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Speech Language Pathologist, Home Health - Pool

Mercyhealth · Rockford, IL · $35.85–$57.06 an hour · Per diem

Posted Jun 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about working with a patient who had cognitive-communication problems after a stroke.

What they are checking: Whether they have experience treating cognition and know how to measure progress in that area.

How do you stay safe and organized when you travel to homes alone?

What they are checking: Whether they plan routes, watch for safety concerns and handle surprises in the field calmly.

Tell me about a time you counseled a patient or family who was discouraged about slow progress.

What they are checking: Whether they can be honest about prognosis while keeping patients motivated.

What would you do

You arrive at a home and the patient is coughing on thin liquids during lunch. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can make safe on-the-spot recommendations and teach caregivers without a hospital team nearby.

A caregiver isn't following your diet or strategy recommendations between visits. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they find out why and adjust their teaching instead of blaming the family.

As a pool SLP with a flexible schedule, how do you coordinate with nurses and therapists on the same patient?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate across the home health team even when they aren't seeing patients every week.

About the work

How do you evaluate swallowing in a patient's home when you don't have access to an instrumental study?

What they are checking: Whether they can do a careful clinical swallow evaluation and know when to push for a modified barium swallow.

How do you adapt therapy to use what's in someone's home and daily routine?

What they are checking: Whether they make goals functional and tied to the patient's real life, which is the strength of home health.

How do you review a physician's referral and records before your first visit?

What they are checking: Whether they prepare well so they choose the right tests and arrive ready to treat.

Home health has strict documentation rules. How do you make sure your notes support continued visits?

What they are checking: Whether they write notes that show skilled need and progress, which keeps care covered.

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The full job description

As published by Mercyhealth.

OVERVIEW The SLP specializes in assessment and diagnosis, intervention, management, counseling, and follow-up services in the home setting for disorders of speech, language, cognitive aspects of communication, swallowing or other upper aero digestive functions. Schedule: Variable/Flexible Shift: Days Location: Mercyhealth Physician Clinic - Rockton - Rockford, IL Pay Range: $35.85/hr-$57.06/hr ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Reviews Physician's referral, patient's condition and medical records to determine speech therapy treatment required . Obtains history and subjective components of the evaluation • In the home setting: Diagnoses and evaluates speech, language, communicative, cognitive, and swallowing skills as related to educational, medical, social, and psychological factors • Plans, directs, or conducts rehabilitative treatment programs to restore communicative efficiency of individuals with communication problems of organic and nonorganic etiology • Provides counseling and guidance and language development therapy to patients • Reviews individual file to obtain background information prior to evaluation to determine appropriate tests and to ensure that adequate information is available • Administers, scores, and interprets specialized hearing, speech and language tests • Develops and implements individualized plans for assigned clients to meet individual needs, interests, and abilities • Reviews treatment plan, and assesses individual performance to modify, change, or write new programs • Evaluates swallowing abilities via bedside swallow/video studies, developing a plan of care based on findings and individualized patient needs • Maintains records as required by law, establishment's policy, and administrative regulations • Performs complete, thorough, and timely electronic documentation • Instructs individuals to monitor their own speech and provides ways to practice new skills • Acts as consultant to educational, medical, and other professional groups • Confers with Physician and other practitioners to obtain additional patient information, suggest revisions in treatment program, and integrate speech therapy treatment with other aspects of patient's health care • Competent in completing home health therapy start of care, recertification, resumption of care, transfer, and discharge OASIS assessments • Assist s with the supervisory visits of HHA as required by regulations • May assist with orientation and training of new partners as needed EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE • Graduate of an acc redited Speech-Language Pathology program • Completion of a Clinical Fellowship under the supervision of a certified Speech-Language Pathologist required within 1 year of hire if not yet completed • Home health experience preferred CERTIFICATION/ LICENSURE • Licensed in Speech-La nguage Pathology in the State of Wisconsin and/or Illinois or registry eligible • Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association required per state regulation • Approved CPR or BLS certification required within 90 days of hire LEVEL OF SUPERVISION Some independent judgment is required , but alternatives are limited by standard practices or procedures. PAY RANGE: $35.85 - $57.06 Mercyhealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Mercyhealth offers competitive pay and benefits, including retirement, time off, on-demand pay, access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and more. Click here for more details. At Mercyhealth, we don’t simply hire people, we empower employee-partners who are passionate about making lives better. As an integrated health system, we deliver exceptional, coordinated across seven hospitals, 85 primary and specialty clinics, and a team of over 7,500 professionals serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Mercyhealth has been nationally recognized for our commitment to our people and culture, including: • #1 in the nation on AARP's Best Employers for Workers Over 50 • One of Working Mother magazine's 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers • A Top 50 Company and Top 10 Nonprofit for Executive Women

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