Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

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 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 - 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 the United States state - territory - commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• 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)
• 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: 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
• 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
• 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 re-entry to the occupation
• 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: This grandfathering provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified
• Audiologist - GS-11
• 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
• GS-11 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
• AND 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
• GS-12 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 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: Preferred experience with Vestibular Consults - VEMP testing - and rehabilitation
• Excellent communication skills and able to work independently
• 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 GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of sitting - bending - reaching - crouching - stooping - stretching and lifting moderately heavy items
• Must be able to push a patient in a wheelchair and assist in transferring from wheelchair to exam chair
• See https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/OCHCO/SitePages/D5019.aspx VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• This position is for Ralph H Johnson VAMC or Clinical Based Outpatient Clinic
• This position provides audiology services to deliver consistent and high-quality care to Veterans with hearing and balance disorders
• The position of Clinical Audiologist performs their duties at either Ralph H Johnson VAMC or a Clinical Based Outpatient Clinic
• The audiologist at this level conducts audiological assessment - determines a patient's need for and provides amplification and/or medical referral - determines need for and type of audiologic rehabilitation and counsels the hearing-impaired Veteran and their family
• The mission of the VHA Audiology Service is to optimize the functioning of Veteran patients
• The overall objective of audiology services is to optimize individuals' ability to function through the provision of integrated - specialized services
• Audiologists work to improve quality of life by reducing impairment - activity limitations - participation restrictions - and environmental barriers of the Veterans they serve
• Duties include - but not limited to: Identifies - evaluates - diagnosis - manages - and treats disorders of hum hearing - balance - tinnitus - and other disorders associated with the practice of audiology
• Conducts and interprets behavioral - electroacoustic - or electrophysiologic tests used to evaluate disorders associated with the practice of audiology
• Determines the appropriateness of amplification devices and systems such as hearing aids - sensory aids - hearing assistive devices - alerting and telecommunication systems - and captioning devices
• for Veterans with hearing impairment taking into consideration physical - acoustic - cosmetic - situational - and contextual factors
• Selects - evaluates - fits and programs amplification devices and systems customized to the individual needs of Veterans
• verifying the effectiveness of such devices or systems
• counseling and training Veterans in the use of amplification devices and systems - and determining the benefit of amplification devices and systems
• Determines candidacy based on hearing and communication information for auditory implants
• Evaluates and provides treatment and management for Veterans with tinnitus using techniques that include - but are not limited to - educational counseling - biofeedback - masking - sound therapy - hearing aids - directed counseling - and combined methods
• Participates in education and administration of audiology graduate and professional education programs including education - mentoring - and supervision of associated heath trainees
• Measures functional outcomes - consumer satisfaction - effectiveness - efficiency - and cost-benefit of practices and programs to maintain and improve the quality of audiology services
• Trains health technicians and other support personnel
• Completes clinical charting - consults and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system as appropriate and timely
• Schedules Veterans appropriately and ensures coverage of assigned clinics by periodic review of clinic schedule
• Attends and actively participates in staff meeting and training
• Participates in the development of professional and technical standards
• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required for the efficient operation of the department
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 534-57804F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more