LOCATION: John H. Stroger Hospital

SHIFT: 8:00AM - 4:00PM

About Cook County Health

One of the largest public health systems in the nation, Cook County Health (CCH) serves as the safety-net for health care in Chicago and suburban Cook County. CCH is comprised of two hospitals, a robust network of more than a dozen community health centers, the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, the Cook County Department of Public Health, Correctional Health Services, and CountyCare, a Medicaid managed care health plan. Through the health system and the health plan, CCH cares for more than 500,000 individuals each year, and its physicians and clinicians are experts in their fields, committed to providing their patients with comprehensive, compassionate, and cutting-edge care. CCH is currently a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center. Today, CCH is transforming the provision of health care in Cook County by promoting community-based primary and preventive care, growing an innovative, collaborative health plan, enhancing the patient experience and the Rehabilitation Services department plays a vital part in this initiative.

About the Position

This is a great opportunity for candidates looking for career advancement, as this position assists the Manager of Speech, Language and Hearing Services with the oversite of daily operations in addition to providing direct patient care. Currently, the SLP team at CCH provides services at the Central Campus which is in the heart of the Chicago Medical District. We also anticipate expanding our services to include the Provident and Blue Island system locations. Our SLP staff deliver patient care to the adult and pediatric patient populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This position will have a focus on excellence in service delivery to patients with neurologic conditions. We are looking for a vibrant individual who is a confident clinician, a flexible, quick-learner, is solution-focused, who enjoys mentoring staff and working as a team. Apply to join a great team of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech Therapists and Audiologists who make up the rehab team at CCH.

Under direction, the Speech Language Pathologist III (SLP) provides language, speech, and swallowing evaluations, treatment planning, and treatments in a fast-paced, public, acute care, level-one trauma center. Assists in the oversight and management of daily operations, in outpatient and inpatient pediatric and adult services across all SLP locations. The patient population served is from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, of all ages, and includes inpatients and outpatients. Intervention focus includes Intensive Care Unit (ICU) care, performing beside evaluations, outpatient care, and conducting video fluoroscopic swallow studies. The SLP will have excellent written, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills with patient's care givers, other healthcare professionals, students, and other professional affiliates.

This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules.

Typical Duties

• Orients junior staff and students to the specialized unit. Instructs them in specialized techniques necessary to evaluate and treat patients covered in this service. Reviews competencies completed during rotation.
• Supervises and evaluates personnel and students rotating through this service. Encourages development of independent thinking and supervisory skills in junior staff.
• Formulates budget recommendations for special service areas.
• Gathers, interprets and summarizes medical, evaluation and treatment information from a variety of a sources into appropriate patient documentation according to department documentation policies.
• Performs appropriate, thorough and timely diagnostic speech, language and/or swallowing evaluations, including video fluoroscopic swallow evaluations, for all assigned adult and/or pediatric patients.
• Develops and performs appropriate treatment programs with subsequent modifications/updating of goals as needed and provides patient/family education and/or counseling.
• Determines the need for communicative assistive devices and/or home activities; develops basic devices and/or activities; and provides ongoing follow-up of their appropriateness and effectiveness.
• Demonstrates familiarity of the purpose and functioning of departmental equipment and supplies and utilizes them appropriately.
• Completes accurate record keeping and documentation in a timely manner, according to Department policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, clinical records, patient billing, statistics, and schedules.
• Serves as a referral resource for patients requiring other services.
• Reviews applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to generate management proposals
• Adheres to the policies and procedures of the Rehabilitation Services Department, Hospital, and System.
• Participates in quality assurance problem identification, data provision and peer review programs of the department.
• Functions as a contributing team member within the department and takes an organizational and leadership role in SLP team activities.
• Maintains an appropriate patient volume and productivity record.
• Reports problems/other important information to management.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, staff and other personnel.
• Organizes and plans activities of specialized unit. Prioritizes patients as necessary.
• May be given additional responsibilities for the following areas: safety, quality improvement, infection control, orderliness, protocols, clinical equipment standards, and competencies.
• Work environment requires flexibility, initiative, and the ability to prioritize tasks when dealing with limited resources and/or unanticipated occurrences such as staff absences and fluctuating workload. Provides coverage for other areas when other staff members are absent.
• Positively supports and participates in Department professional activities.
• Complies with all department, hospital, and regulatory agency policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Assists to maintain work area and keep facility tidy, organized, presentable, and clean.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) when interacting with patients, caregivers and other health care professionals.
• Takes responsibility for workflow and assignments in various clinical areas providing coverage when other staff members are absent.
• Attends and contributes to interdisciplinary, hospital and departmental meetings.
• Meets on a regular basis with supervisor and department administration.
• Monitors the quality of patient care in the area.
• Maintains statistics and performs patient billing according to departmental requirements
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of current principles and practice of speech therapy
• Possesses the knowledge of and recognizes the unique behaviors and needs of a variety of patient age groups (Neonate/Infant, Child, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric)
• Ability to prepare precise technical records and reports
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals
• Ability to work with patients with cognitive and behavioral disorders
• Ability to integrate knowledge into evaluation, care planning and treatment that incorporates age-appropriate responses to the physical and psychosocial needs of each patient
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patient related materials in compliance with HIPAA requirements