Audiologist (Clinical Specialist)

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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) 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.

Education. (1) 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). HR office staff and management officials may verify a program's accreditation from ACAE at acaeaccred.org and CAA at caa.asha.org.

OR (2) 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. GRADE DETERMINATION: Audiologist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13 - In addition to the Basic Requirements above the below additional Experience/Education are needed at this grade level (1) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level.

Such experience includes/but not limited to: 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, and ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations.

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (a) Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. (b) Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. (c) Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members. (d) Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. (e) Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program.

02Preferred Experience

Advanced Tinnitus Management, Progressive Tinnitus Management, Preceptor Experience. 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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

03Physical Requirements

The work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending and carrying light items. The incumbent must have the ability to move a small piece of equipment or transport a patient in a wheelchair. Grandfathering Provision.

Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and licensure, where applicable.

For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional licensure that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the occupation.

NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology. (1) 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

Major Duties: Education Coordinator Duties and Responsibilities: Special program responsibilities including coordinating all aspects of the specialty care related to the student training program to ensure local, VISN, national and individual affiliate guidelines are followed. Serves as the coordinator for audiology interns and externs at all levels, both paid through the Office of Academic Affiliates (OM) and unpaid without compensation (WOC) students at all levels of education.

The Education Coordinator also manages requests for student shadowing/observation experiences with educational affiliates. Responsible for working with the facility Designated Education Officer (DEO) (or their designee) and the OM in establishing affiliation agreements with partnering university programs. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited, to Maintains a database of university affiliates contact information and affiliate specific information.

Maintains continual contact with the affiliated programs and students by providing application criteria for interested students of all levels of education including undergraduate for shadowing/observation opportunities and graduate students for paid and WOC 2nd & 3rd year semester placements and 4th year placements. Serves as the point of contact for all university matters including disciplinary and grading actions.

Requests input from all staff on student progress and/or issues ensuring all preceptors sign off on all clinical contact hours for students per the affiliation agreements on a regular basis. Conducts interviews when appropriate and makes recommendations for selection by the Supervisory Audiologist or designee for competitive positions. Develops and maintains an Audiology Student Trainee handbook with the policies and procedures LAJVAMC.

Develops and provides the initial and ongoing training for all audiology students . Develops Standard Operating Procedures associated with the procedures students and preceptors are to follow to ensure the highest quality of patient care and patient safety. Responsible obtaining concurrence from the Supervisory Audiologist/Service Chief and for reviewing with the students during initial orientation/placement and with the audiology staff annually as well as anytime a new staff audiologist is onboarded.

Ensures students complete appropriate TMS, CPR, and other necessary training.

Advanced Tinnitus Management & Education - Teaches Progressive Tinnitus Management classes to include virtual classes as well as 1 :1 clinical care when warranted for complex cases of tinnitus and/or sound sensitivity. - Provides advanced tinnitus management and device training to include continuing education for staff audiologists and student trainees as well as interdisciplinary providers. - Provides quarterly updates regarding program progress and initiatives during service level staff meetings and/or when requested by the Supervisory Audiologist or designee to include utilization report of the program. - Reviews and processes Care in the Community requests pertaining to advanced tinnitus management and treatment.

Clinical Duties and Responsibilities: Uses knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations; Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment; Evaluates patients to determine nature, type, and severity of hearing and balance disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other health care practitioners; Plans, coordinates, and implements a full range of patient-focused treatment services designed to optimize function; Work Schedule: Hours of operation for the department are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Specific tour based on facility needs and discussed during interview. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: May be available, based on facility needs. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 270070F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized