Summary

This position is located in the Audiology Service at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. The alternate duty stations include eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the clinic and the medical center including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the Audiology Service. The Health Technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology Service.

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: 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
• NOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements
• 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
• Loss of Licensure or Registration
• A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required licensure or registration must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Board Certification: Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)
• Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technician (HIS)
• (a)Non-board certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Technician (HIS) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).(b)Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a licensed audiologist.(c)Non-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until board certification is obtained.(d)Temporary appointments of non-board certified Health Technician(HIS) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - Health Technician (HIS) must actively pursue meeting requirements for board certification starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the Health Technician (HIS) with the written requirements for board certification - including the time (i.e. - two years) by which the board certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming board certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain board certification during the two-year period may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Certification
• A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: GS-5 (1) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neck
• (b) Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines
• (c) Skill in using basic computer software to complete tasks such as using email - creating spreadsheets and word processing
• (d) Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• (e) Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• (f) Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories .GS-6 (1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• (2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• 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 aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• (c) Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices
• (d) Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use - to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion - removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection)
• (e) Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations
• (f) 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
• (g) Ability to prepare patient - equipment - and/or environment for audiology procedures
• (h) Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests
• (3) Assignment
• Employees at this level are at the full performance level and work under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this level include - but are not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories - as well as - alerting devices (troubleshoots performance)
• registering - certifying and tracking prosthetic devices (hearing aids - hearing aid accessories and assistive devices)
• and assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures - including - but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment
• The Health Technician (HIS) fabricates earmold impressions with proper otoscopy - orders earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fits and modifies earmolds - if necessary
• The Health Technician (HIS) provides patient care in hearing aid repair appointments consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan and provides counselling including - but not limited to realistic expectations - communication strategies and/or aural rehabilitation
• The Health Technician (HIS) maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include: monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration
• and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory
• The Health Technician (HIS) assists patients with hearing aid connectivity including - but not limited to downloading applications (or apps) - pairing devices in the app - Bluetooth ® pairing and pairing hearing aid accessories
• The Health Technician (HIS) assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency following the audiologist's plan of care
• References: VA Handbook 5005/149 Part II Appendix G73 Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) Qualification Standard GS-0640 Veterans Health Administration March 18 - 2022.

Duties

• Direct patient care duties may include - but not limited to the following: 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 through prosthetics or DLC and fitting and modifying earmolds - if necessary
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan - including - but not limited to - realistic expectations - communication strategies - and/or aural rehabilitation
• Assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures including - but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment
• Assisting patients with hearing aid connectivity including - but not limited to - downloading applications (or apps) - pairing devices in the app - Bluetooth pairing - and pairing hearing aid accessories
• 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
• Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• Ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• Prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory
• Assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency - following the audiologist's plan of care
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Functional Statement #:40248F Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds) - moderate carrying (15-44 pounds) - straight pulling - pulling hand over hand - pushing - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking - standing - repeated bending (2 hours) near vision correctable to 13\" to 16\" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - both eyes required - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors and hearing (aid permitted)
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.