Audiologist

Veterans Health Administration • Galesburg, IL

34d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is physically located in the Galesburg (>51%) and West Burlington (<49%) Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and administratively aligned with the Audiology/Speech Pathology Service within the Iowa City VA Health Care System. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the CBOCs, 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 while consulting with a more senior audiologist when necessary. The audiologist at the GS-11 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 with occasional support. The audiologist at the GS-12 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. The incumbent at the GS-12 grade level is an independent licensed practitioner. Duties include but are not limited to: 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. Services may be provided face-to-face or via telehealth. The incumbent may consult with a more senior audiologist as needed. Clinical duties and responsibilities include direct patient care involving a full range of audiology evaluation and treatment services, including the selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their families. 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. The incumbent administers the full range of tests, evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics, and administers a range of tests used to evaluate balance disorders. The incumbent is responsible for planning, delivering, and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans 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, selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, radio or TV magnetic induction devices; and, inspection, modification and repair of amplification devices and ear molds. The incumbent plans, conducts and coordinates aural rehabilitation and tinnitus rehabilitation programs for patients, designs patient-centered treatment plans to assist veterans and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible their physical and social functioning; and, designs, monitors and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure. The 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. The incumbent will be responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electroacoustic instrumentation. The incumbent must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments as well as the calibration of instruments. The setup and/or pre-cleaning of all reusable medical equipment associated with the scope of this position will be carried out and accomplished in accordance with set manufacturer specifications and facility policies. The incumbent may serve as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and may be a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing disorders and tinnitus. Communication is required by this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate; review policies and procedures and attend in-service training. The incumbent may be responsible for supervising, mentoring, and precepting student trainees in audiology and maintaining liaisons with affiliated colleges and universities. They may also provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information in relation to audiology practice.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Must serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
• OR, Other 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.
• 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 applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist, not to exceed 2 years, under the authority of 38 USC 7405(c)(2).
• Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Foreign education must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

Responsibilities

• Plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment.
• Conducts, plans, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice.
• Provides direct patient care involving a full range of audiology evaluation and treatment services.
• Selects and fits hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices.
• Provides aural (auditory) rehabilitation and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their families.
• Identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders.
• Administers the full range of tests to evaluate the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics.
• Administers a range of tests used to evaluate balance disorders.
• Plans, delivers, and monitors the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions.
• Selects and fits all types of hearing aids, programs digital hearing aids, and issues hearing protection devices for prevention of acoustic trauma.
• Selects and fits assistive devices and assistive listening devices.
• Inspects, modifies, and repairs amplification devices and ear molds.
• Plans, conducts, and coordinates aural rehabilitation and tinnitus rehabilitation programs.
• Designs patient-centered treatment plans to assist veterans and caregivers to maximize and restore physical and social functioning.
• Designs, monitors, and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure.
• Completes all documentation in accordance with facility policy.
• Remains current with new developments in audiology and maintains professional competency.
• Responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of specialized electroacoustic instrumentation.
• Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving difficult and complex cases.
• Attends regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meetings.
• Reviews policies and procedures and attends in-service training.
• May be responsible for supervising, mentoring, and precepting student trainees in audiology.
• Maintains liaisons with affiliated colleges and universities.
• May provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information in relation to audiology practice.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree