Summary

This position is in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Department at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. In addition to the duties and responsibilities at the GS-13 grade level - the incumbent in this position will have clinical and administrative responsibility for the department's Program for Intensive Residential Aphasia Treatment and Education (PIRATE). This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

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:

• 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: Speech & Language Pathologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education: The educational requirements for this position included one of the following: (1) A master's degree - or its equivalent - in speech-language pathology - communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience
• or (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology - communication disorders and sciences or a related field - from an accredited college or university
• Licensure: Individuals must hold a full - current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state - territory - commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• (1) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2)
• Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed
• (2) The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties - in accordance with current activities
• (3) An SLP who has - or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16 of this part
• Creditable Experience: To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills and abilities associated with the assessing - diagnosing - treating and preventing communication and swallowing disorders with contemporary professional speech-language pathology practice
• This knowledge may be evidenced by one of the following: (1) At least one year of active professional practice or equivalent
• Active professional practice means paid or non-paid employment as a professional SLP engaged in the practice of speech-language pathology as defined by the appropriate licensing board
• (2) Academic course work leading to a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology - communication disorders and sciences or a related field
• Quality of Experience
• Experience is only creditable if it is both of the following: (1) Work as a professional SLP related to the position to be filled
• and (2) The work is at a level comparable to speech-language pathology experience at the next lower grade level
• 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: Speech Language Pathologist (Clinical Specialist) - GS-13
• (1) Experience/Education
• In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-12 level - completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and completion of one or more of the following: (a) Board certification such as BRS-S Disorders or BC-ANCDS
• or (b) Completion of a residency or fellowship post-graduate degree
• or (c) College credits (three or more courses) above the graduate degree in the areas relevant to the advance practice
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary speech pathology practice for contemporary and evidence-based practice in differential diagnosis and treatment
• (b) Skill in interpreting advanced specialized clinical management programs in focused areas of contemporary speech-language pathology practice
• (c) Ability to provide consultation and continuing education in a specific SLP disorder area
• (3) Assignments
• 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
• SLP clinical specialists apply advanced knowledge of scientific principles and contemporary and evidence-based clinical practice in a specific disorder area
• SLPs in this assignment use professional judgment to diagnose patients with the most complex disorders not typically seen in routine clinical practice
• develop and implement evidence-based and individualized clinical management programs
• and render professional opinions
• These patients may present with multiple physical - sensory - motor - cognitive or other complicated communication or swallowing disorders that require advanced clinical decision-making skills using complex data
• On a regional or national level - SLP clinical specialists serve as subject matter experts for a specific clinical area - adding knowledge to the profession by providing expert consultation - continuing education and mentoring to colleagues - clinical fellows and students
• (4) Differentiating Full Performance Level from Clinical Specialist Level
• This is done based on the differences between independent practice - which is required for all SLPs at the full performance level and a clinical specialist
• An SLP practicing at the independent level has a generalized knowledge of practice - whereas the SLP clinical specialist has specialized knowledge of practice typically related to a particular diagnosis or patient population
• The SLP clinical specialist can be further differentiated from the independent SLP by their ability to expand clinical knowledge in the profession - provide consultation and guidance to colleagues - role model effective speech-language pathology practice skills and teach or mentor less experienced SLPs
• An SLP with advanced knowledge - clinical skills and personal qualifications that meet the standard for the SLP clinical specialist must be assigned to a position that requires use of the practice skills to be considered for the SLP grade
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Title 38 Hybrid Occupation official qualification standards as stated in VA Handbook 5005/153 - Part II - Appendix G30
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13
• Speech Pathologists at this grade level are independent licensed practitioners and are considered to be working above the full performance level
• Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary - but requires walking - bending - stooping - and reaching for objects on shelves
• On occasion - work may require assisting patients by tugging - lifting - pushing the patient and/or wheelchair to maneuver within the testing environment.

Duties

• Duties will include oversight and direction of clinical protocols
• developing - articulating - and communicating the PIRATE team's goals - objectives - and focused initiatives
• and guiding team members with respect to VHA/VAPHS directives - policy - work methods - and best practices
• The incumbent is responsible for providing didactic and case-based clinical instruction to clinical fellows - graduate students - medical residents - and ongoing training - education and mentorship to speech pathology colleagues and other healthcare providers throughout VAPHS and VHA
• The duties of the position are conducted throughout both the University Drive and HJ Heinz Divisions of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
• The incumbent possesses a high-level understanding of the care and management of patients with aphasia - as PIRATE is a novel - multidisciplinary service delivery model designed to increase access to and improve the rehabilitation outcomes of community dwelling stroke survivors with aphasia
• Work Schedule: 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Friday Telework: Not Available EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHAVISN04HREDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more General Clinical Responsibilities: (1) Uses advanced knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of theories - principles - and methodologies in the practice of speech pathology to diverse patient populations
• (2) Applies advanced theories and techniques to special patient populations - provides professional advice and counseling - and provides consultation in specialized areas of speech-language pathology
• (3) Manages complex and difficult patients with multiple physical - sensory - motor - cognitive - or other issues that complicate communication or swallowing status - and involve multiple clinical management options - difficult clinical decision making - complex data - and high risk of complications - morbidity - or mortality - e.g
• fitting and management of tracheoesophageal voice prostheses and laryngectomy tubes - assessing and treating ventilator-dependent and tracheostomized patients with one-way valves - and evaluating and treating oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with surgical airways
• (4) Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions - needs - and expectations
• (5) Evaluates patients to determine the nature - type - and severity of speech - language - voice - cognitive - and swallowing disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques - medical record information - patient/family history - and consultation with other healthcare providers
• (6) Plans - coordinates - and implements a full range of patient-focused treatment services designed to optimize function
• (7) Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment
• (8) Documents in the medical record evaluation results - diagnoses - clinical opinion - treatment plans - outcomes of treatment - changes in functional status - and patient/family education
• (9) Attends interdisciplinary team meetings
• participates with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient - advises on diagnosis and treatment
• Clinical Specialist Responsibilities: (1) Is involved with no less than 25% effort in the provision of clinical services to patients with aphasia - education - and administrative responsibilities of the PIRATE Team
• (2) Articulates and communicates goals - strategic objectives - and focused initiatives of the PIRATE Team and establishes methods - best practices - and the program's policy and procedures
• (3) Uses advanced knowledge and skills in the area of best practice evaluation and management of communication in patients with aphasia
• (4) Serves as a facilitator/negotiator in coordinating initiatives and consensus building among team members with widely divergent backgrounds - interests - and points of view in support of VHA/VAPHS policy and best practice
• (5) Plans - coordinates and leads pre-PIRATE interdisciplinary assessment clinics to determine program candidacy of applicants (6) participates with other healthcare providers in determining medical - physical/ADL - cognitive - communicative - social and educational needs assessments of applicants/families
• (7) determines program enrollment for selected applicants based upon team findings/recommendations
• Supervisory Controls: Incumbent functions as an independent practitioner and is fully responsible for all clinical decisions under general direction of the Speech Pathology Supervisor - or person of equivalent organization rank
• For special clinical program responsibilities - incumbent functions under the general direction of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service Chief.