Site:
VA Providence Healthcare System

Locations:
830 Chalkstone Ave
Providence, RI 02908

175 Elm Street
New Bedford, MA 02740

Description:
The 4^th year Externship at the Providence VA Medical Center anticipates a start date of May / June 2025.

The Providence VA Medical Center provides high quality comprehensive outpatient and inpatient health care to Veterans residing in Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts.  Veterans visiting the Medical Center are assured personalized care by a team of health care providers.  Audiology services are provided at the VA Medical Center Annex in Providence, Rhode Island and New Bedford, Massachusetts Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

Number of externship positions:
2

Funding is assigned by the Office of Academic Affairs and may not have been determined by the application deadline. OAA funding is announced nationally at the same time which should allow sites to know funding at approximately the same time. Historically, our site: Has received funding for 1 externship position. Pending funding for a second externship position.

Six months of training is at the Providence location and six months of training is at the New Bedford location.

Clinical opportunities provided during the externship:

• Audiologic evaluation
• Immittance measures
• Otoacoustic emissions
• Hearing aid selection
• Hearing aid fitting
• Assistive listening devices
• Vestibular evaluation
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Electrophysiology evaluation
• Tinnitus evaluation
• Tinnitus management
• Cochlear Implant evaluation
• Cochlear Implant management
• Auditory Processing evaluation
• Cerumen Management
• VA Video Connect program and hearing aid remote programming
• ENT clinic
• Employee health hearing conservation
• Aural Rehabilitation
• Progressive Tinnitus Management
• Audiology Community Outreach [Rhode Island Veteran’s Home]

Externship site expects the extern to have good mastery of these skills before they begin their clinical externship:

• Comprehensive audiologic evaluations (air/bone pure tones, speech testing, masking) Immittance test battery
• Otoscopy
• Basic hearing aid / assistive listening device evaluations and dispensing
• Hearing aid repair and modification knowledge
• Strong report writing and documentation skills
• Desire to work as a team player and learn in a group setting
• Professionalism towards patients, families, and clinic staff
• Ability to effectively receive and implement constructive feedback

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:

• Cerumen management
• Vestibular evaluation
• Auditory processing evaluation
• Tinnitus counseling
• Aural rehabilitation
• Electrophysiologic testing
• Real ear and electroacoustic measurements
• Providing care via video modalities (VA Video Connect, Remote Programming applications)

By the end of their externship year, students are expected to be independent clinicians using best practices to provide high level care to their patients.

Number of audiologists at site:
Providence 6 / New Bedford CBOC 3

Number of staff at site:
Providence 10  / New Bedford CBOC 4

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
4

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
1

What level of supervision is provided:
Graduated levels starting at 100% and reducing direct supervision as externs demonstrate their skills.

How many students per year both interns and externs:
3-4

Continuing Education opportunities:
Students may attend all in house (or Web based) manufacturer hearing aid trainings

May attend one off site hearing aid manufacturer or specialty training

Travel to satellites required?
Yes

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:

• ENT
• Blind Rehab
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy (Inpatient and Outpatient)
• Occupational Therapy
• Monthly interdisciplinary student meeting

Are there research opportunities?
No

Do you have a consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites that provides additional experience?:
Yes (cochlear implants and posturography)

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university during externship?
Email communication with externship coordinator, mid-term and final evaluation communication, support if remediation is required.

Site’s application requirements:

• Cover letter specifically explaining why you’re interested in training at the Veterans Administrative Medical Center
• Resume
• 1 transcript (unofficial)
• 2 letters of recommendations with at least one from a clinical educator

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Applicants should email application materials to:
Erinn.Raimondi@va.gov
Christie.Gardner@va.gov

Site’s externship contact:
Christie Gardner, Au.D., Carrie Dluhy, Au.D,, CCC-A,

Site’s application deadline:
Friday, September 06, 2024

Interviews Begin:
TBD

Interviews Complete:
TBD

Offers extended beginning:
TBD

Response Deadline:
TBD

Subsequent Offers Begin:
TBD