This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at Palo Alto VA Health Care System. Duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. The audiologist at this level plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders. This is an open continuous announcement. 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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education. (1) Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American SpeechLanguage-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. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and SpeechLanguage Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology. c. 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. English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified. c. 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. (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. Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff audiologists. At this level, audiologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Audiologists serve as consultants to other health care professionals and are recognized subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing, tinnitus and balance disorders. The supervisor may assign staff audiologists to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, hearing health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, compensation, and pension. Audiologists diagnose audiologic disorders, conduct audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments, treat auditory disorders through a various modality and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders. Audiologists consult with medical center staff on various patient care issues. Staff audiologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities. Among the modalities provided are individual, family and group audiologic rehabilitation. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/38, PART II, APPENDIX G29. AUDIOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0665, Veterans Health Administration dated September 22, 2022. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["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 involving a full range of audiology and balance evaluation and treatment services, including conducting medical-legal Compensation and Pension (C&P) examinations, the selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their family. The incumbent 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. Administers the full range of tests (e.g. auditory evoked potential testing, central auditory processing testing, testing of vestibular nerve function, etc.); evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics. The incumbent is responsible for planning, delivering, and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient[1]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 aids; programming of digital hearing aids; issuance of hearing protection devices for prevention of acoustic trauma for those individuals working in a noisy environment; selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems; and inspection, modification, and repair of amplification devices and ear molds. Incumbent plans, conducts, and coordinates auditory (aural) rehabilitation, tinnitus, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients; designs individual and group (as needed) patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning; and designs, monitors, and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure. Incumbent serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders. The incumbent will be responsible for supervising, evaluating, mentoring, and precepting student trainees in audiology and maintained a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities. He/she may also provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information relation to audiology. Incumbent will complete all documentation in accordance with facility policy. The incumbent will remain current with new developments in audiology and will maintain professional competency by reading professional journals and engaging in continuing education activities and professional learning experiences and by communicating with other professionals in the profession and related professions. Communication is required by this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter[1]disciplinary health care team meeting as appropriate; review policies and procedures, and attend in-service training. The incumbent will be responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation. The incumbent must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments as well as the calibration instruments. The incumbent will participate in research activities pertinent to clinical audiology. Although limited research is conducted in the clinical setting, the use of carefully executed audiologic procedures may be a part of a research design. The incumbent may be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data. The incumbent may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of the work is not substantial. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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