This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The position is in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Service, working alongside and in collaboration with the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service (ASPS) of VA New York Harbor Healthcare System (VA NYHHS). The HBPC Speech Language Pathologist is responsible for providing in-home evaluation and treatment of speech, language, voice, cognition, and swallowing disorders for a wide variety of chronic and terminally complex medical comorbidities. The duties and responsibilities are discharged throughout all VA NYHHS HBPC catchment areas. The Speech Pathologist functions at the full performance level and is an independent practitioner. The incumbent is responsible for providing the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for individuals referred to HBPC with disorders of speech, language, voice, cognition and swallowing. Within his/her scope of practice, the incumbent conducts and performs diagnostic evaluations and engages in the treatment of patients, including the most unusual and difficult cases requiring the highest levels of expertise and professional skills, and is expected to be proficient and independent in flexible endoscopic evaluations of swallowing. Scope of Functions 1. The incumbent functions as an independent practitioner, responsible for determining the nature, type and severity of communication and swallowing disorders in individuals referred for evaluation, without limitation as to difficulty or complexity. 2. Conducts interviews with patients and appropriate family members, caregivers and/or friends. 3. Selects, administers and interprets appropriate diagnostic tests and instrumental assessments necessary for the detection and evaluation of a variety of speech, language, voice, cognition or swallowing disorders. This includes the ability to perform and interpret modified barium swallow studies/video fluoroscopic swallow evaluations. 4. Is responsible for the adequacy of assessments and for the accurate reporting of findings to patients served as well as to other professionals with whom members of the speech pathology program may cooperate in formulating diagnostic conclusions and therapeutic intervention strategies. 5. Plans, coordinates and implements a full range of patient-focused treatment programs and therapy regimens to resolve or minimize speech, language, voice, cognition or swallowing-related disorders. 6. Establishes appropriate long-and short-term goals and treatment objectives. 7. Routinely assesses progress in therapy and adjusts treatment goals and therapeutic strategies in response to observed progress. 8. Consults with physicians and other health care providers in the evaluation and treatment process. 9. Establishes and maintains an effective therapeutic, educational and counseling relationship with the patient, the patient's family and the patient's caregivers. 10. Documents in the medical record, the results of the evaluation including diagnosis and clinical opinion as well as the treatment plan, outcomes of treatment, changes in functional status and patient and family education. 11. Attends and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings where the overall needs of the patient are addressed. 12. Provides inter- and intra-disciplinary in-services to other health care providers. 13. Assists in orientation and training of new staff. 14. Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs and fellows providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals. 15. Stays abreast of all new developments in speech pathology through continuing education efforts including, but not limited to direct communication with other professionals in the field, the reading of professional journals and attendance at seminars and conferences. 16. Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs and evaluation of existing programs. 17. Maintains supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency. 18. May be requested to serve on service-level committees or task forces or to represent to service/section on medical center, network or national committees. 19. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: No Telework: No EDRP Authorized: No 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: (1) A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience (see paragraph 2.g.). or (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university. Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. (1) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2). Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. (2) The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities. (3) An SLP who has, or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. Applicants may be covered by the grandfathering provisions. English Language Proficiency: SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Requirements: (1) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level, completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations. (b) Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations. (c) Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions. (3) Assignment. This is the full performance level. At this level, SLPs independently provide evidence-based assessment and treatment interventions to individuals with a wide range of speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders. Staff SLPs select, administer and interpret standardized and non-standardized assessment measures. They integrate assessment findings into a patient-centered treatment plan of care and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by collecting and documenting treatment outcomes. SLPs may be assigned to work in a specific clinical area such as traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, movement disorders or spinal cord injury. They may provide clinical training experiences for trainees and students and participate in research activities. Physical Requirement: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

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.

Contacts

• Address VA NY Harbor Healthcare System 423 East 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 US
• Name: Sophia Flores
• Phone: 708-200-3154
• Email: [email protected]