Audiologist

Veterans Health Administration•Galesburg, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Audiologist is physically based primarily at the Galesburg Community Based Outpatient Clinic (more than 51% of the time) and also works at the West Burlington Community Based Outpatient Clinic (less than 49% of the time). The position is administratively aligned with the Audiology/Speech Pathology Service within the Iowa City VA Health Care System. Duties are carried out across the clinics and related clinical and patient-care areas. Services may be provided in person or by telehealth; the position is not virtual, and telework is not available. The audiologist plans, conducts, and coordinates clinical and administrative services across the contemporary scope of audiology practice, consulting with a senior audiologist when needed. The role provides diagnostic evaluation and treatment for hearing and balance disorders across a wide range of patient populations and levels of complexity. It includes selecting and fitting hearing aids and other amplification systems, audiologic and tinnitus rehabilitation, counseling Veterans and their families, and planning patient-centered care to support physical and social functioning. The audiologist also evaluates hearing loss when patients cannot provide consistent or reliable responses, administers tests for balance disorders, and plans, delivers, and monitors treatment outcomes for Veterans with significant physical or psychological complicating conditions. Other duties include hearing conservation, maintaining and calibrating specialized electroacoustic instrumentation, and cleaning and setting up reusable medical equipment according to manufacturer specifications and facility policies. The audiologist may consult on complex cases, serve as a subject matter expert, and supervise, mentor, or precept students and provide instruction to residents and interns. This is a full-time position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The full performance level is GS-12; selection may be at GS-11 or GS-12. Applicants must meet the education, licensure, English proficiency, and grade-specific qualification requirements described in the announcement.

Requirements

Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by ACAE or ASHA's Council on Academic Accreditation, or another doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice audiology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Eligible non-licensed applicants may receive a temporary graduate audiologist appointment for up to two years under the stated exception.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
GS-11: Demonstrated knowledge of principles and techniques for assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders; ability to perform functions within contemporary audiology scope of practice; and ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals.
GS-12: One year of professional experience comparable to GS-11, in addition to GS-11 requirements.
GS-12: Skill in determining the nature, type, and severity of hearing, communication, and vestibular disorders; counseling patients and family members; providing professional advice and consultation to health care professionals; and independently applying contemporary audiologic treatments across patient populations.
U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
Must meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must complete required onboarding and application documentation and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
A transcript must be submitted with the application. Foreign education must be evaluated by a qualifying private organization and accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency as applicable.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

Current audiology professional knowledge maintained through professional journals, continuing education, and professional learning experiences.
Experience or ability to supervise, mentor, or precept audiology students and instruct residents and interns.

Responsibilities

Conduct, plan, and coordinate clinical and administrative audiology services.
Provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment for hearing and balance disorders across a wide range of patient populations and levels of complexity.
Select, fit, and program hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices.
Provide aural rehabilitation, tinnitus rehabilitation, and counseling to hearing-impaired Veterans and their families.
Administer tests to evaluate hearing loss, including for patients unable to provide consistent or reliable diagnostic responses, and assess balance disorders.
Plan, deliver, and monitor patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services and clinical outcomes for Veterans with complicating physical or psychological conditions.
Issue hearing protection devices and select and fit assistive devices, including personal and FM amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, and radio or television magnetic induction devices.
Inspect, modify, and repair amplification devices and ear molds.
Design patient-centered treatment plans to help Veterans and caregivers maximize and restore physical and social functioning.
Design, monitor, and conduct a hearing conservation program for employees at risk of noise exposure.
Maintain professional competency through professional reading, continuing education, learning activities, and communication with other professionals.
Maintain and calibrate specialized electroacoustic instrumentation.
Set up and pre-clean reusable medical equipment in accordance with manufacturer specifications and facility policies.
Consult on difficult and complex cases and provide professional advice to other facility personnel as needed.
Attend staff and interdisciplinary health care team meetings, review policies and procedures, and attend in-service training.
May supervise, mentor, and precept audiology student trainees; maintain liaisons with affiliated colleges and universities; and instruct residents and interns.