Speech Language Pathologist

1. Provides speech language assessment of the patient's communication, speech and swallow functional abilities, needs, and goals by methods such as reviewing records, gathering information, interviewing the patient, identifying patient and speech language pathologist expectations, selecting and applying evidence-based assessment methods, consulting with members of the health care team, performing examinations, and monitoring the patient's health to improve, maintain or support speech, language, voice and or swallowing performance.
2. Analyzes the patient's needs, establishes speech language and dysphagia diagnosis and prognosis and develops an evidence-based, outcome-focused intervention strategy; utilizes assessment and reassessment findings, discusses the analysis with the patient and caregivers, develops short and long term goals and selects a practice model/intervention consistent with patient needs and goals to achieve optimal health outcomes.
3. Implements interventions in accordance with established treatment guidelines and educates patients and caregivers regarding self-management, health promotion and injury/disability prevention.
4. Participates in the interprofessional care planning process for patients as appropriate by ensuring the plan is established and implemented effectively, updating care plan and intervening as appropriate, and collaborating and communicating on issues that will affect the care/transfer/discharge plan.
5. Evaluates and documents the effectiveness of interventions by methods such as conducting ongoing assessment and monitoring of patient responses, evaluating changes in health status, evaluating speech language performance and swallowing function against pre-determined goals and expected outcomes, and modifying the intervention strategy to achieve and maintain optimal functional independence and speech and language performance.
6. Participates in maintaining seamless quality patient care by identifying appropriate referrals for speech language pathology services, screening for priority of intervention, and identifying and facilitating referrals to appropriate health care/community programs.
7. Collaborates with patients and their families/care givers in developing the care plan and encourages family participation in the development, implementation and ongoing modification of the care plan. Establishes a therapeutic relationship by demonstrating empathy, trust and respect, advocating for the patient's rights to privacy, dignity and access to information, and by ensuring the patient's choice and autonomy in decision making and care planning.
8. Maintains a variety of records including patient files by gathering information, entering data into computerized databases and/or documenting information into approved formats. Notes patient progress, changes to treatment plan, and records test/treatment results to provide evidence and rationale that support assessment findings and intervention plan. Compiles statistics on workload activities and summarizes information into written reports as requested.
9. Delegates components of treatment to speech and hearing assistants by providing work direction and verbal and/or written instruction, ensuring and documenting the appropriate transfer of function and ensuring quality patient care.
10. Acts as a speech language resource to other speech language pathologists, speech and hearing assistants, and students by assisting with orientation and demonstrating procedures. Provides speech language pathology information and in-services to other members of the health care team and attends meetings as a representative of speech language pathology.
11. Participates in team/program activities required to enhance and optimize the delivery of care and to facilitate evidence-based practice. Promotes quality and safety principles, identifies processes/procedures that require improvement and provides recommendations for review.
12. Participates in approved speech language pathology and interprofessional research, special projects, and committees including professional practice councils and clinical decision support tool development.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Current registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC including applicable College certification(s).

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of speech language pathology theory and practice within a patient and family-centered model of care.
• Knowledge of the CSHBC standards of practice and practice guidelines for clinical practitioners.
• Knowledge of communication and dysphagia standardized tests, measures, use of equipment and related techniques.
• Broad knowledge of other health care professions and their role in patient care.
• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with patients, caregivers, speech and hearing assistants, members of the interprofessional care team, both verbally (one-on-one and in groups) and in writing.
• Ability to teach and provide effective consultation to patients, caregivers, speech and hearing assistants and other health care professionals.
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others.
• Ability to establish workload priorities and adjust to unexpected events.
• Basic knowledge of research process and methodology.
• Ability to operate related equipment including relevant software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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