Travel required to Indiana 3 days a week/Altoona 2 days a week, Pennsylvania up to 40%. Valid Driver License required. This position is located within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA. , An integrated healthcare system comprised of one hospital and 5 community based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) within our 14 catchment counties. We provide care and services in the outpatient, inpatient, community living center settings.
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. (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. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology 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 Licensure: 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. (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. (2) 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. English Requirement: Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Audiologist, GS-11. (1) Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders. (b) Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA. (c) Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals. Audiologist, GS-12. (1) 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. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: (a) Skill in determining nature, type, and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders. (b) Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders. (c) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals. (d) Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations. Preferred Experience: This position would need an audiologist with at least a year of experience with adults with hearing loss as she/he will be the sole audiologist in Indiana, PA CBOC. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
In addition to observance of Federal national and local regulatory, policy, and accreditation requirements governing VA Medical Center, this position encompasses the following examples of responsibilities: Patient Care: Audiologist are expected to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease, and care at the end of life, within traditional consult processes and within direct access delivery of care. Medical/Clinical Knowledge: Audiologist are expected to demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving evidenced based practices, and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others. The incumbent monitors and ensures provision of evidence based, patient-centered diagnosis and treatment of disorders consistent with his/her training, scope of practice, and competencies, and privileges. Clinical Judgment: To ensure evidenced based learning and improvement, Audiologist are expected to be able to use scientific evidenced based practice and methods to investigate, evaluate, and improve patient care. Interpersonal & Communication Skills: The incumbent is expected to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of the health care team, as well as other internal and external health care providers. Professionalism: Audiologist are expected to demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice. Systems-Based Practice: Audiologist are expected to demonstrate both an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve optimizing health care. Maintain trainings and attend required meetings: The incumbent shall maintain up to date VHA and professional trainings. Required meetings must be attended, or representative will attend if patient care emergency arises. Additionally, attends patient / family meetings, committee meetings, and interdisciplinary meetings as assigned/ directed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 503-03615-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized