Speech Pathology - Voice Fellow

38951 Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center - Speech Pathology: Outpatient

Full time

Yes

40

8am-5pm Monday- Friday

Pay Range

$24.85 - $37.30

Position Highlights:

• Location: Winston Salem, North Carolina

• Full Time

What We Offer:

• Day 1 Health Coverage: Choose from either copay or HSA-eligible health insurance options with coverage starting on your first day of work.

• Generous PTO: Accrual starts at up to 25 days/year, to be used for vacations, sickness, holidays, and personal matters.

• Parental Benefits: Six weeks paid birthing-mother maternity leave & four weeks paid parental leave for non-birthing parents.

• Retirement: Up to 7% employer-paid retirement contributions

• Education Reimbursement: We invest in your professional growth, offering up to $2,500 per year towards a bachelor's degree and up to $5,000 per year towards a graduate degree.

What You'll Need:

• Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
• Clinical fellow, Temporary license in Speech-Language Pathology issued by the applicable state Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
• Current Certification from American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers, CPR and AED.

AREAS OF CLINICAL CONCENTRATION:

Voice

• Collaborate in patient care with our Voice and Swallowing Center laryngologists and other physician referrals.
• Perform rigid and/or flexible video laryngostroboscopy to assess laryngeal function and biomechanics.
• Evaluate patients via use of acoustic, phonatory aerodynamic, and/or perceptual measurements for differential diagnosis and to formulate recommendations/plan of care.
• Offer individualized voice therapy treatment programs through a variety of approaches.
• Educate patients on issues regarding vocal health and hygiene, potentially abusive vocal behaviors, irritable larynx syndrome, chronic cough/throat clearing, and management of reflux through dietary and behavioral modifications.
• Provide therapy pre- and post- laryngeal surgery to optimize vocal outcome and reduce the risk of re-injury.
• Educate patients how to independently resolve episodic dyspnea related to inducible laryngeal obstruction through laryngeal control/respiratory retraining exercises, postural adjustment and optimization of typical respiratory patterns during speech and at rest.

Dysphagia (adult)

• Perform differential diagnosis of swallowing disorders via clinical and instrumental assessment using Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBS) and/or Flexible Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing (FEES).
• Identify treatment options for dysphagia, including alternative means of nutrition (PEG or NG), diet modifications (thin/nectar/honey-thickened liquid), postural techniques, and exercise-based swallowing therapy.
• Provide evidence-based dysphagia rehabilitation utilizing sEMG, lingual manometry, respiratory muscle training, and pharyngeal strengthening exercises

Head & Neck Cancer Dysphagia

• Perform pre and post swallowing evaluations via FEES or MBS before patients begin radiation and/or undergo surgical resection of the head and neck.
• Assess and train patients on optimal adaptive feeding techniques such as lavage feeding, modified syringe feeding, glossectomy techniques, and all other compensatory strategies for oral and pharyngeal deficits post-surgery.

Head & Neck Cancer Communication

• Provide therapeutic intervention for intelligibility in the post-operative patient when indicated, utilizing compensatory strategies for intelligibility and/or compensatory techniques and exercises for lingual/labial/facial strength, range of motion, and articulatory competence.
• Manage total laryngectomy patients. Includes thorough pre-operative education on upcoming changes regarding anatomy and communication between inpatient and outpatient providers.
• Train patients on use of electrolarynx, HME systems, stoma support, and other stoma care products.
• Maintain a working knowledge of pertinent insurance coverage and assist patients and family members with ordering/obtaining necessary stoma care/cover supplies.
• Manage tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis (TEP) program.
• Provide pre-op education regarding purpose, use, cleaning, and maintenance of the TEP.
• Troubleshoot both chronic and urgent TEP issues, such as leaking, changes in voicing, dislodgement, loss of the prosthesis, or tissue changes.
• Fit patients for hands-free devices and provide all education and training.

What You'll Do:

 

Adheres to the general hospital standards to promote a cooperative work environment by utilizing communication skills, interpersonal relationships, and team building.

• Follows hospital & departmental policies and procedures regarding scheduling, billing, and patient care.
• Assumes responsibility for keeping informed about changes in policies and procedures.
• Follows institution guidelines for appropriate cleaning of instruments and tools.
• Satisfactorily completes and maintains all initial and ongoing clinical competency requirements for patient populations.
• Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.

Performs comprehensive professional evaluations of patients of all assigned ages referred for differential diagnosis of voice and upper airway disorders, or communicative or swallowing disorders, with emphasis on head and neck cancer patients seen pre/post- surgical and/or XRT treatment.

• Satisfactorily completes and maintains all initial and ongoing clinical competency requirements for patient groups and areas served.
• Appropriately selects, administers, and interprets diagnostic tools, with consideration of patient's current status, premorbid function, and reason for referral in accordance to AHWFBH protocols and procedures.
• Documents diagnostic findings, and recommendations in the EMR in a timely manner, and drops charges in the patient's medical record on the same day as evaluation.
• Notifies referral source promptly of results and consults with them, and other staff, as necessary to facilitate best care and outcomes.
• Follows institution guidelines for appropriate cleaning of tools utilized, as needed.

Ensures patient and/or caregiver education regarding voice and upper airway disorders, communication and swallowing disorders and relevant treatment options.

• Provides appropriate written and/or verbal counseling and education to patient and caregivers relative to recommendations, treatment options, and therapy carryover.
• Participates in patient and family conferences, as required.
• Documents education sessions in patient's medical record on the same day as provision.

Plans and conducts treatment programs for patients with voice and upper airway disorders, communicative and swallowing disorders

• Satisfactorily completes and maintains all initial and ongoing clinical competency requirements for patient groups and areas served.
• Develops and implements individualized, functional, and measurable treatment goals, appropriate to evaluation findings and set goals.
• Provides extensive written and/or verbal counseling, education, and home practice to patients and/or caregivers relative to recommendations, treatment options, and therapy carryover between sessions.
• Incorporates patient and caregivers in treatment goal planning.
• Modifies therapy strategies and provides periodic re-evaluation to determine and ensure effectiveness of treatment, and to update treatment goals.
• Coordinates management recommendations with outside resources that will be participating in continuing care upon patient discharge.
• When appropriate, terminates formal treatment in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Documents therapeutic progress, and evolving plans and recommendations in the patient's medical record, utilizing objective data and submitting documentation on the same day as therapy provision.
• Consults with medical team, and other staff, as necessary to facilitate best care and outcomes.

Serves as speech pathology consultant to educational, medical, and other professional services

• Interacts with other outside agencies as appropriate (for example, Pulmonary Rehab, Pulmonology, Gastroenterology, Allergy/Immunology).
• Uses continuing education opportunities to stay current with developments in area of concentration.

Ensures age/development appropriate patient care is provided in accordance with Age-Specific Care Guidelines for the specific age groups served.

• Satisfactorily completes and maintains all initial and ongoing clinical competency requirements for patient groups and areas served.
• Demonstrates knowledge of physical, motor/sensory, psychosocial, safety and developmental factors in the Age-Specific Care Guidelines.
• Utilizes communication skills in obtaining information, providing education, and conveying patient needs sensitive to age and developmental level of the individual patient/caregiver.

Adequate performance on financial/budget and patient care expectations

• Meets or exceeds productivity target consistently each year as defined by manager.
• Follows departmental guidelines for use of Benefit Time Off (PTO).
• Consistently and appropriately bills for services provided.
• Organizes and prepares Medicaid paperwork or coordination of coverage from other insurance when appropriate.

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program