Summary

The position of Clinical Audiologist performs their duties in the main Audiology Clinic for Eastern Colorado Health Care systems - Colorado Springs - CO. Located at the medical center and/or in any of the Community Based Outpatient Care facilities. The audiologist conducts audiological assessments - 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.

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
• (1) 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)(2) 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.(2) The Under Secretary of Health - or designee - in VHA Central Office may waive the requirement for licensure under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 of a candidate 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.(3) 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
• d
• Failure to Obtain Licensure
• In all cases - the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment
• HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline
• Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date
• Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment
• e
• Loss of Credential
• In collaboration with HR office staff - management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure - which may also result in separation from employment
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified
• For 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:(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: Internal VHA Audiologist References: See VA Handbook 5005/38 - Part II - Appendix G29 - Audiologist Qualification Standard
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds)
• Light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• Use of fingers
• Walking (1 hour) - Standing (4 hours)
• Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• 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
• Clinical responsibilities include - but not limited to: Ability to perform behavioral and electrophysiologic assessments to diagnose hearing and balance disorders
• Performing otoscopic examination and cerumen removal
• Ability to treat hearing disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders
• Make appropriate medical referral
• Identifying - evaluating - diagnosing - managing - and treating disorders of human hearing - balance - tinnitus - and other disorders associated with the practice of audiology
• Conducting and interpreting behavioral - electroacoustic - or electrophysiologic tests used to evaluate disorders associated with the practice of audiology
• Determining 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
• Selecting - evaluating - fitting and programming 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
• Determining candidacy based on hearing and communication information for auditory implants
• Evaluating and providing 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
• Measuring functional outcomes - consumer satisfaction - effectiveness - efficiency - and cost-benefit
• Other significate responsibilities: Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting - consults and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system as appropriate
• Schedules Vets 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
• Participates in keeping Professional Provider Practice folder (OPPE) current
• Participates in peer reviews
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience with brain injury and APD - Cochlear Implants and Tinnitus Management - but not required
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54338-A - 54339-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required