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At Houston Methodist, the Lead Audiologist is a practicing audiologist with experience in diagnostic testing and treatment for hearing disorders in addition to leadership and administrative abilities. This role will entail a clinical focus as a provider with administrative responsibilities related to opening, operating, and maintaining the audiology departments within the Houston Methodist system.

The Lead Audiologist should be self-motivated, will maintain a high level of care with professionalism, and is able to uphold and promote the ICARE values of Houston Methodist. This position will require traveling to the medical center and satellite facilities as well as working in the clinical setting.

The Lead Audiologist position actively participates in the educational imperative of the Department of Audiology. Additionally, this position provides leadership and input on issues related to the work of the Audiology staff, creates the monthly Audiologist work schedule, approves and coordinates PTO requests, and generally represents the interests and needs of the Audiology group.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

+ Doctorate of Audiology

EXPERIENCE

+ Five years of experience in Audiology

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required

+ BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association **and**

+ AUDIO - Audiologist - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV **and**

+ ASHA-CCC-A - AHSA-Certified Clinical Competence in Audiology (ASHA) - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association **and**

+ AAA - American Academy of Audiology- Certified by Amer Board of Audiology (ABA) - American Board of Audiology

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

+ Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

+ Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

+ Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

+ Strong assessment, organizational and problem-solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components

+ Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families

+ Demonstrates sound clinical knowledge of technology and treatment applications

+ In depth knowledge, experience and related skills of current anesthesia practices with emphasis on administration of anesthesia for the patient undergoing cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery

+ In depth knowledge of pharmacology with emphasis on anesthetic, cardiac and vasoactive drugs

+ Thorough knowledge of anesthetic equipment

+ Expertise in the placement of invasive monitoring devices including arterial, central venous and pulmonary artery catheters

+ Ability to move, manipulate, and safely operate anesthesia equipment during the administration of all types of anesthesia to all sizes of patients

+ Ability to adapt to work environment changes

+ Ability to maintain confidentiality, including HIPPA regulations compliance

+ Ability to adjust work schedule to meet varying demands

+ Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgement to work autonomously as defined by the Texas Nursing Board & collaborates with healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

+ Provides follow-up care and counseling to patients and their families. Administers and interprets auditory evoked potential studies as well as electronystagmography and videonystagmography assessments. Utilizes supervisory support as appropriate.

+ Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity and inclusion principles. Ensures ongoing professional development for self, clinical staff, and student affiliates. Takes an active role to positively affect employee satisfaction within the department by creating a positive work environment for improvement of department scores for employee engagement.

+ Roles models communication techniques in an active, positive and effective manner to all healthcare team members, creating a climate free of fear by communicating and questioning, encouraging and supporting others to do the same, constructively influencing team morale. Leads improvement initiatives for department score for turnover/retention/employee engagement.

+ Ensures ongoing professional development for self, clinical staff, and student affiliates.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

+ Performs safe and effective care accurately administers and interprets fundamental audiometric evaluation. Collaborates with the Chairman of Otorhinolaryngology to communicate and facilitate the integration of best practices for Audiology care and to ensure continuous improvement in the delivery of auditory services.

+ Identify areas of needed improvement with each clinic individually to support the ENT Physicians and to increase overall efficiency and profitability. Establishes and maintains quality of care and service standards. Ensures staff is in compliance with audiology licensing laws, and ethical codes and other local, state and federal regulations. Responsible for evaluating clinical competency and annual performance evaluation to ensure high-quality professional standards.

+ Performs, evaluates, and documents equipment calibration as assigned. Modifies test battery as appropriate for each individual patient. Recommends appropriate audiological services for patients. Selects, validates, and dispenses appropriate assistive technology. Role models behaviors and skills, through peer-to-peer accountability, towards improving score for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

+ Actively participates in Performance Improvement planning and efforts. Works consistently to improve systems and processes and identify trends, using situational awareness for teachable moments to improve safety with colleagues. Keep record Audiology statistics and performance levels to identify potential areas of improvement in function and outcomes.

+ Work with amplification vendors to set up accounts, negotiate pricing, obtain supplies, and to schedule trainings.

+ Lead the Audiology department in developing the highest standard of care amongst all clinics to uphold and maintain Houston Methodist values including updating protocols, procedures, forms, and templates.

+ Coordinate with Operations Managers and Team Leads to identify recommended equipment to meet the needs of each specific location for initial audiologic room set-ups and supplies for the staff audiologists to perform all necessary functions. Works with Houston Methodist IT for computer, software, and Epic setup for staff audiologist.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

+ Collaborates with Billing/Coding Team for proper assignment of fees for hearing aid appointments. Tracks requests and orders supplies as needed.

+ Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

+ Participates in training to update or share knowledge of new hearing or balance disorder treatment methods or technologies.

+ Maintains personal professional development through organization membership, attendance at seminars, workshops and other educational programs, to ensure awareness of current developments and trends in practice of audiology.

+ Identifies and assumes responsibility of own learning needs, consults with healthcare team experts and seeks continuing education opportunities to meet those needs. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan (MDP) on an ongoing basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

+ Uniform: No

+ Scrubs: Yes

+ Business professional: Yes

+ Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*

_*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below._

+ On Call* No

TRAVEL**

_**Travel specifications may vary by department**_

+ May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes

+ May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Company Profile:

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital opened in June 2017. This 725,000-square-foot, full-service, acute-care hospital offers many of the same services as our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Also, on the beautiful hospital campus, located at the intersection of Interstate 45 and Texas State Highway 242, are two medical office buildings, which include a Breast Care Center; Cancer Center; infusion center; heart and vascular services; neurology; orthopedics and sports medicine; rehabilitation services; wellness services; an outpatient laboratory; and several other multispecialty physician practices. In January 2022, Houston Methodist The Woodlands opened Healing Tower — a $250 million expansion project that added 106 beds, focused on medical-surgical and women’s services, and provided nine operating rooms. The project also included the expansion of the endoscopy center, emergency department and diagnostic imaging department with an enhanced neurodiagnostic and interventional center.