The acupuncturist may treat a wide range of pain-related conditions and acupuncture may be used alone or as an adjunct to traditional medical care. The acupuncturist includes the stimulation of specific points along the skin of the body using thin needles with or without the addition of electric stimulation. The acupuncturist may use various techniques commonly taught in East Asian Medicine or Acupuncture schools.

Duties

General Description of Assigned Duties at the GS-11 - Full Performance Level: Task #1: Provide individualized acupuncture/acupressure treatment. The acupuncturist will utilize standard medical evaluation procedures and, if trained and appropriate, East Asian Medicine evaluation to formulate a differential diagnosis to develop an acupuncture treatment plan for pain patients. The acupuncturist shall incorporate the various training techniques taught within East Asian Medicine and acupuncture. The acupuncturist shall educate patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. This care may be delivered via various modalities (in person, video, and/or phone), and in various settings, including outpatient and inpatient areas. If the acupuncturist is not already trained in acupressure, training will be provided; the acupuncturist must be willing to undergo this training and perform this care (as well as teach Veterans to perform acupressure on themselves for self care). The acupuncturist will be expected to function and make day-to-day clinical decisions independently. Task #2: Provide group acupuncture and acupressure. The acupuncturist will provide group acupuncture and, if trained and applicable, East Asian Medicine care for pain patients. This care may be delivered via various modalities (in person, video, and/or phone), and in various settings, including outpatient and inpatient areas. The acupuncturist will be expected to provide this care independently. Task #3: Complete clinical notes in electronic health record system. The acupuncturist shall document and code information related to patient care in the VA's electronic health care record on a timely basis following VHA policies. Consent shall be completed prior to acupuncture treatment where any needling procedure occurs, in adherence with current VHA policies. The acupuncturist communicates with other health care providers as appropriate, including serving as a subject matter expert and assist in directing team care, as appropriate. Task #4: Maintain trainings/certifications and attend required meetings. The acupuncturist shall maintain up-to-date VHA and professional trainings, as well as NCCAOM certification/other professional credentials and licenses. Required meetings must be attended. The acupuncturist will serve as a subject matter expert and assist in program development, as appropriate. Task #5: Multi/Interdisciplinary team work. The Pain Clinic is a multidisciplinary section, and the acupuncturist is expected to work with Pain and other staff members in a collaborative manner to provide optimal team based care for complex pain patients. The acupuncturist will serve as a subject matter expert and assist leadership in facilitating teamwork, as appropriate. Task #6: Administration. The acupuncturist will review referrals, screen for appropriateness of care, and direct Veterans to other services when necessary. The acupuncturist is the subject matter expert on acupuncture and, if trained and applicable, East Asian Medicine services and will provide guidance when requested regarding purchased care. The acupuncturist will assist with helping to expand the Pain Clinic's acupuncture/acupressure services and serve as a liaison between Pain Clinic, Whole Health (both within and outside the Pain Clinic) and other department/Service Line team members to develop new ways to provide services and deliver care for pain patients. The acupuncturist will serve as a subject matter expert and assist leadership in program development, as appropriate Task #7: Scholarly activity. The acupuncturist will assist in collecting data and participate in Quality Improvement (QI) and/or scholarly activities/dissemination of this information as requested by the Pain Section Director and/or Anesthesia/Pain Service Line Leader. The acupuncturist will serve as a subject matter expert and assist leadership in spearheading relevant QI initiatives, as appropriate. Task #8: Other Pain Clinic activities. The acupuncturist will assist with other activities within the Anesthesia/Pain Service Line as requested by the Pain Section Director and/or Anesthesia/Pain Service Line Leader. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am-4:00 pm or 8:00 am-4:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned. English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. Education. (1) Master's degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR (2) Advanced level degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign acupuncture programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia Certification. Acupuncturists hired in the VHA must be board certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The board certification must be current and the acupuncturist must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. (COPY OF CERTIFICATION REQUIRED) Loss of Certification. An acupuncturist who fails to maintain the required certificate must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. Licensure. Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) Loss of licensure. An acupuncturist who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists 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). Grade Determinations: Acupuncturist, GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Acupuncturist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. OR Education. Doctoral degree or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university in an acupuncture or oriental medicine. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to screen referrals and direct veterans to other services as appropriate. Ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis. Ability to formulate an acupuncture treatment plan independently or with other health care professionals. Ability to educate patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. This includes the ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds. Skill in the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient. Preferred Experience: NCCAOM certification/other professional credentials. Whole Health experience preferred. Prefer at least 3 years of clinical experience as an acupuncturist after graduation/completion of acupuncture schooling/training/certification. Prefer experience working within a multidisciplinary care team. Inpatient/hospital/academic center experience a plus. References: VA Handbook 5005/100, Part II, Appendix G53, February 7, 2018. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.), use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include working closely with others and working alone.

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 Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Michelle Rootes
• Phone: (907)257-3713
• Email: [email protected]