Speech Therapist Onboarding Checklist

Speech Therapist Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Speech Therapist starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Healthcare onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Speech Therapist, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Speech Therapist onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Speech Therapist Onboarding Checklist

1. Orientation: The new speech therapist attends an orientation session to familiarize themselves with the company’s mission, values, policies, and procedures. This task is typically performed by the human resources department or a designated orientation coordinator.

2. Introduction to the Team: The new speech therapist is introduced to their colleagues, including other speech therapists, doctors, nurses, and administrative staff. This task is usually performed by the team leader or supervisor.

3. Review of Job Responsibilities: The new speech therapist receives a detailed overview of their specific job responsibilities, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of speech and language disorders. This task is typically performed by the supervisor or department head.

4. Training on Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System: The new speech therapist undergoes training on the company’s EMR system to learn how to document patient information, treatment plans, progress notes, and billing. This task is usually performed by the IT department or a designated trainer.

5. Familiarization with Equipment and Tools: The new speech therapist is introduced to the various equipment and tools used in their daily practice, such as assessment materials, therapy materials, and assistive communication devices. This task is typically performed by the supervisor or a senior speech therapist.

6. Review of Policies and Procedures: The new speech therapist is provided with a comprehensive review of the company’s policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safety, infection control, and ethical guidelines. This task is usually performed by the human resources department or a designated compliance officer.

7. Introduction to Documentation Requirements: The new speech therapist is educated on the specific documentation requirements for their profession, including progress notes, treatment plans, and insurance authorization forms. This task is typically performed by the supervisor or a senior speech therapist.

8. Shadowing Experienced Speech Therapists: The new speech therapist spends time shadowing experienced speech therapists to observe their clinical practice, gain insights into effective therapy techniques, and learn about the company’s preferred treatment approaches. This task is usually coordinated by the supervisor or a designated mentor.

9. Introduction to Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The new speech therapist is introduced to the concept of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of working closely with other healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists. This task is typically performed by the supervisor or a senior speech therapist.

10. Review of Continuing Education Opportunities: The new speech therapist is informed about the company’s support for continuing education, including workshops, conferences, and online courses, to ensure ongoing professional development. This task is typically performed by the human resources department or a designated education coordinator.

11. Introduction to Supervision and Performance Evaluation: The new speech therapist is provided with information on the company’s supervision and performance evaluation processes, including regular meetings with their supervisor, goal setting, and feedback sessions. This task is typically performed by the supervisor or a designated performance management team.

12. Review of Emergency Procedures: The new speech therapist is educated on the company’s emergency procedures, including fire safety, evacuation plans, and response to medical emergencies. This task is typically performed by the supervisor or a designated safety officer.

13. Introduction to Insurance and Billing Processes: The new speech therapist is given an overview of the company’s insurance and billing processes, including understanding different insurance plans, coding requirements, and reimbursement procedures. This task is typically performed by the billing department or a designated billing coordinator.

14. Introduction to Quality Improvement Initiatives: The new speech therapist is introduced to the company’s quality improvement initiatives, including participation in audits, outcome measurement, and continuous improvement projects. This task is typically performed by the quality improvement department or a designated quality improvement coordinator.

15. Review of Ethical Guidelines and Professional Standards: The new speech therapist is provided with a review of the ethical guidelines and professional standards specific to their profession, such as those set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This task is typically performed by the supervisor or a designated compliance officer

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Speech Therapist checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Speech Therapist up to speed and working well in your Healthcare team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.