Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology Service at the Atlanta VAHCS. Primary responsibility is for patient care - supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures - patient charting and patient education - which do not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• Experience and Education
• (1) Experience
• Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled
• OR (2) Education
• Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position
• OR (3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry
• 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)
• All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) They may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level GS-06 - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined above - the following criteria must be met
• Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) - GS-06
• (1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• (2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• (b) Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families
• (c) Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• (d) Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid - hearing assistive technology and patient care - consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist
• (e) Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures
• (f) Ability to document and code patient procedures
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005/143 - Part II - Appendix G70 - Health Technician (Audiology) Qualification Standard - dated May 13 - 2021
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• Physical Requirements: Requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing - bending - reaching - crouching - stooping - stretching - and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals - record boxes - equipment - or assisting patients
• The position requires travel between VA clinics and possession of a valid driver's license may be required.
  
  

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to the following: Primary responsibility is for patient care - supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures - patient charting and patient education - which do not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology licensure
• Assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiological procedures
• Performing non-diagnostic otoscopy including proper bracing techniques and making appropriate referrals for abnormalities and cerumen management
• Rechecking air-conduction pure tone threshold testing to assist the audiologist in modifying the treatment plan during hearing aid repair appointments - consistent with audiologist's treatment plan
• Providing patient care in hearing aid repair appointments - consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan
• Completing visual and auditory checks with listening stethoscope of hearing aids prior to and following repair of device (troubleshoots performance)
• The Health Technician (HIS) adheres to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning - sterilization - and disposition of reusable medical equipment (RME)
• The Health Technician (HIS) provides instruction to patients - family and staff on device topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care - maintenance - use and operation
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories as well as alerting devices (troubleshoots performance) - Fabricating earmold impressions with proper (non-diagnostic) otoscopy
• Ordering earmolds based on plan of care by the audiologist
• Complete duties as assigned by management
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm (Subject to change based on agency needs)
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 62212F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize