By Erica Ronchetti

For physical therapists and occupational therapists, there are many travel therapy jobs that allow these healthcare professionals opportunities to explore the nation, combining a successful career with their love of travel.  This is the case for Speech Language Pathologists (also known as speech therapists) as well.  As SLP careers become more popular, SLP jobs are becoming more commonplace and traveling SLPs are in high demand.  Facilities need to staff qualified speech therapists to fill short term staffing gaps, a perfect opportunity for non-local speech language pathologists to combine their entrepreneurial spirit with love of travel and advance in their careers.

Many companies specialize in connecting speech therapists looking for work with the hospitals and facilities that are looking to hire SLP professionals on a short term basis, taking into account therapist preferences and needs.  A typical SLP travel job would last for approximately 13 weeks, with the therapist in control of where they work for the duration of the assignment.  Typical travel speech language pathologist salaries are very competitive and usually housing and meals are paid for as well.  There is often a myth about lack of insurance or benefits, but that is untrue.  Along with insurance, frequently therapists may receive bonuses on completion of their SLP travel job.

Some people are required to travel as part of their job, and this can often be somewhat of an inconvenience.  Many speech therapy professionals feel the opposite way, and don’t just take on travel speech therapy jobs for the salary and benefits.  Their love for travel and the opportunity to see the country and explore different cities and cultures is a main motivation for pursuing a career in travel therapy.  If you think a traveling speech therapy job is right for you, don’t hesitate to find out more information by visiting http://www.alliedtravelcareers.com/speechtherapyjobs.php and apply now to get in touch with a recruiter today.  Learn how a SLP travel job can advance your career!

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

New Jersey looks to be the 14th state in line to pass an autism treatment bill that will make it mandatory for health insurance companies to cover autism treatments as well as other developmental disabilities. Treatments for autism include speech therapy and speech language pathology. This will increase the already high demand for speech therapists, speech language pathologists, travel speech therapists and traveling speech language pathologists – all integral in autism therapy treatments.

On June 29th, bill “A-2238/S-1651” made its way to the governor’s desk, after passing by a large margin in the Assembly and unanimously in the Senate. The autism bill, following suit with similar such bills in other states, places a $36,000 annual cap on insurance coverage. The bill would require insurance companies to cover expenses related to the screening and diagnosis of autism (and other developmental disabilities), and also includes treatments such as prescribed physical therapy and occupational therapy in addition to speech therapy. Insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage based on the reason that the treatment is not “restorative.”

A study by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that in the 14 states where legislation has been (or is being) passed, one in every 150 children on average is diagnosed with autism. Other states that have recently passed similar legislation, and are likely to have increasing needs for traveling speech therapists, travel physical therapists and traveling occupational therapists, include Wisconsin and West Virginia. Children with autism and other developmental disabilities have multi-disciplinary treatment plans with a strong rehabilitation therapy component, therefore increasing the need for travel therapists and travel therapy jobs in schools and health care facilities nationwide.

Sources: Autism Society of America, IFA Web News

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

There is a big demand for speech language pathologists and speech therapists in the schools to work with children diagnosed with developmental disorders such as Autism (where increased funding is being sought in state after state), with cognitive disorders, and articulation and language impairments. Traveling speech language pathologists and travel speech therapists are also encouraged to seek out these positions in schools.

While educators work to fill these open positions, speech-language pathologists at Kent State University in Ohio are working on an alternate solution to the conventional face-to-face, one-on-one SLP approach. They have started using a method of SLP practice called “telepractice” in various rural schools, as a way of delivering speech and language therapy remotely to students in need. For the pilot program, the students treated experienced articulation, phonological and language impairments. Similar to conventional SLP, the sessions went according to the child’s existing education plan. The difference was that the sessions were conducted between the SLP and child via a website, computer program and special software with an “e-helper” onsite to assist the child (not from a therapy standpoint).  The Kent State SLP’s who conducted the study reported that one disadvantage they noted was reduced communication between the speech-language pathologist and the classroom teacher. They are currently reviewing results, comparing conventional to “telepractice” SLP and planning future studies.

There are similar telepractice and telemedicine program in various other disciplines in other states as well. Travel speech language pathologists and traveling speech therapists may not have immediate access to these types of technological advances in therapy yet. But, there are still numerous opportunities and slp travel jobs to work directly with children in schools who need speech therapy.

Source: Advance for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Traveling therapists such as travel speech therapists, travel speech language pathologists, and slp travel jobs seekers in these fields, are responsible for much more than what most people would associate with “speech.” SLP’s work with patients rehabilitating from a stroke and others with swallowing difficulties. Speech therapists also work intensively in one-on-one scenarios helping improve outcomes for autistic children. They are involved in many other treatment situations that involve any of the parts of the upper airway and mouth related to speech. One of the patient groups speech therapists work with is a group that I happen to be quite familiar with: snorers. I grew up adjacent to a symphony of snores coming from my parents’ room and now I am the conductor of my own personal symphony lying in the bed next to me.

Most cases of snoring are mild or non-threatening enough that over the counter and home remedies are enough to manage the situation.  For many Americans, however, the problem or snoring is connected to “obstructive sleep apnea,” a disorder that, if left untreated, puts some individuals at risk for heart attack and stroke due to a lack of oxygen flow during sleep. Speech therapists regularly work with sleep apnea patients, teaching them upper airway exercises that help diminish symptoms and increase the individual’s overall well-being.

The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine’s May 15th issue reported the results of a randomized sleep apnea study, during which some participants were assigned actual speech therapy upper airway exercises while others were given “fake” treatment regimens. The study showed that those who participated in the actual speech therapy exercises experienced improved sleep quality. This study and similar research shows the immense value of speech therapists and traveling speech therapists in working with patients across a broad range of illnesses and conditions.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

If you love being a rehab therapist, whether in physical or occupational therapy or speech language pathology, but working in a hospital or other traditional clinical setting is not for you, consider the more intimate atmosphere of a career or a travel therapy career in home health. There are a variety of reasons for the growing number of patients requiring rehabilitation therapy at home, from the aging population of America and their complex medical needs to insurance limitations on inpatient and therefore in-house therapy time.

Home health rehabilitation therapy assignments may include helping the stroke patient restore function and ability, providing range of motion and flexibility exercises for hospice or bed bound patients or speech therapy for children with disabilities such as Autism.  Working with patients in the familiarity and comfort of their own home may also increase patient compliance with the treatment objectives. Another perk is ensuring that at the very least, your patient will show up for treatment.

Fast Facts*:

• Average Home Health Physical Therapist Salary: $54,000
• Average Home Health Occupational Therapist Salary: $53,000
• Average Home Health Speech Language Pathologist salary: $59,000

A travel physical therapist, travel  occupational therapist or travel speech language pathologist working in home health will see several patients in the course of their 6-8 hour work day. With an expanding population of patients requiring home health rehabilitation services, there is a growing demand for rehabilitation therapists, including those in travel careers. Recruiters are accepting applications from both new and experienced physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists who prefer working with patients in the privacy and comfort of their own home. If this is you, be sure and visit our “apply now” page and get matched with a travel agency that best fits your needs.

*Simplyhired.com; salaries vary based on therapist experience and location of assignment.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Speech therapists and occupational therapists in Utah (and traveling therapists in these professions) could start seeing the benefits of legislation meant to help in the treatment of autistic children, by July 2010. Utah Senator Howard Stephenson co-sponsored the bill, called Clay’s Law for a Utah boy who no longer suffers from autism following two years of intensive rehabilitation therapy. The bill dictates that private health insurance companies cover the diagnosis and treatment of all disorders within the autism spectrum and specifically to patients under 17 years old. Clay’s Law, if passed, will specifically cover rehabilitation therapy for autism patients, including occupational therapy and speech therapy along with behavior therapy, pharmaceuticals and psychological care.

Eight other U.S. states currently have similar legislation in place to assist families of patients with autism fund the often expensive care required, by some estimates up to $45,000 per year. 28 other states are also working on such legislation, including most recently Virginia and Missouri.

If legislation similar to Clay’s Laws is passed in these states and spreads around the country, it could create new career opportunities for speech therapists, occupational therapists, travel speech language pathologists and those working in travel occupational therapy careers.  Autism and its related spectrum of disorders require intensive rehabilitation therapy, frequently occurring in the school environment. With additional funding made available to patients and their families, there will be an increased need for speech therapists and occupational therapist to fill these very important roles in improving the quality of life for children with autism.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, MD, BSN

Considering a career as a speech therapist (or as its officially titled, speech-language pathologist) or as a traveling speech therapist in these areas?  The opportunities for professionals, new graduates, and experienced professionals alike, in this area of rehabilitation therapy extend well beyond the restoration of speaking abilities that many may associate with speech therapy.

The median annual earnings of a speech-language pathologist is $57,710 per year.**  SLPs work with patients suffering from disorders that impact their ability to make sounds (ex. patients with aphasia), those with difficulty in the areas of speech rhythm and fluency (stuttering), people with specific voice disorders and individuals such as stroke patients who have swallowing difficulties. Spanish and English bilingual therapists are especially in demand.

Spotlighted Work settings for SLPs/Speech Therapists:

Schools: Speech therapists have the opportunity to diagnose and treat children with speech and voice disorders while working in pre-schools, elementary and secondary schools. When I recently interviewed the mother of an autistic child (see previous blog), she emphasized the great work done by the speech therapists at her son’s school. This is definitely a work setting where skilled and passionate professionals can make a difference in the life of a child and that child’s family.

Self-Employment/Private Practice: Being self-employed is an excellent way to define the parameters of your speech therapy career and what kind of patients you most prefer to work with. However, most SLPs who are self-employed are also affiliated with a hospital or similar medical setting.

Speech Therapists also are in high demand in these settings:

• Hospitals

• Long term care facilities/nursing homes

• Home health services

• Outpatient care centers

• Child day care services

** U.S. Department of Labor Statistics

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Speech therapists and speech language pathologists often have the very special privilege of working with children born with genetic disorders and to establish or restore speaking and swallowing ability that these children wouldn’t have otherwise. Conditions that may call for a speech therapist may include autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and cleft lip and palate. While the last condition is sometimes associated with children born outside of the United States, those children are often brought by charitable organizations, to medical clinics and surgeons here in the states for reconstructive surgeries. As this trend grows so should the need for travel speech therapists and traveling speech pathologists to travel to these locations and work with these children.

Cleft lip and/or cleft palate affects 1 in every 700 babies annually, here in the U.S. and abroad. It is the fourth most common birth defect in the U.S. but more frequently occurs in children of Asian, Latino and Native American descent.* Speech pathologists are called upon to work with these children because the condition results in the voice taking on a nasal quality and becoming very difficult to understand.

Speech therapists on staff as well as those in travel speech pathology jobs are also called upon to help children with autism to find their voice. Autistic children generally run the gamut from being either non-verbal or extremely verbal, with a tendency to misinterpret language called Asperger Syndrome falling in between. Speech language pathologists are vital members of the care team, who can help children with autism learn to communicate non-verbally, in basic spoken phrases and sometimes with full conversational skills.

There are many opportunities for professionals working in speech therapy to embark on a speech pathologist travel assignment or traveling speech therapist career, to seek out the children who most need their help. In an upcoming blog, I will be speaking to the mother of an autistic child who has extensive experience working with all types of rehabilitation therapists: physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. It will be very interesting to learn which qualities, in her opinion as the caregiver on the “front lines” of her son’s care, make a good rehabilitation therapist. Stay tuned!

*Webmd.com

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.