Speech and Language Pathology Director plans and directs the operations of an organization's audiology and speech therapy functions to ensure effective operation and compliance with regulatory standards. Designs policies and processes to ensure efficient service delivery and promote best practices. Being an Speech and Language Pathology Director develops and implements long-term strategic plans and objectives for audiology and speech therapy programs in alignment with the organization's overall objectives. Provides leadership and oversight to the development and expansion of programs or service offerings. Additionally, Speech and Language Pathology Director evaluates program design, assessment tools, and treatment protocols and researches advancements in the field. Develops and manages the budget to allocate resources to support staffing, equipment, and other program needs. Monitors operational and financial metrics to measure the achievement of organizational objectives. Negotiates and selects vendor proposals and manages vendors to maintain inventories and adhere to budgets. May require a master's degree in audiology or speech pathology. Requires State License based on Clinical Specialty. Typically reports to senior management. The Speech and Language Pathology Director manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. To be an Speech and Language Pathology Director typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function. (Copyright 2024 Salary.com)
75% Clinical Practice
Clinical Practice consists of patient/family orientation, evaluations, assessments, observations, treatment procedures, training, interventions, educational sessions, and counseling conducted as part of a team approach or as a single practitioner. The documentation of care and communication about patients care among team members are integral components of clinical practice.
* Both evaluation and treatment sessions may be conducted in individual sessions with one or more practitioners (i.e. co-treatment), in groups of patients with similar or diverse skill levels, or within groupings of patients who focus on individual goals but participate in care within general treatment areas, other locations within the medical center or in the community.
* Professionals use a wide variety of approaches for evaluation and treatment, consistent with the individual needs of the persons served, their families, and caregivers. Approaches include: salient factors: - those key issues that must be addressed to achieve the established discharge plan; use of clinical pathways, algorithms, and clinical guidelines; use of specific protocols to address component functions or skills established within the Rehabilitation Plan of Care (as applicable to venue of care). Each practitioner within the patient care team is responsible for assuring a 24-hour rehabilitation environment by establishing continuity of care among all shifts of team members throughout the day.
* Education/training and support sessions are as important as sessions that focus of physical or other specified skills.
* Incorporates in-hospital activities related to therapy goals.
* Diagnoses, treats, and performs research related to speech and hearing problems.
* Consults with medical staff on a continuing basis regarding the evaluation and therapy performed.
* Serves as a team member of the rehabilitation units to coordinate patient treatment.
* Plans, conducts, and directs therapy programs designed to restore, conserve or improve communicative ability.
* Trains patients with functional or organic speech disorders to produce, improve or conserve proper speech.
* Provides guidance and counseling to speech and language handicapped individuals.
* Performs screening examinations to detect hearing problems and appropriate referrals to the audiologist.
* Prepares reports on diagnostic findings, therapy used, progress made and final summary reports.
* Provides in-service programs for members of the hospital staff.
* Provides clinical experience and training to students (Speech Pathology and Allied Medical).
15% of time - Educational Activities
Educational Activities are those that promote advanced knowledge and skills of Speech Language Pathology Fellow and include but are not limited to: attending and/or presenting at SLP journal club, grand rounds, strobe/dysphagia review, research meetings, fellow conferences, a national
voice conference (i.e. fall voice), completing surgical observations, completing instruction within the academic program of singing health and speech and hearing, participating in singing health research, and completing self-study of current evidence to further voice and swallowing clinical practice.
5% of time - Team Activities
Team Activities are those that support care of the persons served, including scheduling, daily care planning sessions, family conferences, internal continuing education sessions, team and divisional business meetings. Team members also participate in clinical quality and outcomes management activities. In addition, team members may have opportunities to participate in medical center committee activities including event coverage and outreach opportunities. Specific requirements and schedules for team activities are established by management personnel in cooperation with team members.
5% of time - Professional Discipline Activities
It is particularly important in an interdisciplinary environment that rehabilitation team members maintain formal links with members of their own profession, having opportunities to pursue discipline-specific continuing education, teach students and other professionals about aspects of practice, participate in research activities, and interact with members of their profession within and outside the medical center.
All team members will establish specific goals and activities that relate to their professional discipline, including inservice education and periodic discipline-specific professional business meetings/conferences both within and outside the medical center. Some members of the rehabilitation team may have indirect, but specific ties to a central department of the medical center, if applicable.
Organizational Expectations
Practices within the Medical Center's policies and procedures. Adheres to the Intensive Caring Value statements as demonstrated through positive patient/guest relations, positive and effective interactions with staff, and formulating and meeting developmental goals.
Minimum Qualifications