Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)- Peds Outpatient

Advocate Health Care; Palos Heights (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

Advocate Health Care is seeking a Speech-Language Pathologist to evaluate patients with speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders. The role develops written care plans, delivers individualized therapy, and reports progress to physicians and the care team.

The position involves discharge planning, documentation, and collaboration to ensure optimal patient outcomes while maintaining safety and department standards.

Qualifications

• Proficient with basic computer tasks and documentation.
• Clear communication and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Follows department competency assessments and site standards.
• Keeps up with hospital-based certifications (DNV, CARF, etc.).
• Understands growth/development across lifespans to tailor care.

Responsibilities

• Interprets referrals and conducts speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing evaluations.
• Creates a written plan of care and implements treatment; monitors outcomes and adjusts as needed.
• Communicates with physicians and team; documents care and progress per policies.
• Completes discharge planning with home programs, teaching, and referrals as appropriate.
• Maintains documentation, billing, scheduling, and adherence to insurance guidelines.
• Maintains patient safety and clean, organized care area and equipment.

Skills

Intermediate computer skills

Excellent communication

Organization skills

Competency assessments adherence

Certification readiness

Age-appropriate care knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in Speech Pathology

Job description

$5000 sign on!

Major Responsibilities

• Interprets physician referrals and conducts a speech and language evaluation of patients with various speech, language, voice, cognitive and swallowing disorders.
• Establishes a written plan of care and implements individual treatment based on evaluation results, functional goals and by utilizing appropriate techniques. Monitors and evaluates outcomes and appropriately adjusts the individualized treatment plan based on the patient’s response to treatment and provides status updates to physicians and other teammates. Identifies factors affecting patient’s physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs.
• Plans for and completes patient discharge including providing written home programs, patient/family teaching, referral for community services, transition planning within the continuum of care and ordering equipment as indicated/appropriate. Communicates and collaborates with appropriate stakeholders to assist in achieving optimum care for the patient.
• Completes all required documentation following department policy and accreditation standards with appropriate co‑signatures, including patient evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries as appropriate. Record patient care and progress of each patient assigned. Completes daily statistics, billing, and scheduling. Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits. Responsible for maintaining site/department established productivity standards. Responsible for understanding and adhering to all billing and documentation policies, procedures, and timelines.
• Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, and keeping area neat and orderly. Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique. Demonstrates skill in use of modalities, exercise equipment and other devices that are available in area worked per department orientation checklist. Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications of modalities. Promotes patient safety by participating in safety initiatives as requested and appropriately follows all safety and infection control measures pertaining to the general working environment.
• Participates in performance improvement activities designed to identify and resolve problems affecting patient care outcomes and to improve quality of care. Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs.
• Pursues professional growth through participation in continuing education courses, department in‑services, and reading professional literature. Orients new staff to clinical and department policies as requested. Participates in the evaluation process of co‑workers by providing verbal or written feedback as requested.
• May supervise non‑licensed personnel following all applicable state and local compliance requirements. Includes delegating patients to assistive personnel while providing direction, recommendations regarding treatment and ongoing supervision while maintaining responsibility for patient plan of care and goals. Supports the student clinical education program by monitoring, observing, and providing work direction to a minimum of one student per year unless students are unavailable.

Minimum Job Requirements

Education

• Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from an accredited school or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation; maintains continuing education requirements as mandated by applicable state professional standards.

Certification / Registration / License

• Speech Language Pathologist license issued by the state in which the teammate practices. If the teammate supports multiple states, licensure in at least one of those states is required prior to hire.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (obtained within 90 days unless department leader has determined is not required) American Heart Association.

Work Experience

• experience working in Peds, Pediatric feeding and swallowing experience preferred.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Intermediate computer skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organization skills
• Excellent organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Successfully completes all competency assessments/requirements pertaining to provision of patient care and consistent with site standards.
• Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others).
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age‑specific needs.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday
• lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.
• lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a reasonable distance
• push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present
• Simple grasping - 5-15 lbs. - 20% of the workday.
• Pushing/pulling - up to 75-100 lbs. - 10% of the day
• Fine manipulation of hands during massage and joint mobilization
• Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication
• Exposed to electrical and chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, must have ability to wear protective clothing as needed
• Position may require travel; therefore, may be exposed to road and weather hazards
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job

SLP

• SLP

Peds

• Peds

Outpatient

• Outpatient

DISCLAIMER

All responsibilities and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only responsibilities to be performed by an employee occupying this job or position. Employees must follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by their leaders.