Position is assigned to the Public Health Department at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, North Chicago, IL. Flexibility and mobility are required for this position to perform occupational audiology services, physical exam audiology support, consultation, and oversight of the Hearing Readiness and Preservation (HRP) Program at all FHCC worksites, the Naval Station, Great Lakes, and a twelve state Area of Responsibility for Occupational Health assigned by Navy Medicine East.

Duties

Provides audiometric testing, independent management and oversight of local HRP Programs and hearing loss prevention efforts. Conducts technical surveys, program reviews, evaluations, and consultations dealing with occupational hearing loss, hearing protection, hearing conservation and environmental noise control/mitigation. Provides data and reports to FHCC and local commands regarding HRP Program compliance, Significant Threshold Shift (STS) rates, and other pertinent program metrics. Works collaboratively with line/tenant command leaders/Safety Managers, and with medical command allied health professionals and with individual noise-exposed employees to improve program statistics, reduce occupational hearing loss and implement sound, innovative hearing loss prevention strategies. Provides outreach prevention services and consultative support to FHCC and local/regional commands through: ongoing work site visits and collaboration with line/tenant, industrial hygienists, occupational medicine specialists, and safety managers at supported commands to maintain current denominator data on all personnel enrolled in HRPs; conducting command HRP evaluations and program enrollee medi9al record reviews; monitoring HRP compliance data and trend analyses; reporting program outcome data to command leadership and facilitating resolutions to negative findings; conducting hearing protection fittings/consultations; providing command-specific education and training programs; and performing medical clinic assist visits and hearing conservation technician proficiency reviews. Performs administrative, managerial and educational assist visits to audiometric test sites in the branch health clinics to ensure quality care and services, accurate test protocols, and accurate/valid audiometric data collection. Ensures completion of daily audiometer calibrations and scheduled audiometer calibration by the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center. Using the Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System - Hearing Conservation (DOEHRS-HC), establishes and maintains a data-base registry of information related to noise and hearing measurement in order to permit accurate decisions related to resource allocation and effective hearing loss prevention measures. Utilizes the audiometric DOEHRS Data Repository (DR) as a research and reference source for documenting progressive hearing loss, investigating worker compensation claims, and evaluating HRP Program success or failure. Independently takes corrective action to improve the HRP Program and generate/update standard operating procedures as applicable. Serves as subject matter expert and advisor on matters concerning occupational hearing conservation. Provides technical expertise to commanding officers, officers-in-charge, directors, safety managers by providing professional review and quality assurance of the HRP Program. Interfaces with Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) on matters related to the operational aspects of hearing conservation. Develops, acquires, and distributes materials and guidelines for worker education and training in hearing conservation and noise control. Designs and coordinates specialized hearing loss prevention training plans/programs. Maintains a supply of training materials and resources, and shares knowledge of resources and training techniques with FHCC supervisors, safety managers, and local commands. As a certified Course Director through the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC), conducts the training and certification of hearing conservation and audiometric technicians, as authorized by NMCPHC, to ensure provision of both quality and quantity of hearing conservation services throughout the supporting region or Area of Responsibility (AOR). Performs HRP Program screening audiograms, higher level audiology clinical workup and evaluation, and treatment services to ensure suitability standards are met for entrance and retention in the US Navy. Performs waiver requests and determinations, special program determinations. Serves as a full-performance level staff audiologist who independently provides Work Schedule: 0700-1530 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. (1) 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 (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 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. Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Audiologists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Audiologists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (3) Audiologists who are appointed temporarily prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Audiologists initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. 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. Audiologist, GS-11. (1) Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. (3) 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. (1) 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 (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: 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. (3) 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.

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.

Physical Requirements. To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which require lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, or pulling without assistance from another patient care provider or significant other. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy. There will be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids.

References: VA Handbook 5005/152, Part II Appendix G29

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Contacts

• Address Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Jeffrey Harvey
• Phone: (515) 372-4919
• Email: [email protected]