AUDIOLOGIST

Job Summary/Overall Objectives

The audiologist performs daily duties related to the evaluation of hearing and balance disorders in pediatric, adult and geriatric patients. The audiologist will work with physicians and/or independently to determine the diagnosis of such patients, followed by a course of action. Daily duties include administration of hearing and balance evaluations, dispensing hearing aids/assistive devices, follow up and service. The audiologist must also work to monitor these treatment plans to ensure patient receives the highest standard of care. 

Essential Job Functions

• Performs clinical responsibilities in a manner that provides effective, age specific patient care while achieving optimal outcomes.
• Completes evaluations within time frame per policy.
• Sets goals with measurable verification/validation and appropriate time frames.
• Demonstrates appropriate use of various treatment modalities in patient care.
• Recommends discontinuation of treatment when appropriate.
• Initiates discussions with physicians and other medical team members when appropriate to modify the treatment program.
• Adheres to ethical and legal practice standards.
• Abides by relevant ethical codes and standards of practice guidelines.
• Abides by State and Federal laws and regulations, including state licensure laws.
• Maintains records in accordance with departmental and system policies in a format that is accurate, concise, timely, and legible.
• Documents care in format and accordance with practice setting including: evaluations, treatment provided, and response to treatment, patient progress, education, family conferences, and discharge planning as appropriate.
• Completes re-assessments at appropriate intervals and documents accordingly.
• Communicates post-discharge needs to appropriate resources.
• Documents patient care that is consistent with the guidelines and requirements of agencies and third party payers.
• Educates all patients and families in a manner consistent with their level of understanding needs.
• Involves the patient and family member in establishment in the treatment goals.
• Provides patient and family with educational materials.
• Participates in patient/family educational programs as appropriate.
• Documents education and training as well as patient and/or family level of achievement with training provided...
• Captures maximum revenue for quality services provided while maintaining established standards of care.
• Utilizes appropriate CPT and/or CDM to match services provided.
• Maintains adherence to established department efficiency standards.
• Completes daily charge entry accurately and timely.
• Maintains current understanding of patient care insurances and reimbursement issues.
• Provides relevant info to insurance providers to insure all proper authorizations are secured prior to initiation of treatment.
• Assures treatment does not extend beyond last covered day.
• Promotes continual performance improvement within the department and throughout Excela Health.
• Demonstrates individual initiative for performance by attending meetings and actively discussing ideas for advancement.
• Actively identifies needs for improvement in the department and system-wide and discusses with supervisor.
• Collaborates with patients. Families, and other healthcare team members to provide excellent patient care.
• Communicates regularly with other team members via verbal, written, and/or electronic methods of communication.
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings as indicated.
• Attends all required staff meetings in accordance with system policies. If absent or unable to attend, reads minutes and signs appropriate sign-in sheets indicating review of content.
• Participates actively in the ongoing development of treatment programs and in the enhancement of established programs.
• Attends appropriate internal or external education to promote growth and expansion of specific programs.
• Participates in community outreach or education.
• Researches appropriate innovative ideas via journal and internet exploration and discusses these with the manager, leads, and peers.
• Implements a self-directed plan for professional development.
• Demonstrates an awareness of own strengths and weaknesses and seeks guidance as indicated to address limitations.
• Initiates and participates in continuing education: lectures, video/audio conferences, written and online courses.
• Develops and conducts in-services for the department to share information gained from external resources.
• Maintains yearly record of Continuing Education via completion of Educational Record.
• Upholds fiscal and operational responsibility.
• Utilizes supplies and equipment in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Maintains a safe and clean work environment.
• Maximizes utilization of non-direct patient care time.
• Maintains responsibility for accurate reporting of hours worked.
• Staff schedules require flexibility as they are dependent on patient care needs, which may include evening and weekend hours, as necessary to meet demand in their primary area or the needs across the System
• Travel to other entities or sites within the System as patient census dictates, in order to provide quality necessary care where patient need is greatest.
• Fit and dispense assistive devices, such as hearing aids
• Plan, conduct, and monitor treatment programs, recommend assistive devices according to patients' nature of impairment
• Administer hearing or speech and language evaluations, tests and examinations to patients
• Evaluate hearing and speech/language disorders to determine diagnosis and courses of treatment
• Document the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of patients
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Completion of a Master’s Degree, Audiology from an accredited program.
• 1-4 years’ experience and/or equivalent fellowship
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Doctorate degree in Audiology.
• 1 year experience within a physician practice.
• Experience in Healthcare setting.

License, Certification & Clearances (please add any additional requirements)

• Current PA State Licensure in good standing to practice Audiology
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer 

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.