AddressSummary This position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Albany VA Medical Center. Acupuncturist role would include treating a wide range of conditions and providing acupuncture alone or as an adjunct to traditional medical care. The acupuncturist role includes stimulation of specific points along the skin of the body using needles with or without the addition of electric stimulation. Responsibilities Clinical: The Acupuncturist is responsible for providing professional services in accordance with established treatment plans to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare providers referrals. The incumbent completes appropriate acupuncture intervention including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. Incumbent is responsible for implementation, modification, and documentation of treatment. Incumbent exhibits complex clinical skills. Incumbent schedules the patient for treatment in order to establish and achieve the maximum goal(s) for the patient. Incumbent frequently interprets and reports to healthcare providers the reaction to treatment, which have medical significance and diagnostic value. Incumbent functions as a core team member of clinical and or multi-disciplinary team(s) for the purpose of providing total health care delivery to the patient and continuity of care by sharing ideas and exchanging pertinent information. As a member of the treatment team, the incumbent is responsible for the maintenance of professional standards of acupuncture. Incumbent maintains a close working relationship with medical and allied health care specialists to assess patient conditions and progress and coordinate patient treatment to effect maximum goal achievement potential. Incumbent demonstrates a professional understanding of the theories of treatment in acupuncture and their proper application through the use of acupuncture procedures and consults with higher level acupuncturists as needed. Incumbent follows established guidelines, ethics and protocol of the Acupuncture Section, the PM&R Section, the department of Veterans Affairs and the profession. Incumbent exercises initiative, discretion, adaptability and sound professional judgment at all times. Incumbent demonstrates competency in assigning, treating, advancing, and establishing goals. Incumbent frequently selects, adapts, and/or adjusts modalities in accordance with treatment goals. Modifies techniques and develops new approaches as necessary to ensure the realization of patient treatment goals. The incumbent uses both standard methods and techniques for evaluating and interpreting a wide variety of patient physical and psychosocial functional levels for providing progressive treatment rationales. Administrative Responsibilities: Complete Encounter information in accordance with Stratton VA Medical Center guidelines. Using the computer system for storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, transmitting and receiving email, activating printers, requesting leave, and accessing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) Communicate and coordinate coverage for anticipated leave and communicate unanticipated leave in accordance with PM&R Service policies. Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor of physical therapy and occupational therapy that are consistent with the mission of the section, care line and facility. Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Demonstrates advanced competency in knowledge of electronic documentation and computer skills. Incumbent participates on patient care and hospital committees to establish continuity and collaboration of principle/care. Incumbent will assist the quality assurance effort and prepares monthly reports as required to accomplish goals. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday & Wednesday 9a-5:30p; Tues, Thurs & Friday: 8a-430p Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:23768-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Education: Individual must meet one of the requirements: 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 requirements in subparagraph 3b 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. Grade Determinations: In addition, to the basic requirements candidate must be the requirements for the grade. For the 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. For the 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: 1. Ability to screen referrals and direct veterans to other services as appropriate. 2. Ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis. 3. Ability to formulate an acupuncture treatment plan independently or with other health care professionals. 4. 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. 5. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G53, Acupuncturist Qualification Standard 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The incumbent may engage in the following activities/positions/tasks as defined: Lifting/carrying up to 45 lbs. intermittently, frequent walking, standing, sitting. Occasional stooping, kneeling, overhead reaching, fine manipulation, pushing, and/or pulling. In addition, occasional operation of a motor vehicle may be indicated. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
