Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for a travel assignment in Salinas, California.

This position is focused on adult acute inpatient care and requires an SLP who can quickly step into the department with minimal orientation. The therapist will evaluate and treat medically complex adult patients across areas including Med-Surg, ICU, and neurological/stroke care.

Candidates must be comfortable independently performing Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSS/MBS) and managing patients with dysphagia, communication disorders, and cognitive-communication deficits.

Recent acute-care hospital experience, an active California SLP license, current AHA BLS, and recent Epic experience are required.

Key Responsibilities
• Evaluate adult patients with speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders.
• Develop individualized treatment plans based on clinical findings and functional goals.
• Perform bedside swallowing evaluations.
• Independently perform Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBS/MBSS).
• Interpret swallowing-study findings and develop appropriate treatment and diet recommendations.
• Assess aspiration risk and swallowing safety.
• Provide dysphagia treatment and swallowing rehabilitation.
• Evaluate and treat patients following stroke and other neurological conditions.
• Provide services to medically complex patients in Med-Surg and ICU settings.
• Assess cognitive-communication abilities and functional communication needs.
• Provide speech and language therapy when indicated.
• Educate patients, families, and caregivers regarding swallowing precautions, communication strategies, and treatment plans.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and discharge planning.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in Epic.
• Monitor patient progress and adjust treatment plans as needed.
• Follow hospital safety, infection-control, and rehabilitation standards.
• Manage an inpatient caseload efficiently and function independently with limited training.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must have:
• Graduation from an accredited Speech-Language Pathology / Speech Therapy program
• Active California Speech-Language Pathologist license
• Current American Heart Association BLS
• Recent acute inpatient hospital experience
• Ability to independently perform Modified Barium Swallow Studies
• Experience treating adult patients
• Strong dysphagia assessment and treatment skills
• Ability to work with medically complex and high-acuity patients
• Strong communication, documentation, and interdisciplinary teamwork skills
• Ability to quickly adapt to a new clinical environment

Epic Experience - Required

Candidates must have recent Epic experience, including approximately 6-12 months of hands-on Epic use within the past year.

Candidates should be comfortable documenting:
• Evaluations
• Treatment sessions
• Swallow assessments
• Progress notes
• Clinical recommendations
• Patient education
• Discharge planning

Required Clinical Experience

Strong candidates should be comfortable working with:
• Adult acute-care patients
• Med-Surg patients
• ICU patients
• Stroke patients
• Neurological disorders
• Dysphagia
• Aspiration risk
• Cognitive-communication disorders
• Medically complex patients
• Post-intubation or respiratory-compromised patients when encountered

Key Clinical Skills

Successful candidates should be comfortable with:
• Modified Barium Swallow Studies
• Bedside swallowing evaluations
• Dysphagia treatment
• Aspiration-risk assessment
• Diet and liquid consistency recommendations
• Cognitive-communication evaluation
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Acute-care Speech-Language Pathology
• ICU patient care
• Patient and caregiver education
• Interdisciplinary care planning
• Clinical documentation
• Epic EMR

Preferred Qualifications

Strong candidates may also have:
• Extensive hospital-based SLP experience
• ICU Speech-Language Pathology experience
• Neurological rehabilitation experience
• Stroke program experience
• Post-intubation dysphagia experience
• Previous travel or contract SLP experience
• Experience in high-volume acute-care environments
• Experience collaborating closely with radiology for swallow studies

Schedule Requirements
• Flexible schedule
• Four 10-hour shifts per week
• 40 hours per week
• Exact shift times may vary based on department and patient-care needs.

Candidates should be flexible and able to adapt to inpatient coverage requirements during the assignment.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced acute-care Speech-Language Pathologist who can enter a new hospital environment and begin managing patients with minimal training.

You should be confident with Modified Barium Swallow Studies, dysphagia management, stroke patients, Med-Surg patients, and ICU-level care, while also being comfortable documenting independently in Epic.

This opportunity may be a strong fit for professionals currently working as an:
• Acute Care Speech-Language Pathologist
• Inpatient SLP
• Hospital Speech-Language Pathologist
• Dysphagia SLP
• Neuro SLP
• ICU Speech Therapist
• Stroke Rehabilitation SLP
• Travel Speech-Language Pathologist