The staff acupuncturist (L.Ac or AP) clinical specialist works as an independent clinician while serving as an integral team member of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services/Chronic Pain Center of Excellence within the WPB VA Health Care System under the supervision of the Section Chief of Pain Management.

Duties

This position will be located at the Port Saint Lucie Clinic The L.Ac or AP serving in the Chronic Pain Management Treatment Program delivers skilled acupuncture in a completely independent fashion. Delivery of care to these Veterans with multiple diagnoses and related problems demands high-level, independent decision-making. Principal Duties and Responsibilities-but not limited to: The acupuncturist will utilize standard medical evaluation procedures and East Asian Medicine evaluation in accordance with the established treatment plan. 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. The acupuncturist shall maintain up-to-date VHA and professional trainings. Serves as a member of Chronic Pain Center of Excellence interdisciplinary team that provides acupuncture treatment as well as further coordination of care for patients referred for acupuncture services. Performs safe, clinically indicated acupuncture services utilizing current clean needle technique (CNT) as identified by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM). Reviews and triages acupuncture referrals and manages clinical workload demands, adapting clinic schedules to accommodate unusual scheduling needs, atypical workload requirements, and coverage needs. Chooses appropriate evaluation tools that are consistent with history and subjective complaints. S/he identifies signs and symptoms that substantially impact treatment and outcomes and integrates findings into a plan of care, consulting with other disciplines and referring practitioners as appropriate. Demonstrates the skill necessary for the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient. Performs clinical evaluations and develops management plans consistent with current and future evidence-based best practices and clinical practice guidelines. Demonstrates knowledge of complex issues surrounding the delivery of care as it relates to acupuncture services, including treatment sequencing; combining acupuncture as part of multidisciplinary programs; and ability to adapt acupuncture services and problem solving in multiple settings and dynamic programs. Demonstrates the ability to educate patients on health lifestyle changes, including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques such as tai chi or qi gong, and other matters related to acupuncture care. In addition to the rehabilitation department, the licensed acupuncturist works effectively with and advises healthcare professionals from all departments and programs to provide appropriate case management to referred Veterans. Complies with consult management and scheduling guidelines. Demonstrates knowledge, skills and ability to recognize and respond appropriately to emergency situations. Maintains current BLS and First Aid certifications. Provides L.Ac. or AP coverage to other clinics, CLC, DRRTP & CBOC as assigned. Maintains equipment in good working order and places orders for inventory / supplies needed for their job duties. Acupuncturist understands and meets accreditation standards related to pain assessment and management as identified in the Joint Commission and/or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) manuals. Effectively serves as a consultant for healthcare providers regarding the delivery of acupuncture services. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS-41605F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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 be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency. Acupuncturist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education. Individual must meet one of the requirements below: Master's degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). OR Advanced level degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign acupuncture programs meet the education requirements 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision. Acupuncturists employed in VHA in this occupational series (GS-0601) or in another occupational series that are performing the duties as described in this qualification standard on the effective date (2/7/2018) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Level Determinations: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Acupuncturist, GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignments. Individuals at this grade level are considered to be entry level and are closely supervised. The employee works under the direction of a journey level or higher acupuncturist or other health care providers licensed to perform acupuncture. The acupuncturist provides professional services in accordance with the established treatment plan. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems, and unfamiliar situations are referred to more experienced staff for a decision or assistance. 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. 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. Assignment. Acupuncturists at this level review and triage acupuncture referrals. The incumbent serves as a member of an interdisciplinary team providing acupuncture treatment as well as further coordination of care for patients referred for acupuncture services. The acupuncturist analyzes medical histories and physical findings to formulate a differential diagnosis based on oriental and western medicine paradigms. Duties include the design and oversight of acupuncture treatment plans as well as a full range of acupuncture services, monitoring the accuracy of needle placement during a treatment. The incumbent communicates with patients about any abnormal or unexpected results or responses to treatment and advises patients regarding lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. The acupuncturist may submit referrals and requests for devices, materials and appliances available and commonly used by the acupuncture profession. Duties include documentation of information related to patient care including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, response to treatment, plan of care, and patient education as well as identification and documentation of appropriate coding for each patient encounter. The acupuncturist provides information regarding the patient consultation to other health care providers. The incumbent manages clinical workload demands. The incumbent serves as a mentor to new staff or less experienced staff and students. Preferred Experience: 3-5 years experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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: This work is 50% sedentary and 50% requires standing, lifting, bending and carrying.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Thomas Ellis
• Phone: 713-791-1414 X141007
• Email: [email protected]