Senior Audiologist - Audiology

Job Description

The Senior Audiologist evaluates auditory function of patients, counseling patients on hearing loss and communication disorders, in addition to discussing options for communication enhancement. The position offers and provides rehabilitation for patients within Audiology’s realm of practice along with referring patients to other clinical services as appropriate. The Senior Audiologist works in close collaboration with the Department’s Business Manager in overseeing and supervising the entire team of Audiologists and support staff with the goal of creating a smooth operation and flow of patients thru the division. This includes supporting the needs of the team of Otolaryngology physicians and their practices. Primary focus for this position will be the oversight of the clinical aspects of the Audiology division, outside the Business Manager’s realm of capabilities and knowledge. He/She assists in the training and orientation of any new and incumbent Audiologists, medical and audiology students, as well as non-medical staff. Also responsible for supervision of other Audiology Staff.

• Evaluate auditory function of patients utilizing standard pure tone and speech tests, immittance tests, site of lesion tests, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry.
• Evaluate vestibular system with electronystamography (ENG) procedures.
• Independently evaluate and provide direct clinical services to patients who have hearing, balance, and related ear problems.
• Interpret results and coordinate them with medical, and educational information to make a diagnosis and determine a course of treatment.
• Effectively communicate diagnostic test results, diagnoses, and proposed treatments in a manner easily understood by otologists.
• Refer appropriately to otolaryngologists.
• Provide hearing aid evaluations, counseling and referrals.
• Prescribe, fit and evaluate hearing aids and other devices.
• Provide follow-up consultations after hearing aids have been fitted to make sure clients receive the clearest amplification.
• Assist in training medical and audiology students and non-medical staff.
• Maintain clinic material and equipment including periodic calibration checks and motor repairs and adjustment.
• Assist with coordination of audiological services and activities in the neighborhood health centers, schools and appropriate agencies.
• May conduct research on types of—and treatment for—hearing, balance, and related disorders. Others design and develop equipment or techniques for diagnosing and treating these disorders.
• Interact and work with related services, such as speech-language pathology, pediatrics, neonatology, etc. to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Utilizes hospital’s behavioral standards as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.

• Directs and supervises Audiology staff along with the Business Operations Manager, including assisting with performance evaluations, performance improvements, scheduling, orientation, and training. Makes recommendations on employee hires, transfers, promotions, salary changes, disciplinary actions, terminations and similar actions. Resolves grievances and other personnel problems within position responsibilities. Assists in the development and management of the division, as well as provides recommendations for the Audiology division. Coordinates assignments of tasks for efficient utilization of available resources. Provides effective direction, guidance and leadership over the staff to promote teamwork and motivation. Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working groups achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment
• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

Qualifications

Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process. This includes:

• Knowledge of growth and development
• Ability to interpret age specific data and response to care
• Provide age specific communication

• Requires knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of audiology, basic clinical audiology, audiometry, the psychology of learning and the principles of human growth and development as applied to speech, of audiology equipment, medical terminology, of counseling, of problems of the hearing impaired andthe physically handicapped and of the sources for providing speech language therapy.
• Ability to coach and provide training to medical and non-medical personnel in audiology, to plan, assign, coordinate, and evaluate work.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain harmonious relationships.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively
• Proficient with standard Microsoft programs (i.e. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and web browsers.

• Requires a clinical doctoral degree in Audiology (AuD).

• Minimum 3 years Clinical Audiology experience required, with hearing aid dispensing background preferred.

• A Current Audiology license issued by the Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology for the state of Massachusetts.
• Requires a certificate of clinical competence in Audiology granted by American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).
• Maintain certification in Basic Life Support (BLS).

• Normal office work environment: Outpatient and Inpatient clinical areas, along with administrative offices.
• Occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals/cleaning agents/sick patients/bodily substances.
• Work requires occasional/frequent/ continuous typing/computer keying, lifting/assisting/ positioning patients, lifting/positioning materials/electronic equipment/audiology equipment and tools/material handling equipment/hand tools/cleaning machinery/patient treatment instruments/equipment.

Additional Information

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Tufts Medical Center reserves the right to modify position duties at any time, to reflect process improvements and business necessity.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.