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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring an Audiologist Near Cheyenne, WY

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
  • Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE. 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 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) 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. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed.
    • 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.

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 Education:

• None beyond the basic requirements

GS 11 Knowledge Skills and Abilities. 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 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, GS-11, level.

GS 12 Knowledge Skills, and Abilities (KSA's). 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/152 PART II APPENDIX G29 UPDATED SEPTEMBER 22, 2022.

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 11-12.

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.

Responsibilities:

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, participations restrictions, and environmental barriers of the Veterans they serve.

Job Duties Include:

• Demonstrate contemporary audiology practice; anatomy, physiology, acoustics, applied acoustics, communication, psychoacoustics, and auditory/vestibular pathophysiology; principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders; clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing;
• Perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice; behavioral and electrophysiologic assessments to diagnose hearing and balance disorders; otoscopic examination and external ear canal management for removal of cerumen
• Interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals in a polite and professional manner
• Conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions;
• Develop coherent treatment strategies;
• Provide consultation to other health care professionals
• Treat hearing disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders
• Make appropriate medical referrals
• Identify, evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat disorders of human hearing, balance, tinnitus, and other disorders associated with the practice of audiology
• Conduct and interpret behavioral, electroacoustic, or electrophysiologic tests used to evaluate disorders associated with the practice of audiology
• Determine 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
• Select, evaluate, fit, and program amplification devices and systems customized to the individual needs of Veterans; verify the effectiveness of such devices or systems; counsel and train Veterans in the use of amplification devices and systems, and determine the benefit of amplification devices and systems
• Determine candidacy based on hearing and communication information for auditory implants
• Evaluate and provide 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
• Evaluate need for hearing protection devices for hearing conservation and provide patient education on use.
• Participate in education and administration of audiology graduate and professional education programs including education, mentoring, and supervision of associated heath trainees
• Measure functional outcomes, consumer satisfaction, effectiveness, efficiency, and cost-benefit of practices and programs to maintain and improve the quality of audiology services
• Train, supervise, and manage health technicians and other support personnel
• Participate in Compensation and Pension examination program Other Significant Responsibilities
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting, consults and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system as appropriate
• Requests patient appointments (via return to clinic orders) appropriately and ensures coverage of assigned clinics by periodic review of clinic schedule
• Attends and actively participates in staff meeting and training
• Completes annual professional and mandatory training by required dates
• Participates in the development of professional and technical standards
• May be assigned to provide services using telehealth diagnostic measures and treatment methodologies (including remote applications)
• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required for the efficient operation of the department

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Ad-hoc available at supervisors discretion
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 442-54254-A & 442-54255-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary