Evaluating Speech Therapist (Remote)

Exalt Health acute rehabilitation hospitals provide an intensive rehabilitation program, and admitted patients must be able to tolerate three hours of intense rehabilitation services per day. Focused on caring for patients nationwide with complex rehabilitative needs such as stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, head trauma, medically debilitating conditions, neurological disorders, cardio-pulmonary conditions, amputations, orthopedic injuries, and multiple major traumas.

Position Summary

As a Remote Evaluating Speech Therapist, you will play a vital role in our nationwide interdisciplinary teams, helping newly admitted patients begin their recovery from a variety of medical conditions that impact communication, swallowing, and cognitive function. Operating in a remote telehealth capacity across Exalt Health facilities nationwide, your primary focus is conducting comprehensive initial evaluations upon patient admission and developing individualized treatment plans and functional goals. You will partner closely with on-site clinical staff during remote assessments, transition the established Plan of Care (POC) to the in-facility therapy team for daily treatment execution, and provide initial education to patients and their families on communication and swallowing strategies. Exalt will require state licensure and/or telehealth certification for any of our existing states of operation – Arizona, Texas, and/or Florida.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive initial speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing evaluations upon patient admission via telehealth to identify patients' baseline needs and develop functional treatment goals.
• Design individualized initial therapy programs and Plans of Care utilizing evidence-based practices for implementation by the on-site rehabilitation team.
• Direct and collaborate with on-site clinical facilitators (such as proctor, nurses, or on-site therapists) at the patient's bedside to ensure safe, accurate administration of remote cognitive, communicative, and clinical swallowing assessments.
• Complete thorough, accurate admission documentation and initial evaluation reports in the electronic medical record (EMR) within required regulatory timeframes and collaborate with the rehabilitation team to ensure a cohesive treatment approach.
• Execute structured clinical handoffs to the on-site Speech Therapy team and Therapy Manager, clearly communicating baseline deficits, diet/swallowing precautions, and recommended treatment interventions.
• Educate newly admitted patients, families, and caregivers remotely on initial evaluation findings, communication strategies, and safe swallowing techniques.
• Contribute baseline clinical assessment data and prognostic input to support early interdisciplinary discharge planning and facilitate a smooth transition back to the community.
• Stay up to date on current research, telepractice guidelines, and best practices in speech-language pathology.

Licenses or Certifications

• Current, unencumbered license to practice professional Speech Therapy in the state of residence and in the state(s) where the assigned Exalt Health hospital(s) and patients are located, or active multi-state privilege to practice via the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). – States of Exalt operation – Arizona, Texas and Florida
• Willingness and eligibility to obtain additional state licenses as needed to support nationwide hospital admissions.
• Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
• Current BLS certification via the American Heart Association or American Red Cross (required).

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Education, Training, and Experience

• Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited university program (required).
• 2 years of Inpatient Rehabilitation experience (preferred).
• Prior experience conducting clinical speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing evaluations via telehealth (preferred).
• Strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish clinical rapport quickly via video and coordinate seamlessly with on-site hospital teams.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment across multiple facilities and time zones.
• Compassionate and patient-centered approach to care.
• Proficient in documentation and electronic medical record keeping, including Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) admission quality indicators.
• Strong understanding of current trends and best practices in rehabilitation medicine.

Skills and Abilities, Proficiency and Productivity Standards

• Promotes a healing environment and utilizes resources for optimum patient outcomes.
• Organizes and prioritizes admission evaluation queues and tasks across assigned nationwide hospitals, accurately completing job responsibilities within the specified regulatory time constraints.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work under deadlines and handle multiple admission evaluations across fluctuating hospital census needs.
• Speaks and communicates English effectively in verbal and written format; writes legibly.
• Reading and comprehension at the level necessary to perform job duties appropriately.
• Works cooperatively with remote peers, on-site co-workers, and other hospital employees nationwide.
• Functions proficiently in a Microsoft Windows environment (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Electronic Medical Record (EMR) platforms, and HIPAA-compliant telehealth/video conferencing software.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Machines, Equipment Used Clinical and technological equipment used for remote patient evaluation includes:

Telehealth & Hardware Equipment

• Computer workstation with high-definition webcam
• Noise-canceling headset and microphone
• High-speed, hardwired/secure internet connection
• Basic office equipment

Clinical & Assessment Software

• Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems
• HIPAA-compliant telehealth video platform
• Computerized cognitive rehabilitation programs
• Computerized speech therapy & digital evaluation programs

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand in a stationary position at a computer workstation for extended periods while conducting remote patient evaluations and completing clinical documentation.
• Ability to reach, grasp, and use fine finger movement for continuous keyboarding, mouse operation, and system navigation.
• Visual and auditory acuity necessary to accurately observe subtle oral-motor, facial, swallowing, and behavioral cues and evaluate speech/vocal quality over live audio-visual feeds.

Environmental Conditions

• This is a remote (work-from-home) role supporting Exalt Health hospitals nationwide.
• Work must be performed indoors in a private, quiet, climate-controlled, well-lighted, and ventilated home office environment that is fully HIPAA-compliant and free from household distractions to protect patient privacy.
• Smoke-free environment during scheduled work hours and on-camera interactions.
• May work under stressful circumstances at times to meet admission evaluation deadlines.

Proficiency or Productivity Standards

• Has regular, reliable, and predictable attendance and punctuality, maintaining active online availability during scheduled shifts.
• Adheres to professional dress code standards while on camera, including visibly wearing an Exalt Health ID badge during telehealth encounters.
• Adheres to Standards of Business Conduct and strict HIPAA/telehealth data security protocols.
• May be required to work weekdays and/or weekends, evenings and/or night shifts if needed to meet admission evaluation deadlines across nationwide time zones.
• May be required to work on religious and/or legal holidays on scheduled days/shifts.
• May be required to perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• This position will support cultural diversity by promoting and maintaining an inclusive work environment and culture that is respectful and accepting of diversity.