Acupuncturist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Acupuncturist at Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center provides professional acupuncture services within ACS, CARA PMT, and related settings under supervision of the CARA Pain Team Section Chief. Serves acute, long-term, and outpatient care with focus on veterans’ health and integrative approaches.

Candidates must meet VA qualification standards and licensure requirements; eligible for GS-11 grade with related experience or doctoral degree in acupuncture/or oriental medicine.

Qualifications

• Master's or doctoral degree in acupuncture/oriental medicine from ACAOM-accredited programs.
• United States licensure to practice acupuncture if required (foreign graduates must hold license).
• Proficiency in communicating with veterans from diverse backgrounds.

Skills

Screen referrals

Differential diagnosis

Acupuncture plan

Patient education

Acupuncture tools selection

Education

Master's degree in acupuncture/oriental medicine ACAOM

Doctoral degree in acupuncture/oriental medicine

Job description

The Acupuncturist is assigned to the Ambulatory Care Service (ACS), CARA Pain Management Team, or CARA PMT at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center. The incumbent is assigned to provide professional services to any/all program areas that are covered by ACS including acute care, long term care, and outpatient settings under the supervision of the Section Chief for the CARA Pain Team or a designee of the Section Chief.

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 below:
  • 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 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.
• 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

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:
  • Ability to screen referrals and direct veterans to other services as appropriate.
  • Ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis.
  • Ability to formulate an acupuncture treatment plan independently or with other health care professionals.
  • 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.
  • Skill in the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

Sitting, standing, light lifting (up to 20 lbs.).