Thank you for your interest in the Advance Acupuncturist position with VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Acupuncture is a modality used to treat a wide range of conditions, used alone or as an adjunct to other treatment modalities. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points along the skin of the body using thin needles. It can be associated with the application of heat, pressure, or laser light to these points.

Duties

The duties of this occupation include but are not limited to the following: Utilizes standard medical evaluation procedures and East Asian Medicine evaluation to formulate a differential diagnosis to develop an acupuncture treatment plan. Incorporates the various training techniques taught within East Asian Medicine and acupuncture, and may apply safe and effective advanced acupuncture techniques. Educates patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. Provides group acupuncture as determined. Documents and codes information related to patient care in the VA's electronic health care record on a timely basis following VHA policies. Communicates with other health care providers as appropriate. Maintains up-to-date VHA and professional trainings and attends required meetings. Reviews referrals, screens for appropriateness of care, and directs Veterans to others services when necessary. Participates in teaching principles of acupuncture to staff, students and residents including journal clubs, grand rounds and in-service trainings. Provides assistance as needed for issues or problems that arise in relation to the acupuncture practice and serves as a preceptor to new staff or less experienced staff and students. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 689-F0012 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Education: 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). Certification: Currently possess a board certification through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Licensure: Possess a 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: 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are performing the duties as described in this qualification standard on the effective date 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Acupuncturists who are appointed on a temporary basis 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 fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Acupuncturists 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 reentry as an acupuncturist. Grade Determinations:GS-12 Acupuncturist - Advanced (Above the Full Performance Level): In addition to the basic requirements you must meet the Experience and KSA's as listed below. Experience: In addition to meeting all of the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level is required. Examples of this experience include but are not limited to : Review and triage acupuncture referrals; serves as a member of an interdisciplinary team providing acupuncture treatment ; coordination of care for patients referred for acupuncture services ; analyzes medical histories and physical findings to formulate a differential diagnosis ; design and oversee acupuncture treatment plans and services; monitor the accuracy of needle placement during a treatment; communicates with patients about any abnormal or unexpected results or responses to treatment ; advises patients regarding lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care ; submit referrals and requests for devices, materials and appliances available and commonly used by the acupuncture profession ; 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; provides information regarding the patient consultation to other health care providers ; manages clinical workload demands; serve as a mentor to new staff and students. GS-12 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume: Skill and ability to perform safe and effective advanced acupuncture techniques. Knowledge of complex issues surrounding the delivery of care as it relates to acupuncture services, such as evidence based and cost effectiveness. Ability to apply and adapt acupuncture to new and changing programs. Knowledge of research strategies, methodologies and principles. Ability to solve issues surrounding delivery of acupuncture. Preferred Experience: None above the qualification standard. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA FORMER HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G53 EFFECTIVE DATE: February 7, 2018 ACUPUNCTURIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0601 Veterans Health Administration. Promotion Potential: This vacancy is above the full performance level of the occupation at GS-12 . Physical Requirements: Sitting, standing, light lifting (up to 20 lbs.).

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 Haven VA Medical Center 950 Campbell Avenue West Haven, CT 06516 US
• Name: Karen Terebesi
• Phone: (203) 951-9651
• Email: [email protected]