The incumbent is a staff audiologist, under direct supervision of the ASPS Service Chief with special clinic program responsibilities for the medical center's Advanced Tinnitus Management Program with administrative responsibility over this program. Responsibility for the Advanced Tinnitus Management Program involves evidence-based program development and determination of the need for modifications to enhance the program's effectiveness.

Duties

Implementation and administration of the program includes direct patient care, telehealth, student supervision, and collaboration with the associate services of otology, psychiatry, psychology, social work, neurology, primary care, and speech pathology. In addition to clinic duties of a staff audiologist, the incumbent has special clinical and administrative program responsibilities in tinnitus diagnostics and rehabilitation to include advanced tinnitus management: Uses knowledge in the focused area of tinnitus, a contemporary audiology practice, by serving as the subject matter expert for tinnitus for the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service (ASPS} at the Salt Lake City VAMC and dedicates clinical time to the program. Responsibilities include providing updates to the ASPS regarding activities in the program. Develops and maintains a library of materials for patient education on the theory and treatment of tinnitus for clinic use. Provides Advanced Tinnitus Management via telehealth to other sites. This includes the clinic care as well as the administration involved with providing the services via telehealth. Understands and incorporates the principles and practices of the NCRAR program of Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) practices into ongoing clinical services per the needs of the veteran: Hearing evaluation and history specific to the complaint of tinnitus. Administration and interpretation of tinnitus questionnaires (i.e., THI, THS, TRQ, TFI, SMRT, etc.) for determination of perceived tinnitus handicap and candidacy for referral to tinnitus education and management services. Provision of individual and/or group tinnitus management classes utilizing PTM in face-to-face settings and via telehealth. Assessment, selection, fitting and verification of ear level amplification and/or sound generator devices for tinnitus management. Provision of environmental sound generator devices as well as use of tinnitus Bluetooth streaming applications. Outcome measures and subsequent follow-up for Level 4 and 5 PTM services. Tinnitus evaluations including tinnitus matching, masking, and residual inhibition as necessary. Maintains and updates a stock of specialized tinnitus management devices for trial when amplification and/or sound generator devices are ineffective or rejected. Articulates and communicates the rationale, goals, management options, objectives, and focused initiatives to associate staff of the Advanced Tinnitus Management program. In addition, provides such materials in print format for the guidance of medical staff members with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view; and serves as facilitator in coordinating services for tinnitus patients with theses staff members. Guides team members on work methods, practices, and procedures. Coordinates the non-medical aspects of the multidisciplinary approach through an ongoing working relationship with Psychology within the Salt Lake City VAMC for provision of PTM services in accordance with NCRAR recommendations in addition to maintaining working relationships with Prosthetics (PSAS) for acquisition of tinnitus management devices and Otolaryngology (ENT) for tinnitus patients in need of medical management. Confers with clinical peers, including health technicians, telehealth techs in CBOC for coordination of tinnitus services at the main campus. Provides support including continuing education services to clinical audiology peers within the Salt Lake City VAMC, updating them on new techniques and devices for tinnitus management and reporting information gathered from attendance at tinnitus seminars and workshops. Researches and participates in the training of any new types of devices that come available with a strong research background to use as potential tinnitus devices. Mentors Au.D. students in the provision of tinnitus management services for patients. Facilitates communication with tinnitus patients who have questions, problems, or malfunctioning devices by maintaining a dedicated Audiology phone line and VA's Secure Messaging system. Work Schedule: Pocatello: Monday-Friday 7:30AM to 4PM or Monday-Thursday 7AM to 5:30PM; Ogden: Monday-Thursday 7AM to 5:30PM or Tuesday-Friday 7AM to 5:30PM; So. Jordan: Monday-Thursday 7AM to 5:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51512-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency: Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CM) of the American Speech­Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CM 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 CM at www.caa.asha.org. OR Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE. NOTE: 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS 13 Audiologist Clinical Specialist Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level of GS 12. GS 13 Audiologist Clinical Specialist Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience required, the following KSAs are required: Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members. Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program. Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Audiologists (clinical specialists) provide leadership and direct oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the specialty program. They serve as coaches or facilitators for the interdisciplinary team and are responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. These individuals serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program. Preferred Experience: 52 weeks at the GS-12 grade References: VA Handbook 5005/152, Part II, Appendix G29 Physical Requirements: The work involves long periods of moving about the work unit. The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting, and repositioning and transferring patients. Incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative, secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders and patients who require restraints. The incumbent must be a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, demonstrating cheerfulness, compassion, courtesy, and concern. Must be quick and dependable in taking emergency action in using initiative to prevent accidents.

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 SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: MISTY CHESLEY
• Phone: 8015821565 X3747
• Email: [email protected]