Audiologist

Summary

This position is located within the Clinical Care Support Service at the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Health Care System (SAVAHCS). Audiologists at this grade level must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: The audiologist at this level conducts, plans, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice. Clinical duties and responsibilities include direct patient care of inpatients and outpatients involving a full range of diagnostic and routine audiological examinations, hearing instrument evaluations, auditory monitoring of patients who have been prescribed ototoxic medications, balance evaluation, and treatment services including the selection and fitting of hearing instruments, other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing impaired veterans and their families. The audiologist identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language, and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity. He/she administers the full range of tests including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics. The audiologist is 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 instruments; programming of digital hearing instruments; issue of hearing protection devices for prevention of noise induced hearing loss; selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers, blue tooth accessories, telephone amplifiers, radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems; and inspection, evaluation, modification, and repair of amplification devices and ear molds. The audiologist plans, conducts, and coordinates aural rehabilitation, tinnitus, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients; designs patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers in maximizing/restoring physical and social functioning to the greatest extent possible; and designs, monitors, and conducts comprehensive hearing evaluations for employees at risk for noise exposure. The audiologist will be responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of specialized electroacoustic instrumentation and must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments. The audiologist serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on hearing, tinnitus, hearing instruments and balance disorders. The audiologist will remain current with new developments in audiology and will maintain competency by reading professional journals, engaging in continuing education activities, manufacturer conferences and in-services, and other professional learning experiences by communicating with other professionals in the profession and related professions. The staff member will participate in research activities pertinent to clinical audiology as assigned. Although limited research is conducted in the clinical settings, the use of carefully executed audiological procedures may be part of a research design. The staff member may also be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data. The audiologist will be responsible for supervising, evaluating, mentoring, and precepting student trainees in audiology (if assigned) and maintaining a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities. He/she may also provide instruction to medical residents and interns who seek information relating to audiology. Communication is required by this position and the staff member will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate and assigned. Staff member will also be required to review medical center policies and procedures, attend medical center training, and complete annual mandatory training requirements as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, 6:30 am - 5:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 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 (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE. 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. Exception for Non-Licensed Audiologist. (a) 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). (b) Non-Licensed individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a fully licensed audiologists at or above the full performance level. (c) 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. (d) Temporary appointments of non-Licensed audiologists may not be extended beyond two years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Audiologists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including