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Introduction | Current Status of SLP Employment | Retention vs. Recruitment | SLPs' Prioritization of Job Satisfaction Factors | Recruitment and Retention Strategies | Home Care Recruitment and Retention | Hospital Considerations | Outpatient Facility Considerations | Skilled Nursing Facility Considerations | Appendix
NEW! Reward Yourself with a Career in Health Care Powerpoint presentation [PDF]
Introduction
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are essential professionals in every health care setting—acute care, rehabilitation, pediatric, and psychiatric hospitals; long term care; outpatient facilities; and home health. Their expertise provides invaluable benefit to patients and other staff in managing problems (swallowing, communication, and cognitive-linguistic disorders) that affect patients' overall health, well-being, and ability to benefit from other medical or rehabilitation interventions. The qualifications and expertise of SLPs in health care settings cannot be duplicated by members of other professions. The following information has been developed to assist program directors and administrators in recruiting and retaining a highly qualified SLP staff.
Competition for employing SLPs is anticipated to grow as the demand for SLPs increases due to national demographic and health factors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment rate of SLPs is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. The BLS monitors the supply and demand for more than 700 occupations. According to the BLS, more than 14,000 additional SLPs will be needed to fill the demand between 2004 and 2014, a 15% increase in job openings. A total of 38,000 job openings for speech-language pathologists is projected between 2004 and 2014. Reference: U.S. Department of Labor (2005). Occupational employment projections to 2014. November 2005 Monthly Labor Review. Washington, D.C.: Hacker, D.
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