Hi-Desert Home Health and Hospice is recruiting a per diem Speech-Language Pathologist to deliver home-based speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive-linguistic therapy across the Morongo Basin region centered in Joshua Tree, California. This field-based role offers a day-shift schedule (0800–1700) with the autonomy of home health practice and the clinical backing of Desert Care Network — a three-hospital system that includes a Level 1 Trauma Center, a comprehensive stroke program, a cancer center, and the only Level 3 NICU in the Coachella Valley. Clinicians who value independent caseload management, meaningful one-on-one patient relationships, and a high-desert lifestyle will find this role a strong fit.
Perks and Benefits
- Per diem employment with day-shift hours (0800–1700)
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance (eligibility based on employment status)
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Generous paid time off
- Health savings accounts (HSA); healthcare and dependent flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- Continuing education and career development opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program and employee discount program
- Voluntary benefits: pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long-term care, elder and childcare assistance, auto and home insurance
Practice Highlights
- Home health setting — evaluations and treatment delivered in patients' residences across the Morongo Basin service area; travel is required
- Full-spectrum speech pathology scope: receptive and expressive language, speech fluency, vocal and oral motor competence, articulation, auditory skills, cognitive-linguistic skills, and dysphagia/swallowing disorders
- Responsible for selecting and administering appropriate diagnostic evaluation tools, determining impairment severity, and establishing prognosis for improvement
- Develops individualized short- and long-term treatment goals; re-evaluates and modifies programs as the patient's clinical status evolves
- Collaborates directly with physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary team members; serves as a clinical resource across disciplines
- Patient population spans pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric age groups, including patients receiving hospice and end-of-life care
- Supported by Desert Care Network's regional infrastructure: Desert Regional Medical Center (Palm Springs), JFK Memorial Hospital (Indio), and Hi-Desert Medical Center (Joshua Tree)
- Network-level specialty services available for complex referrals: comprehensive stroke care, oncology, Level 1 Trauma, and Level 3 NICU
- Documentation and written reporting consistent with professional and departmental standards
Qualifications
- Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology required
- Active California Speech-Language Pathologist license required
- Valid California driver's license and continuous personal auto insurance required (travel to patient homes is an essential function)
- Clinical competence across the full range of speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive-linguistic disorders in a home or community setting
- Demonstrated sensitivity and cultural competence in caring for patients across the lifespan, including seriously ill and dying patients
About the Community
Joshua Tree sits at the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park in California's Morongo Basin — a high-desert landscape that draws outdoor enthusiasts, artists, and clinicians seeking an unhurried pace of life with striking natural scenery. The region offers rock climbing, hiking, stargazing, and a vibrant arts community, while remaining within roughly two hours of Los Angeles and less than an hour from Palm Springs. Cost of living is significantly lower than coastal Southern California, and the broader Coachella Valley provides access to major retail, dining, and cultural amenities.