Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority, patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

This position is part of an interdisciplinary team including a surgeon, social worker, and psychologist. Consistent with the interprofessional setting and the mission, vision and strategic direction of PHSA and BC Children’s Hospital, the Cochlear Implant Audiologist (CI Audiologist) provides candidacy assessment, intra-operative monitoring, post-implantation monitoring and follow-up services to patients and families. The CI Audiologist provides information to team members and relevant community agencies regarding the continuum of service. The CI audiologist services include assessment, treatment/monitoring, consultation, reporting, advocacy, liaison with community agencies, development of educational/training resources, program planning and research.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Administers and interprets comprehensive clinical assessments using current and evidence-based protocols to determine candidacy for implantation including interpreting individual test results, functional benefits from amplification, and developmental milestones. Participates in cochlear implant candidacy team meetings and the decision-making process. Provides support as a key member of the interdisciplinary cochlear implant team; the audiologist’s participation and opinion is fundamental in the determination of patient candidacy.

2. Utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise in the area of electrical stimulation including speech coding strategies, modes of stimulation and other electrical parameters needed to create listening programs for a map for a patient’s sound processor. Administers and interprets advanced electrophysiologic testing procedures including intra- and post-operative Neural Response Telemetry (NRT), electro Stapedial Reflex Testing (eSRT).

3. Manages post-operative cochlear implant audiologic care including cochlear implant function, evaluation of patient auditory development and progress in relation to expected trajectories. Develops the appropriate adjustments to intervention plans/strategies in collaboration with other team members to maximize the child’s auditory development. Provides cochlear implant technical support including patient orientation, education, and troubleshooting of cochlear implant related equipment.

4. Provides treatment services to families including caregiver education, support and counseling regarding expectations, potential outcomes and interpreting test results relative to functional progress and assisting parents.

5. Demonstrates the principles of family centered care in all aspects of assessment and training by promoting parents as the decision makers for their infants/children, ensuring the preferences, language, and culture of the family are respected, and role modeling family centered care.

6. Participates in program planning and clinical practice guidelines as part of multi-disciplinary team by methods such as evaluating and developing clinical guidelines and protocols within the team to promote excellence in cochlear implantation services, and identifying, promoting and leading program planning strategies to enhance system processes and resources for patients.

7. Acts a clinical resource to audiologists and other health care professionals by methods such as reviewing complex cases, providing guidance and recommendations on audiologic care of patients with cochlear implants and providing training and education sessions to audiologists, other health care professionals and students.

8. Maintains up-to-date knowledge on research and best practices in the cochlear implant field globally, specifically to audiological practice; relevant Health Canada Guidelines; Freedom of Privacy and Information Act and resources nationally and international in the field of cochlear implants. Initiates and participates in research by methods such as collaborating with universities and conducting literature searches.

9. Maintains a variety of records such as clinical reports and patient files, workload statistics by methods such as gathering information, recording information into approved formats, monitoring information systems, and summarizing information.

10. Participates in Masters level audiology student externships.

11. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Audiology from a recognized program.
• Minimum of two (2) years recent and relevant Post Masters clinical experience specifically providing cochlear implant audiology services including a minimum of one (1) year of extensive experience performing pediatric cochlear implant audiology services within an interdispliaary team environment.
• Current certification of Registration as an Audiologist in the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC.
• Current Advanced Competency Certification in Cochlear Implant Management from the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC.

Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of the field of paediatric audiology, cochlear implantation, current implant devices and technology, programming devices, and auditory development.
• Comprehensive knowledge of pediatric audiology assessment (infants, young children and complex cases) as it relates to cochlear implantation.
• Knowledge of research methodology and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively in an interprofessional environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to explain technical information/results to individuals with varying levels of understanding.
• Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate relevant scientific literature
• Demonstrated initiative and self-direction in pursing professional development
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple activities and deadlines, and independently plan and prioritize duties in response to changing program and organizational demands.
• Demonstrated ability to gather and provide appropriate information adhering to the principles of family centered care; being sensitive to patient and parent needs using effective, listening, probing and counseling techniques.
• Demonstrated teaching skills to support audiology graduate student externships.
• Demonstrated computer skills sufficient to operate cochlear implant programming software, enter data into computerized patient care information system and use Microsoft office for clinical reports and electronic communications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.