Health Technician (Audiology)

Veterans Health Administration • Tulsa, OK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician (Audiology) serves in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and/or the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The technician supports clinical programs in Audiology and performs duties in clinical and other patient-care areas served by the Audiology service.

The role includes direct patient care, administrative support, documentation, and infection-control responsibilities. The technician documents patient interactions and encounters accurately in the electronic medical record and uses computerized tracking and ordering functions through ROES. The position follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic qualification requirement through one of the following: six months of comparable experience; two academic years above high school leading to an associate or bachelor's degree, with at least 12 related semester hours; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• For GS-05 consideration, one year of comparable experience or qualifying education, including four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 related semester hours, or an appropriate bachelor's degree; and demonstrated knowledge of head and neck anatomy, communication skills, basic hearing assistive technologies, infection control, inventory, and basic computer software.
• For GS-06 consideration, one year of progressive, directly related experience at the next lower grade and demonstrated knowledge of ear anatomy, hearing physiology, hearing aids and related technologies and software; ability to make decisions within an audiologist-supervised plan of care, prepare patients for testing, and document and code procedures. The vacancy's selection range is GS-04 to GS-05; GS-06 is the full-performance level.
• Complete the required application steps, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Selected applicants are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis for illegal drug use, a background/security investigation, and required onboarding procedures.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for health-care personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet the physical requirements, including sitting, standing, walking, bending, occasional wheelchair pushing, monitor use, light lifting/carrying, occasional heavy lifting within capability, agility and dexterity, and fine eye-hand coordination.

Responsibilities

• Greet and escort patients.
• Provide individual or group instruction and counseling to patients on hearing loss and hearing aids.
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation and perform non-diagnostic otoscopy.
• Perform cerumen management and take earmold impressions.
• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids; provide basic hearing-aid information to patients and caregivers; and perform listening checks and electroacoustic analysis of devices.
• Pair hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth technology, program previously stored settings into hearing aids, and activate remote controls.
• Document patient interactions and encounters accurately and promptly in electronic medical records and computerized systems, including ROES.
• Manage office supplies and track loaner hearing-aid inventory.
• Place electronic orders and verify that orders arrive with all components present and working correctly.
• Schedule appointments; package and mail hearing aids and accessories; and process ROES transactions, including certification and issuance of hearing aids and entry of orders and repairs.
• Respond to routine patient inquiries, determine the nature of hearing-aid inquiries, answer administrative questions, and assist patients, visitors, and others seeking information.
• Manage infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic.
• Maintain clean and disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces, and reprocess reusable medical equipment according to facility policy and medical-center procedures.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal, other work, or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed