This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at VA San Diego Healthcare System, which is comprised of four clinic locations. Audiologist (Clinical Specialist) provides direct oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning, and management of the Cochlear Implant program. They are coaches or facilitators for the interdisciplinary team and responsible for training support staff and trainees. They serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program.
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) Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). HR office staff and management officials may verify a program's accreditation from ACAE at acaeaccred.org and CAA at caa.asha.org. OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education 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 Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required licensure of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment. English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) 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: Experience At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (a) Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. (b) Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. (c) Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members. (d) Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. (e) Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program. Preferred Experience: Experience with Cochlear Implants 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 13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Communicating goals, objectives, and initiatives to inter-disciplinary team as well as guiding the team members. Interdisciplinary team includes Head and Neck Surgery, Primary Care, Speech Pathology, and Surgical Specialty Care. Evaluating the work and processes of the team and making adjustments in practices to accomplish goals. Serving as a facilitator in coordinating program of team initiatives and consensus building activities among team members. Facilitating Cochlear Implant meetings within the interdisciplinary team and within audiology. Managing the Cochlear Implant caseload among audiology staff. Facilitating positive relationships and open lines of communication with surgical sites and referring sites within the VISN and nationwide. Reporting delays in initial care, follow-up care, surgeries and/or diagnostic testing to Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology and managing problem solving to remedy delays. Managing oversight of cochlear implant clinic profile providing guidance to schedulers ensuring timely access for implant patients. Managing and serving as the main point of contact with transfer coordinator and performs triaging of all incoming consults from other facilities. Managing outgoing consults for surgical consideration to ensure all orders for necessary audiology diagnostic appointments, radiology studies, pre-op visits/HNS visits are placed. Remaining current with latest technology which may include off-site vendor trainings or national meetings while keeping access to specialized services and general services a priority. Managing and coordinating in-service education on cochlear implant updates to audiology staff, ENT staff surgeons, fee surgeons, and ENT residents. Providing primary oversight to local staff on potential cochlear implant candidates and ensures that they are fit with appropriate amplification to avoid unnecessary waste. Managing cochlear implant candidacy evaluations including advanced audiological testing to determine if the Veteran meets FDA criteria for a cochlear implant. Coordinating and maintaining processes for staffing potential cochlear implant candidates between audiology and ENT services. Facilitating and managing the cochlear implant candidate's progress throughout the candidacy process, including but not limited to HNS ordering of CT scan, scheduling of future appointments, patient reporting to appointments, results being documented. Assures that all medical evaluations and procedures are performed prior to referral to the surgical site which include, but are not limited to medical clearance, surgical clearance, cardiac clearance, and vaccinations. Coordinating with surgical site to determine if pre-op should occur locally or at surgical site. Independently providing cochlear implant mapping of FDA approved/VHA approved cochlear implant speech processor(s). Managing services related to maintenance and repair of implantable devices and associated equipment to any Veteran who has received their cochlear implant from either a VA cochlear implant site or the private sector. Possessing communication skills needed to provide services to the deaf and severely hearing impaired VA population. This may include advanced aural/oral communication as well as written communication (where the demand for some Veterans may be 100% written). Possessing the knowledge, experience and expertise to provide comprehensive cochlear implant care including programming of the speech processor(s), equipment/device troubleshooting, onsite repairs, issue of loaner equipment, in-warranty repairs or exchanges with manufacturer, or new equipment orders (in ROES or via prosthetics). Executing and maintaining the service agreement protocols established with the VA cochlear implant surgical site and the audiology national cochlear implant board. Facilitating relationships and serving as the primary contact with cochlear implant manufacturers. Managing and coordinating all training, education, and supervision of Audiology trainees as it relates to the cochlear implant portion of their rotation. Incumbent spends a minimum of 26% of their time performing the above duties. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm PST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized