Speech Language Pathologist

CommonSpirit Health; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 69,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

CommonSpirit Memorial is seeking a Speech Language Pathologist to assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders, improving patient quality of life. You will conduct comprehensive evaluations, implement individualized treatment plans, and contribute to program development and department goals.

The role requires advanced clinical knowledge, exceptional diagnostic skills, and a compassionate, patient-centered approach within a hospital setting in Tennessee.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Communication Disorders.
• Speech Language Pathologist licensure in Tennessee upon hire.
• Clinical competence in Speech Language Pathology.
• Basic Life Support (CPR) within 14 days.
• Doctorate in Communication Disorders preferred.
• Experience in acute care or outpatient services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders.
• Conduct comprehensive evaluations for referred patients and implement treatment plans.
• Contribute clinically to develop/upgrade treatment programs and protocols.
• Maintain patient records and ensure timely documentation.
• Provide patient-centered care and collaborate with the department and organization.

Education

Master's degree in Communication Disorders

Speech Language Pathologist licensure (TN)

Clinical competence in Speech Language Pathology

Basic Life Support - CPR within 14 days

Doctorate in Communication Disorders (preferred)

Experience in acute care or outpatient services (preferred)

Job description

Job Summary And Responsibilities

As our Speech Language Pathologist, you will be a vital clinician, expertly assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication and swallowing disorders to significantly improve patient quality of life.

Every day, you will conduct comprehensive evaluations for all referred patients, meticulously implementing individualized treatment plans. You'll contribute clinical expertise to develop/upgrade treatment programs/protocols, and actively shape departmental and organizational goals.

To be successful in this role, you will possess advanced clinical knowledge, exceptional diagnostic/therapeutic skills, and a compassionate, patient-centered approach.

• Applies the knowledge and skills needed to do the job while keeping informed about practices, procedures, and new developments related to own work including: educating patients/families regarding evaluation and treatment procedures and activities, recognizing changes in the patient’s medical status and notifying nursing when appropriate, assisting to maintain medical records/documentation for each patients and their plan of care, performs evaluations/treatments for patients exhibiting speech/language/cognitive/swallowing deficits, scheduling of patients, performing duties with minimal supervision of director, demonstrating effective time management skills by completing patient care assignments in a quality manner.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional behavior by: successfully completing annual certification requirements, attending mandatory in‑services, demonstrates ability to share knowledge while working with the students and co‑workers, assessing learning needs of staff and orients personnel as need arises, providing and responding to positive constructive feedback to support staff, willing to work over as patient volume requires to meet customer’s needs, reporting to work on time and beginning assigned work in a timely manner, develops and maintains smooth cooperative working relationships with others, responding promptly to inquiries, organizes or finishes work on time 90% of the time, presents professional appearance through compliance with dress code, maintaining privacy and/or confidential hospital information at all times, completing daily patient charges to ensure timely entry into the computer system and reporting systems, participating in departmental quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrates commitment to personal development by: identifying areas of professional weakness and seeking out resources, offering assistance to peers, remaining flexible by coping successfully with a variety of situations and personalities and the changing work environment, recognizing and performing duties which need to be performed although were not directly assigned, maintaining appropriate licensure and certification, pursuing continuing education that may be beneficial to daily work or growth of services and sharing the knowledge with others.
• Demonstrates customer focused attitude: listening effectively to gain understanding of customer needs and response by taking appropriate and timely action, initiating/promoting customer relations within the department, presenting self and position appropriately to hospital visitors and staff at all times, maintaining positive interaction with customers (patients, visitors, physicians, team members), dealing effectively with stressful situations, looking for ways to improve service and introduce new work procedures that save time/effort/money.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills: consistently good verbal and written communication skills with all primary customers, demonstrating attention to and conveying understanding of the comments/questions/concerns of others.
• Demonstrates adherence to policies/procedures/standards: participation in required classes and activities for hospital accreditation, complies with specific policies/procedures/assignments concerning safety and codes, providing a safe patient environment free from hazards by complying with hospital safety policies and procedures, ensures that equipment is working properly and reporting malfunctions/abuse/loss promptly, keeping noise and clutter to a minimum in a patient’s room and in therapy department.

Job Requirements

Required

• Masters Of Science Master's Degree in Communication Disorders, upon hire and
• Speech Language Pathologist: TN, upon hire and
• Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology, upon hire and
• Basic Life Support - CPR, within 14 - days

Preferred

• Doctorate Of Science Doctorate in Communication Disorders , upon hire and
• Experience in acute care or outpatient services

Where You'll Work

CommonSpirit Memorial is an award-winning, not-for-profit, faith-based health care organization dedicated to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, we offer a comprehensive continuum of care, from preventative and primary care to acute hospital services specializing in cancer, cardiac, neuroscience, stroke, and orthopedic services. Our commitment to excellence has earned us top prestigious recognition repeatedly from U.S. News and World Report, PINC AI™, CMS, Healthgrades®, Leapfrog, and most recently as one of the Best Places to Work in Tennessee. We are proud to serve Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia with the expertise of 4,700 employees and nearly 500 affiliated physicians.

Pay Range

$50.00 - $55.00 /hour