Audiologist

Summary

VA Loma Linda Health Care System (VALLHCS) is currently looking for two Audiologist positions that are located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service, one full-time position at the Palm Desert Community Based Outpatient Clinic and one full-time position at the Victorville Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The incumbent carries out his/her duties and responsibilities throughout the medical center, including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/27/2024 to 07/05/2024

• Salary

$84,366 - $131,452 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 11 - 12

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Locations

2 vacancies in the following locations:

• Palm Desert, CA

• Victorville, CA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

12

• Job family (Series)

0665 Speech Pathology And Audiology

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSX-12446378-24-CR

• Control number

797487700

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. Citizens. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred in the following order: 1) Preference eligible Veterans; 2) Health Professional Trainee; 3) All other qualified U.S. Citizens. If you are a current, permanent employee of Veteran Health Administration, please apply to CBSX-12445777-24-CR.

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Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting, planning and coordinating a full range of clinical and administrative services associated with contemporary audiology practices.

• Providing a full range of audiological services, including (but not limited to) the selection and fitting of hearing aids or other amplification devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their families.

• Identifying and evaluating individuals with hearing disorders related to the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals for a full range of patient complexity, administering the full range of comprehensive audiologic tests, evaluating the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reactions to diagnostics.

• Instructing patients regarding their hearing loss and treatment.

• Referring patients to other medical services as necessary.

• 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) selecting and fitting of all types of hearing aids, programming digital hearing aids, issuing hearing protection devices for the prevention of acoustic trauma for individuals working in noisy environments, and selecting and fitting 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 inspecting, modifying, and repairing amplification devices and ear molds.

• Planning, conducting and coordinating aural (auditory) rehabilitation and counseling to hearing aid users.

• Designing patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning.

• Completing all documentation in a timely fashion and in accordance with facility policy; writing clear and concise notes in the patient's CPRS file.

• Remaining current with new developments in audiology via professional journals, continuing educational activities and professional learning experiences, and via communication with other professionals in the audiology field and other related professions.

• Attending regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate, reviewing policies and procedures, and attending in-service training.

• Performing ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of the work is not substantial.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm

Telework: Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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:

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.

• English Language Proficiency. Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.

• 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.

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.

Grandfathering Provision: 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).

• NOTE: [Effective] January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA [accredits] only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science.

Grade Determinations:

Audiologist GS-11

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Completion of 1 year of professional experience as an audiologist equivalent to the next lower level; or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree; or doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a directly related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the [knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) identified for the assignment.]

• Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice;

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, acoustics, applied acoustics, communication, psychoacoustics, and auditory/vestibular pathophysiology;

• 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; and

• Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals.

Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in audiologist entry-level developmental positions. Audiologists perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention, exercise clinical judgment, adapt clinical procedures and techniques and document in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care.

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.

Staff 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. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial [(less that 25% of the time). The following KSAs are required:

• Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies;

• Knowledge of clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently;

• Ability to conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions;

• Ability to provide consultation to other health care professionals;

• Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; and

• Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice.

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 modalities 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.

Physical Requirements: This work is primarily sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of items. Physical effort and ability to perform repetitive motions with arms and requires good balance to prevent falling when assisting patients with an activity. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.