Health Technician - Audiology

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing • Pocatello, ID

50d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician Audiology (HTA) works under the supervision of the Chief & Assistant Chief of Audiology & Speech Pathology. They are responsible for planning and carrying out assignments - resolving most of the conflicts that arise - coordinating the work with others as necessary and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. Qualifications 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 English Language Proficiency: HTA - HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken & written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f) Experience and/or Education: Must have six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills & abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled OR 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 Have an equivalent combination of experience & education An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills & abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled & 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) Grade Determinations: GS-4 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements Assignment: Entry level developmental position The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist The assignment includes but is not limited to assisting the audiologist with patient assessment & treatment Adheres to the audiology clinic policy & standard operating procedures for infection control & cleaning - sterilization & disposition of reusable medical equipment (RME) Maintains a comprehensive supply & equipment tracking system to include monitoring stock of RME & consumable items ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies & equipment with regard to date of expiration maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies preparing mailing/shipping requests for items including but not limited to hearing aid & hearing assistive technology repairs - ear mold orders & return for credit items & maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory GS-5 Experience or Education: Must have one year of experience comparable to the GS-4 grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills & abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled OR Successfully completed four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation GS-5 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories Skill in using basic computer software such as email - spreadsheet and word processing Assignment Developmental position The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist Assignments include - but are not limited to answering & screening calls from patients regarding audiology needs assisting the audiologist with patient assessment & treatment assisting with walk-in appointments processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology preparing & charging (if required) hearing aids & assistive devices for delivery Adheres to the audiology clinic policy & standard operating procedures for infection control & cleaning - sterilization & disposition of RME Maintains a comprehensive supply & equipment tracking system to include: monitoring stock of RME & consumable items ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies & equipment with regard to date of expiration maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies preparing mailing/shipping requests for items including but not limited to: hearing aid & hearing assistive technology repairs - ear mold orders & return for credit items & maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory GS-6 Experience: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level directly related to the position being filled GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software 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 Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures Ability to document and code patient procedures Assignment Full performance level The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist Assignments include - but are not limited to: completing visual & auditory checks of hearing aids & hearing assistive technology repairing or returning hearing aids to the factory restoring hearing aid or hearing assistive technology settings after repair or replacement & ordering - registering - certifying - issuing & tracking prosthetic devices Assists in setting up & delivering face to face & telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation & other audiology procedures Provides clinical procedures consistent with the documented & co-signed plan of care which may include non-diagnostic otoscopy - cerumen management - foreign body removal & ear mold impressions & without interpretation - immittance screening & hearing screening Educates patients - family & staff on topics including but not limited to hearing aid & hearing assistive technology care - maintenance - use & operation - hearing conservation & realistic expectations for hearing aid use Completes documentation for each episode of care & codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work involves long periods of moving about the work unit The work requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - lifting - & repositioning & transferring patients Incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative - secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders The incumbent must be a mature - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - demonstrating cheerfulness - compassion - courtesy - & concern Must be quick & dependable in taking emergency action in using initiative to prevent accidents.

Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: HTA - HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken & written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)
• Experience and/or Education: Must have six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills & abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled
• OR 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 Have an equivalent combination of experience & education
• GS-5 Experience or Education: Must have one year of experience comparable to the GS-4 grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills & abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled
• OR Successfully completed four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation
• GS-5 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck
• Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing
• Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories
• Skill in using basic computer software such as email - spreadsheet and word processing
• GS-6 Experience: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level directly related to the position being filled
• GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families
• Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• 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
• Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures
• Ability to document and code patient procedures

Responsibilities

• Instruct and counsel on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation
• Take earmold impressions
• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aid
• Provide basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers
• Perform listening checks on hearing aids
• Pair hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology
• Program previously stored settings into hearing aids
• Activate remote controls
• Manage office supplies
• Track loaner stock hearing aid inventory
• Verify orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly
• Place RTC orders for appointments
• Package and mailing hearing aids and accessories
• Process ROES transactions (e.g. - certifying and issuing hearing aids - entering orders and repairs)
• Respond to routine inquiries from patients - including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions
• Assist patients - visitors - and other requesting information
• Management of infection control - patient safety - and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic
• Maintenance of lean - disinfected instrumentation - equipment - and work surfaces in the Audiology clinic

Benefits

• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Associate degree