Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Veterans Health Administration • Tuscaloosa, AL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Audiology Service at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) supports clinical programs in Audiology and performs duties in clinical and other patient-care areas under the supervision of a GS-12 staff audiologist or above. The position provides direct patient-care and administrative support for diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting, and patient education that do not require professional audiology education or licensure.

At GS-5, duties include greeting and escorting patients; providing basic hearing-aid information and instruction; performing non-diagnostic otoscopy and cerumen management; taking earmold impressions; troubleshooting and repairing hearing aids; conducting listening checks and electroacoustic analyses; pairing hearing aids and accessories through Bluetooth; documenting patient interactions and encounters in the electronic medical record and ROES; managing office supplies; and responding to routine patient inquiries.

At GS-6, duties include troubleshooting hearing aids and hearing-assistive technology, including accessories and alerting devices; taking earmold impressions and ordering, fitting, or modifying earmolds according to the plan of care; counseling patients on hearing loss and hearing aids; conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation; educating patients and caregivers according to the audiologist’s treatment plan; preparing equipment for in-person and telehealth visits; and completing timely documentation and procedure coding for audiologist co-signature. Other duties may be assigned.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and may change based on agency needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. The full performance level is GS-6; selection may be at GS-5 or GS-6. Work is performed in a healthcare setting and may involve exposure to infection, contagious diseases, radiant energy, and constant noise, as well as work both indoors and outdoors.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists, or successful completion of two academic years above high school including relevant coursework such as hearing science, anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology, or other general healthcare areas.
• A full, current, and unrestricted state, territory, commonwealth, or District of Columbia license or registration to practice as a Hearing Instrument Specialist, subject to the stated exception for eligible non-board-certified graduate Health Technicians.
• Active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS), subject to the stated temporary-appointment exception for eligible non-board-certified applicants.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-5: knowledge of basic head and neck anatomy and infection-control procedures; basic computer software skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to follow verbal and written instructions; and ability to maintain stock and supply inventories.
• For GS-6: one year of experience equivalent to GS-5, including relevant experience in non-diagnostic otoscopy, cerumen management, hearing-threshold rechecks in support of an audiologist, and patient care during hearing-aid repair appointments.
• For GS-6: knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy, hearing aids, hearing-assistive technology, manufacturers, and manufacturer software.
• For GS-6: skill in documenting patient procedures and devices and educating patients on hearing-aid use, insertion, removal, cleaning, and disinfection.
• For GS-6: ability to educate patients about hearing loss and communication strategies; make decisions about devices and patient care consistent with the documented, co-signed plan of care under audiologist supervision; prepare patients, equipment, and environments for procedures; and triage patient calls or audiology requests.
• Must complete the required application steps and online assessment; selected applicants are subject to pre-employment urinalysis, background/security investigation, and pre-employment evaluation.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete onboarding and identification requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Must meet physical demands including lifting 50 pounds or more, carrying 15–49 pounds, reaching above the shoulder, finger use and dexterity with both hands, prolonged walking and standing, repeated bending, pushing, pulling, and twisting, coordinated rapid mental and muscular activity, corrected far vision to 20/20 in one eye, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (hearing aid permitted), working speed, and emotional stability.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with hearing aids.
• Strong customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Greet and escort patients.
• Provide patient instruction and basic information about hearing aids.
• Perform non-diagnostic otoscopy and cerumen management.
• Take earmold impressions; at GS-6, order, fit, or modify earmolds according to the plan of care.
• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids and hearing-assistive technology, including accessories and alerting devices.
• Perform listening checks and electroacoustic analyses of hearing devices.
• Pair hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth technology.
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings without interpreting results.
• Provide patient and caregiver education and counseling consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan, including hearing-aid use, realistic expectations, communication strategies, and aural rehabilitation information.
• Assist with patient care during hearing-aid repair appointments, consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan.
• Prepare patients, equipment, and environments for audiology procedures and in-person or telehealth visits.
• Document patient interactions, procedures, devices, and encounters accurately and promptly in the medical record and related systems; code procedures as appropriate for audiologist co-signature.
• Respond to routine patient inquiries, triage telephone calls or audiology requests, and answer administrative questions.
• Manage office supplies and maintain stock and supply inventories.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Annual leave accrual, with possible credit for prior work or military service subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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