Career Center

Summary

Duties are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical & patient care areas - involved with the department. Plans - conducts & coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation/treatment of hearing impairment. Demonstrate professional knowledge of & skill in applying a wide range of theories - principles & methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations. Can be assigned to other sites of care within the health care system - including mobile medical unit.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• OR Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• NOTE: Effective January 1 - 2007 - the CAA in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology
• Licensure: Individuals must hold a full - current - and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state - territory - commonwealth - or the District of Columbia
• The Under Secretary of Health - or designee - may appoint a candidate without a license who will be assigned to a research - academic - or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities
• In such instances - HR office staff can only appoint these candidates in exceptional circumstances where their credentials demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area
• All audiologists who perform compensation and pension examinations perform direct patient care duties and must possess a full - current - and unrestricted license to practice audiology and must meet the experience requirements under Section 2
• D
• See 38 C.F.R
• § 4.85
• Exception for Non-Licensed Audiologist: Non-Licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist at the GS-11 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)
• Non-Licensed individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a fully licensed audiologists at or above the full performance level
• Non-Licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-12 grade level until licensure is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-Licensed audiologists may not be extended beyond two years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Licensure: In all cases - the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment
• HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline
• Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date
• Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment
• Loss of Credential: Management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required licensure of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment
• HR Office staff must appoint audiologists according to the provisions in VA Handbook - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section B - paragraph 16 - who have - or have ever had - their licensure revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited or issued/placed in a probationary status
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• English Language Proficiency: Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: Audiologist - GS-11 Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders
• Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA
• Ability to interact with patients - families - and other health care professionals
• Audiologist - GS-12 Experience
• In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level - completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level - the following KSAs are required: Skill in determining nature - type - and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
• Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals
• Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of employment as a professional audiologist engaged in the practice of audiology as defined by the appropriate licensing board Advanced skill to perform and interpret diagnostic and electrophysiologic tests to a full range of patient populations Advanced skill to provide treatment interventions including analysis and fitting of advanced amplification technology and signal processing algorithms to a full range of patient populations Experience counseling patients and family members on hearing loss Experience working with audiology technicians Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary but requires travelling in mobile medical unit (when working in MMU) - walking - bending - stooping - reaching over objects on shelves
• On occasion work may require assisting patients by tugging - lifting - pushing the patient and or wheelchair to maneuver within the test environment
• Distant vision 20/40 in one eye with or without correction - field of vision 70 degrees - ability to distinguish red - green and amber - whispered voice at five feet - or average hearing loss of not greater than 40 dbs
• at 500 - 1000 and 2 -000 Hz.

Duties

• This vacancy will remain open until filled
• The first cut-off date is 02/28/2024
• Additional applications will be referred as needed
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Conducting - planning and coordinating all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice Clinical duties and responsibilities include direct patient care involving a full range of audiology treatment services - including the selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices - aural (auditory) rehabilitation - and counseling of hearing-impaired Veterans and their family Identifying and evaluating individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech - language and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity Administering the full range of tests including the testing of auditory nerve function
• evaluating the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics Responsible for planning - delivering and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions
• including - but not limited to - the selection and fitting of all types of hearing aids
• programming of digital hearing aids
• performing real ear measurements - issuance of hearing protection devices for prevention of acoustic trauma for those individuals working in a noisy environment
• selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers - telephone amplifiers - radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems
• and inspection - modification - and repair of amplification devices and ear molds
• Planning - conducting and coordinating auditory (aural) rehabilitation - tinnitus - and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients
• designing patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning Designing - monitoring and conducting comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure Serving as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing and tinnitus Responsible for clinical oversight - mentoring and precepting Tele health technicians - hearing health technicians - student trainees in audiology Providing instruction to residents and interns who seek information relation to audiology Completing all documentation in accordance with facility policy Remaining current with new developments in audiology and maintaining professional competency by reading professional journals and engaging in continuing education activities and professional learning experiences and by communicating with other professionals in the profession and related professions Communication is required by this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meeting as appropriate
• review policies and procedures and attend in-service training
• Responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation Must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments as well as the calibration instruments Work Schedule: Fulltime - Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 52764-F and 52765-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Bargaining Unit position