Speech Language Pathologist

Overview:

Speech Pathologist

**Please be aware that this is a Traumatic Brain Injury position.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, its affiliated clinics and dental clinic are located at Fort Lewis, Washington, near the city of Tacoma. Madigan AMC is one of only three designated Level Two trauma centers within the U.S. Medical Command.

Tacoma is a progressive city of 200,000 nestled between Seattle and the state capital of Olympia. The region offers the attractions of larger metropolitan areas, with a hometown feel. World-class museums, hotels and theaters draw thousands to downtown Tacoma while the shores of the Puget Sound and Mount Rainier inspire outdoor enthusiasts. The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Chihuly Bridge of Glass, Emerald Downs Racetrack, Emerald Queen Casino, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Lakewold Gardens, and the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad represent a small sampling of the region's varied entertainment options. The city offers excellent schools, universities, parks, festivals and regional shopping centers.

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce
Madigan Army Medical Center
Joint Base Lewis McChord

Responsibilities:

Duties:

The primary purpose of this position is: To provide speech/language pathology (SLP) services to include prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of communication, swallowing, voice, or other upper aero-digestive disorders, modification of communication behaviors, and enhancement of communication.
The organizational goals and objectives of this position are to: To deliver quality and cost effective speech, language, swallow and other upper aero-digestive disorders services, to all qualified enrolled beneficiaries. Maximize benefits and minimize costs in providing speech pathology services. Train and educate staff, promote prevention and early identification of communication and/or swallowing and other upper aero-digestive problems.

MAJOR DUTIES:

DUTY 1: Conducts, plans, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary speech/language pathology practices. Has full professional responsibility for cases that are difficult and complex, both in terms of the severity of the communications impairment and the presence of complicating physical and emotional factors that impinge on the treatment process. Complex cases range from the ability to form basic speech sounds due to paralysis up to total loss of oral communications abilities combined with other physical or mental condition that complicate the treatment situation. Independently formulates and conducts diagnostic evaluation and therapy for patients with severe communication, swallowing disorders, and other upper aero-digestive disabilities, in combination with other physical, mental and/or social handicaps, and whose severity makes rehabilitative procedures difficult to define and prognosis unpredictable. Administers a full range of tests of speech, language, voice, fluency, and cognition. This includes selection and use of appropriate test materials, techniques, and advanced technologies (e.g., videofluoroscopic swallow studies, fiberoptic endoscopic swallow studies, rigid and flexible videostrobolaryngoscopy, aerodynamic/acoustic voice assessment technology, etc); evaluation of patients for augmentative communication systems (e.g., iphone, ipad, Dynavox systems, etc.); and selection, fit. and establishment of effective use of prosthetic/adaptive devices for speech, swallow or other upper aero-digestive disabilities (Tracheoesophageal Prosthesis (TEP) one-way speaking valves). Responsible for planning, conducting, and coordinating the clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning. Treatment and methodologies take the widest advantage of available technologies and evidence-based practices. Maintains collaboration with other health care practitioners; establishes and maintains an effective therapy relationship with the patient, family and caregivers; and adjusts treatment plan to patient response and indicators of progress. Interfaces with other members of the professional staff and off-base providers in coordinating continuity of patient care. Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to speech, language voice, fluency, cognitive-communication, swallowing disorders, and upper aero-digestive disabilities.

DUTY 2: Serves as member of the professional Military Treatment Facility medical staff. Complies with hospital plans and policies to meet recognized accrediting agencies (such as the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) or Joint Commission) requirements. Participates in continuing education programs to update and maintain skills and knowledge in accordance with Medical Group (MDG) and unit policies including department in-services education. Attends professional meetings, briefings and seminars related to specialty, maintaining continuing education units required by employing organization, state licensing requirements, and other governing organizations. Actively participates and contributes to medical oversight activities such as peer review programs. Serves as a Speech/Language Pathology clinical preceptor for other medical personnel who may include Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, medical technicians, etc. Participates in hospital/clinic committee work as determined by the Chief of the Medical Staff commensurate with others of the same specialty performing like duties. As required, provides didactic and clinical teaching in the area of speech/language pathology to speech-
pathology students and interns. Provides professional guidance and conducts professional and staff education programs concerning clinical/unit/MDG policies, procedures, and/or operating instructions.

DUTY 3: Ensures temporal, quantity, and quality demands of the workload are met by meeting or exceeding Air Force business standards. Stays abreast of organizations changing mission requirements, researches and predicts the personnel and equipment needs of the clinic in order to support mission readiness for the present and future. Maintains knowledge of contemporary assessment and treatment techniques, technology, and equipment in order to make sound decisions regarding equipment needs. Plans and revises own work schedule to accommodate patient and organizations needs. Develops clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and participates in specialty clinics (Head and Neck Cancer Board/Tumor Board, Motor Disorders Clinic, Craniofacial Anomalies Board, etc.). Uses Composite Health Care System (CHCS), AHLTA (the DoD electronic outpatient health record), Essentris (DoD electronic inpatient health record), Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel and other software programs in association with clinical record keeping and other administrative duties. May participate in clinical research related to communication sciences, swallowing disorders, or other upper aero-digestive functions. During the course of research coordinates with staff and/other professionals in the field in designing and conducting specialized research studies to further professional knowledge and operations.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Speech/Language Pathologist:

Degree: Successful completion of a graduate or higher level degree that included 18 semester hours in the field of speech pathology with approved clinical practice. The education program must have been approved, recognized, or accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) at the time the degree was obtained.

Licensure: This position requires a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice Speech/Language Pathology in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes analyzing and interpreting test results in the evaluation of communicative disorders of children; providing Speech/Language Pathology early intervention services to infants and toddlers; and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to evaluate and resolve problems with speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders.

Please be aware that in this position you will be dealing with Traumatic Brain Injury.

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