The Health Technician position is designed to provide the Audiologists with assistance in meeting the clinical needs of the Veteran population served in the Audiology Clinic. The position combines patient care activities with technical support functions for the staff audiologists. These support functions are comprised of both clinical and administrative duties. 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 Experience: Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists. OR Education: Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to the field: hearing science, human anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology or other general healthcare areas. Licensure or Registration: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. Board Certification: Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS) NOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements. Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-5 Grade Level, you must meet the basic experience and/or education of Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists; OR Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to the field: hearing science, human anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology or other general healthcare areas. To qualify for the GS-6 Grade Level; One Year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. For the experience to be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with current Health Technician (HIS) practice. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as Health Technician (HIS) in the health care field. Additionally you must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy. Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software. Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices. Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use, to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection). Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations. Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids, hearing assistive technology and patient care that is consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist Ability to prepare patient, equipment, and/or environment for audiology procedures. Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests. References: VA Handbook 5005/149 Part II Appendix G73 The full performance level of this vacancy is 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 5 to 6. Physical Requirements: The work requires a combination of sitting, walking and bending over, consistent with patient care. There will be some carrying of light to moderate items. The need to push wheelchairs and transfer patients is not frequent but will be required. ["treats patients via non-diagnostic otoscopy, including proper bracing technique, and makes appropriate referrals for abnormalities and cerumen management rechecks air-conduction pure tone threshold testing to assist the audiologist in modifying the treatment plan during hearing aid check and repair appointments trouble shoot and repair hearing aids, performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids under the direction of the audiologist, clean hearing aids, their accessories, or assistive listening devices, and change any routine maintenance parts as needed prepare hearing aids, their accessories, or assistive listening devices for shipment, including proper documentation in the Remote Order Entry Systems (ROES) checks and uses other standard software programs, to include word documentation programs, messaging programs, and e mail Open incoming mail aid packages, determining where products should be routed, and properly marking anything in the electronic health record or ROES with regard to such packages restores settings and synchronizations into received repaired hearing aids as needed Prepare hearing aids, their accessories, and assistive listening devices, for hearing aid fittings, including charging aids as needed Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91696,91697 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
