Speech Language Pathologist

CHI Memorial, a member of CommonSpirit, 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.

The Speech-Language Pathologist is responsible for the evaluation and treatment, planning, administering and supervising f11or speech, language, cognitive, voice, and/or swallowing disorders of inpatients and outpatients referred to Speech Pathology for the purpose of retaining and regaining their highest functional level.  The Speech-Language Pathologist assists in the development and implementation of programs and new services, the development and supervision of support personnel, participates in the education of students as Clinical Instructor when assigned, maintains personal and departmental professional competence, and maintains a “customer orientation” awareness while interacting with patient, families, and other professionals.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

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.

Participates in idea-sharing, planning, collaboration, investigation, training, implementation, and evaluation of current services and new/expansion of current services as needed and as related to specific role in the continuum of care for patients.

Other duties as assigned by management.

Master’s degree or higher in communication disorders.  No previous experience required; experience in acute care or outpatient services preferred.  Strong CFYs considered if supervision available at time of hire.  VITALSTIM certification preferred.

TN state license required; SLP:TN

GA state license require; SLP:GA

ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence required.  CCC-SLP

Current AHA BLS.

All modalities utilized within the therapy department.  Competence in the evaluation and treatment of dysphagia, aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, cognitive/linguistics, and voice; utilization of speaking valves with tracheostomy patients.  May enter secured medication rooms to deliver to access supplies and equipment necessary to carry out core job functions.