Summary

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at VA Medical Center - Marion - IL and/or Healthcare Center - Evansville - IN. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service. Incumbent is a staff audiologist.

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
• English Language Proficiency: Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education: Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs
• HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org
• OR - Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE
• (A copy of transcripts with conferred of degree date should be submitted with application package.) 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
• Non-licensed audiologists 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) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that these audiologists provide care only under the supervision of fully licensed audiologists
• (A copy of valid current license should be submitted with application package.) 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: GS-11 Audiologist Qualifications: The basic requirements - and in addition 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
• Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve in audiologist entry-level developmental positions
• Audiologists perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention - exercise clinical judgment - adapt clinical procedures and techniques and document in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care
• GS-12 Audiologist 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 (GS-11)
• 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
• Assignment
• This is the full performance level for staff audiologists
• At this level - audiologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate
• Audiologists serve as consultants to other health care professionals and are recognized subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing - tinnitus and balance disorders
• The supervisor may assign staff audiologists to any VHA program and setting - such as inpatient or outpatient medicine - primary care - surgery - hearing health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - geriatrics - compensation and pension
• Audiologists diagnose audiologic disorders - conduct audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments - treat auditory disorders through a various modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders
• Audiologists consult with medical center staff on various patient care issues
• Staff audiologists may be involved in program evaluation - teaching - training and research activities
• Among the modalities provided are individual - family and group audiologic rehabilitation
• Preferred Experience: N/A Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• An Audiologist in this full performance level is licensed to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate
• Audiologists diagnose audiologic disorders - conduct audiologic and/or neuro-audiologic assessments - treat auditory disorders through various modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders
• Audiologists consult with medical center staff on various patient care issues
• The Audiologist may be involved in program evaluation - teaching - and training
• Among the modalities which may be provided are individual - family and group audiologic rehabilitation
• Assess the nature - type - and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders: Identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech - language - and other acoustic signals
• Administers the full range of tests including audiologic evaluation - videonystagmography - tinnitus - and balance assessment
• evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss
• administers compensation and pension evaluations and provides an expert opinion regarding etiology of auditory dysfunctions as needed
• Recommends remedial measures to mitigate hearing loss: Responsible for direct services of a remedial and preventative nature
• The services encompass the following: selection - evaluation and fitting of hearing aids - assistive listening devices - and accessories
• issuance of hearing protection
• Incumbent plans - conducts - and coordinates auditory (aural) rehabilitation - tinnitus and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients
• designs patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning
• and designs - monitors - and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure
• Counsels patients and family members regarding management of hearing communication - and vestibular disorders: Counsels patients family and other health care providers on hearing loss - hearing loss management and provides patient educational resources
• Incumbent serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases
• Provides professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals: Serves as consultant to other health care professionals and are recognized subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing - tinnitus - and balance disorders
• The supervisor may assign staff audiologists to any VHA program and setting - such as inpatient or outpatient medicine - primary care - surgery - hearing health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - geriatrics - compensation and pension
• Independently applies professional contemporary audiology treatments to the full range of patient populations: Applies clinical skills in such areas as hearing conservation - electrophysiological assessment and/or interpretation - central auditory function assessment and treatment - counseling for coping with tinnitus - and analysis and fitting of advanced amplification technology
• Applies knowledge - theories - and techniques to a full range of complex adult patients
• Applies knowledge of embryology
• genetics
• pharmacology
• basic physiology/disease processes
• the effects of high intensity noise on the auditory mechanism
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available
• Ad-hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: N/A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized