Summary

The acute care speech pathologist will have the knowledge and skills to evaluate, diagnose, and treat medically complex patients within medical/surgical and intensive care settings. Typical populations served include children with neurological, aerodigestive, cardiac, trauma, prematurity, and hematology/oncology diagnoses. The speech pathologist will be responsible for comprehensive, developmentally appropriate clinical feeding evaluations, instrumental swallow assessments, and feeding/dysphagia management for children ranging from infancy to adolescence. The speech pathologist will also evaluate and create individualized evidenced based treatment plans for cognitive communication, speech, and language disorders with emphasis on restoring function, prevention of disability, and enhancing communication outcomes. The speech pathologist will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including nurses, physicians, dietitians, lactation, respiratory therapists, and occupational/physical therapists to optimize patient outcomes. Family centered care with strong caregiver education is essential during evaluation and treatment sessions to facilitate discharge planning. Responsibilities also include electronic documentation, rounding, staff/student education, use of standardized assessments, quality, safety, and clinical prioritization within a fast-paced environment. The SLP is responsible for rotating weekend coverage, holidays, and inclement weather coverage.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in speech/language pathology, communication disorders, or related.
• At least 2 years of pediatric feeding/swallowing experience in an acute pediatric hospital is preferred.
• BLS certification within 30 days of employment required.
• State license or eligible for state licensure.
• Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech/Language Pathology, or eligible for application upon completion of Clinical Fellowship Year and must be obtained within 12 months of hire to maintain employment at Cook.

About Us

Cook Children’s is an equal opportunity employer. As such, Cook Children’s offers equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal laws. These opportunities include terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including but not limited to hiring, job placement, training, compensation, discipline, advancement and termination.

Cook Children’s is a Texas-only employer. If you are hired, you will need to maintain your primary residence within the state of Texas, along with all licenses and credentials required for your position throughout your employment.

Promise, a strong word with deep meaning that everyone understands—especially kids. This is the foundation of our organization and what drives us to blaze new trails in medical care, research, advanced technology, as well as programs and initiatives that benefit children who may not otherwise have access to quality health care.

Every day our employees come to work with the intention of keeping our Promise. It's the guiding principle that helps our patients and their families get better and stay healthy. As a member of our Cook Children's team, you can be an important part of making that happen.