Speech Language Pathologist - Acute Care
Company : Legacy Health
Location : Portland, OR, 97227-1623
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 13 January 2026
Overview
Your greatest reward is helping patients communicate and thrive in the life they love. As a Speech Language Therapist, you will assess, plan, and implement personalized treatment programs designed to achieve the best possible outcomes. If you share this passion and enjoy collaborating within a multidisciplinary team, we invite you to explore this rewarding opportunity.
Responsibilities
EVALUATION AND TREATMENT PLANNING
Consistently identifies patients’ subjective and objective limitations.
Incorporates age and disability appropriate assessment tools and procedures.
Develops specific, effective, and individualized therapeutic programs with measurable long and short-term goals, including projected timeframes for achievement.
Maximizes patient and caregiver participation in goal-setting and discharge planning.
Coordinates treatment plans with interdisciplinary team members.
TREATMENT IMPLEMENTATION
Utilizes age-appropriate treatment skills aligned with level of experience.
Performs modalities and procedures in compliance with established professional standards.
Applies a variety of techniques tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Ensures treatment progression aligns with established goals.
Demonstrates clinical reasoning and judgment to support the treatment plan.
Regularly updates and revises treatment plans to address new problems, changes in patient status, or functional limitations.
Actively involves patients and caregivers in treatment to promote functional outcomes.
Provides education and opportunities for functional carryover through home exercise programs.
DOCUMENTATION
Produces legible, accurate, timely, and concise documentation including medical records, letters to physicians, communication with payors/vendors, daily flow sheets, and progress notes.
PATIENT/FAMILY EDUCATION
Tailors education to meet the age and educational level of patients and families.
Recognizes and respects patient and family belief systems.
Designs educational programs that align with realistic patient and family goals.
Provides written and verbal home education materials to patients and caregivers.
Qualifications
Education:
- Master’s Degree.
Skills:
Strong knowledge of medical and neurological terminology, as well as behavioral management techniques.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated competency in age-appropriate evaluation and interpretation of patient information, including understanding of normal growth, development, and corresponding treatment needs.
Excellent organizational skills to support efficient program development and implementation.
Proficient in the use of computers and relevant software applications.
Licensure
- Speech-Language Pathologist license required.
- Certificate of Clinical Competence from American Speech and Hearing Association or in the process of obtaining through their Clinical Fellowship Year.
- BLS for Provider certification from the American Heart Association required.
Pay Range
USD $47.74 - USD $68.28 /Hr.Our Commitment to Health and Equal Opportunity
Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.
If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.
Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
To learn more about our employee benefits click here: www.legacyhealth.org/For-Health-Professionals/careers/benefiting-you
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Frequently asked questions
Portland's healthcare sector shows steady growth for speech language pathologists in acute care settings, driven by an aging population and increased neurological case referrals. This creates promising opportunities for clinicians seeking hospital-based roles in the region.
Besides the standard ASHA certification and state licensure, Portland employers prioritize candidates with up-to-date BLS certification and familiarity with Oregon’s healthcare regulations, ensuring compliance with local patient care standards.
Acute care speech language pathologists excel in rapid clinical assessment and interdisciplinary collaboration, often managing complex cases like stroke or trauma. Proficiency in neurological terminology and tailored treatment plans for critical patients distinguishes them from other speech therapists.
They rely heavily on clinical judgment to modify therapy goals and methodologies promptly, ensuring interventions remain effective despite fluctuating patient status. Continuous communication with the healthcare team supports these dynamic adjustments.
Clinicians can advance by specializing in neurogenic disorders, taking leadership roles in multidisciplinary teams, or pursuing certifications such as board specialty recognition. Opportunities also include research and teaching within acute care rehabilitation.
Legacy Health fosters development through mentorship programs, ongoing education, and facilitating ASHA certification completion. Their inclusive culture encourages innovation and interdisciplinary learning, enhancing clinical skills and career advancement.
Legacy Health emphasizes personalized patient engagement and collaborative goal-setting, which may demand higher adaptability in treatment planning and documentation rigor than some other institutions. Their focus on cultural sensitivity also adds a layer of patient-centered complexity.
In Portland, acute care speech language pathologists generally earn between $47.74 and $68.28 per hour, reflecting the specialized skill set required and the region’s cost of living, with Legacy Health offering competitive compensation within this range.
Yes, Legacy Health and other Portland hospitals frequently offer clinical fellowship positions, supporting new graduates in gaining hands-on acute care experience under expert supervision, a crucial step toward ASHA certification.
Hospital-based speech language pathologists often handle medically complex patients requiring acute interventions, collaborate closely with diverse medical teams, and must document progress meticulously under strict timelines, unlike many outpatient or educational settings.