Speech Language Pathologist

Where You’ll Work

Mercy Hospital is an 82 bed, acute care hospital located in the scenic southwestern Colorado town of Durango. It is the only hospital in Colorado to be rated by Medicare with five stars for overall hospital quality. It is recognized for excellence in orthopedic and spine surgery and for outstanding patient experience and patient safety. Mercy has also received ten consecutive 'A' grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Our providers use state-of-the-art technology in an environment designed to promote wellbeing and healing of body, mind, and spirit. Among the many specialty services available at Mercy are emergency care (Level III trauma designation), surgical care, cardiac care (including interventional), Orthopedic and Spine Centers of Excellence, a Family Birthing Center, home care, hospice care and more. Durango offers an exceptional quality of life with small town charm, excellent schools, and year-round, world-class outdoor recreation opportunities including snow sports, river sports, hiking, biking, camping and more.

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Speech Language Pathologist, you will provide a continuum of services to patients with neurological, swallowing, speech-language, cognitive, pragmatic, voice, and other related disorders, utilizing an interdisciplinary approach. Every day you will assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders, promoting and restoring optimal health and well-being for patients through the rehabilitation process, always adhering to our organizational mission and core values. To be successful in this role, you will possess expertise in speech-language pathology, strong diagnostic and therapeutic skills for diverse disorders, and the ability to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team.

• Evaluates patients referred to speech therapy by completing initial profile within time standards per department protocol.
• Applies appropriate diagnostic and prognostic tests including but not limited to dysphagia, aphasia, language, voice, speech, and cognitive deficits.
• Establishes appropriate treatment plan with measurable and attainable goals and time frames by collaborating with patient, family, and other members of the health care team including discharge planning.
• Performs a variety of therapeutic interventions including but not limited to swallowing, voice, speech, language, and cognitive skills.
• Documents all patient care activities including evaluations, progress notes, and detailed treatment records per standards of practice and regulatory/thirdparty payer requirements.
• Communicates effectively to all patients, families, staff, physicians, and other customers concerning treatment by direct verbal and/or written communication respecting confidentiality at all times.

Job Requirements

Required

• Master's Degree in speechlanguage therapy with a Certificate of Clinical Competence
• American Speech Language Hearing Association Certification
• Certificate of Clinical Competence for SpeechLanguage Pathology
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) from American Heart Association

Preferred

• Two (2) years of work experience providing direct patient care in an inpatient or outpatient setting
• Prior use of electronic medical records (EMR)