Health Technician (Audiology)

Veterans Health Administration • Lawton, OK

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is hiring one Health Technician (Audiology) for the Fort Sill VA Clinic in Lawton, Oklahoma. The role supports audiology patient care, diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting, and patient education that do not require a full professional audiology education or audiology licensure. Duties combine direct patient care with administrative and clinic-support work. The position is not telework or virtual. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The selected employee must meet the federal basic qualifications and grade-level requirements for the position, which may be filled at GS-4 through GS-6. The full performance level is GS-6. Employment is subject to applicable federal hiring, security, identification, onboarding, vaccination, and trial-period requirements.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the experience and/or education requirements for the selected grade: qualifying experience, qualifying education, or an equivalent combination, as applicable.
• For GS-4, no experience beyond the basic requirements is required.
• For GS-5, one year of qualifying experience comparable to the next lower level, or 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.
• For GS-6, one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position.
• GS-5 candidates must demonstrate knowledge of head and neck anatomy, clear oral and written communication, basic hearing-assistive technologies, infection-control procedures and guidelines, inventory maintenance, and basic computer software such as email, spreadsheets, and word processing.
• GS-6 candidates must demonstrate knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy; hearing physiology and function sufficient to educate patients and families; hearing aids, assistive technology, manufacturers, and manufacturer software; and the ability to make decisions about hearing devices and patient care consistent with the documented, co-signed plan of care under audiologist supervision.
• GS-6 candidates must also demonstrate the ability to prepare patients for testing procedures and document and code patient procedures.
• Complete applicable background/security investigation, drug testing if selected for a testing-designated position, online onboarding, identification, seasonal influenza vaccination, and application-document requirements.
• Serve the required one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and written certification requirements.
• Meet the described physical demands, including light lifting/carrying under 20 pounds, reaching above shoulder level, finger use, walking, standing, prolonged sitting and/or standing, and working around machinery.

Responsibilities

• Greet and escort patients.
• Provide individual or group instruction and counseling about 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 hearing-aid listening checks and electroacoustic analysis.
• Pair hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth, program previously stored settings into hearing aids, and activate remote controls.
• Document interactions and encounters accurately and promptly in medical records, using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES.
• Manage office supplies and track loaner hearing-aid inventory.
• Order items electronically and verify that delivered orders include the required components and are working correctly.
• Schedule appointments; package and mail hearing aids and accessories; and process ROES transactions, including certifying and issuing hearing aids and entering 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.
• Keep clinic instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces clean and disinfected, and reprocess reusable medical equipment according to facility policy and medical-center infection-control procedures.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility and specific benefits depend on position type and other applicable conditions.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for prior federal work or military service if requested and approved before appointment; credit is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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