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Summary This employee provides skilled acupuncture services to the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are performed throughout the medical center. The incumbent operates under the direction of the Whole Health Clinical Director. The acupuncturist will utilize standard medical evaluation procedures and East Asian Medicine evaluation in accordance with the established treatment plan. Responsibilities The advanced level acupuncturist serves as a leader of the interdisciplinary Whole Health team to provide evaluation, monitoring, planning, and coordination of care of patients for acupuncture services and other Whole Health modalities such as yoga, Tai Chi, massage therapy, at the Medical Center and its eight Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs). Duties include participation in case reviews and treatment plan discussions with other staff members. The incumbent demonstrates advanced knowledge of techniques and discussion theory as well as promoting and maintaining communication with staff and others. The acupuncturist participates in the creation of new programs or interventions that may include group acupuncture, combining acupuncture with other interventions and expansion of acupuncture into new populations or new settings such as CBOCs. The acupuncturist will also participate in growth of other programs such as Tai Chi, yoga, etc., and utilize multiple modalities to present these programs to Veterans. The incumbent will work with others on improvement projects to discover, examine and test knowledge, theories, and innovative Oriental Medicine approaches. The acupuncturist will participate in teaching principles of acupuncture to staff and will participate in implementation of a student program to train acupuncture students. The incumbent will provides assistance as needed for issues or problem that arise in relation to acupuncture practice or service and serves as a preceptor to new staff or less experienced staff and students. The incumbent will participate in interviews of staff for both Medical Center and CBOC Whole Health positions and will assist in the setup of programs at the CBOCs. The advanced level acupuncturist serves as an advisor to leadership on issues pertaining to multiple Whole Health modalities. The advanced level acupuncturist will assist in the development, implementation and sustainment of the Referral Coordination Initiative for Whole Health programs and will work closely with VA Community Care (VACC) staff and the Group Practice Manager in this process. The advanced level acupuncturist will coordinate quality improvement activities in the Whole Health program and will assist in development of new programs as needs arise. The incumbent will also develop, review, update and implement educational material to meet the needs of the program. The incumbent will assist in assuring compliance with accrediting agencies, regulatory requirements, taking corrective action when needed. The incumbent is responsible for assessing, evaluating, and developing programs to ensure proper coordination of care delivered by the program with the overall delivery of healthcare within the facility and CBOCs or with nonVA providers as appropriate. Duties: The acupuncturist shall educate patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. The acupuncturist will provide group acupuncture as determined. The acupuncturist shall document, and code information related to patient care in the VA's electronic health care record on a timely basis following VHA policies. iMed consent shall be completed prior to acupuncture treatment where any needling procedure occurs. Oral informed consent is valid for auricular acupuncture only. The acupuncturist communicates with other health care providers as a member of an interdisciplinary team providing care to the Veteran. The acupuncturist shall maintain up to date VHA and professional trainings. The acupuncturist may be assigned to various facility committees and system redesign teams. Demonstrates Patient Centered Care (PCC) through the use of effective communication with patients, families, visitors, and members of the interdisciplinary team, including the patient in mutual goal setting, and providing patient advocacy when appropriate. Visibly demonstrates the ICARE (Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence) Core Values in interactions with Veterans, staff, and other stakeholders. Additional duties as assigned by the Whole Health Clinical Director. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized. Telework: This is not a telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). Qualifications The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for appointment as an Acupuncturist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). English Language Proficiency Requirement - No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement - Applicants must meet one of the requirements below: (A) Master's degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). --OR-- (B) Advanced level degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). Certification Requirement: Acupuncturist must be board certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Copy of Certification Required Licensure Requirement: 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. Copy of Licensure Required. In addition to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following experience to qualify for this GS-12 Acupuncturist (Advanced Level) position: Experience GS-12 Grade Level: Completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: -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 problem solve issues surrounding delivery of acupuncture. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. 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 During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.