Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Veterans Health Administration • Viera, FL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) float position is in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the Viera VA Clinic. The incumbent has a primary duty station but routinely covers other sites in accordance with facility policy. The technician supports clinical audiology programs and works under the supervision of a GS-12 audiologist or above.

The role combines direct patient care and administrative duties. Patient care includes supporting patient visits and audiology procedures, providing hearing-aid and hearing-loss education consistent with the audiologist’s plan of care, performing specified screenings and non-diagnostic procedures, and troubleshooting, checking, and programming hearing aids and related devices. The technician also helps triage patient calls and requests according to priority and urgency, following the audiologist’s plan of care.

Administrative work includes managing supplies and loaner inventory, ordering and processing hearing aids and accessories, scheduling appointments, responding to routine inquiries, and maintaining clinic records. The technician is responsible for daily functional checks of audiometric test equipment and for maintaining clean, disinfected instruments, equipment, and work surfaces in accordance with facility infection-control and reusable-medical-equipment policies.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not virtual and requires travel up to 25% of the time. A driver’s license is required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists, or successful completion of two academic years above high school including coursework related to the field, such as hearing science, anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology, or general health care.
• Foreign education used to qualify must be evaluated as equivalent to a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in foreign educational credential interpretation.
• A full, current, unrestricted state, territory, commonwealth, or District of Columbia license or registration to practice as a Hearing Instrument Specialist.
• Active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS), except that eligible non-board-certified applicants may be considered for a temporary graduate appointment under the stated conditions.
• For GS-05: no experience beyond the basic requirements; demonstrate knowledge of basic head and neck anatomy and infection control, basic computer software skills, oral and written communication, ability to follow instructions, and ability to maintain stock and supply inventories.
• For GS-06: one year of experience equivalent to GS-05; demonstrate knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy, hearing aids, assistive technology, manufacturers and software; skill documenting patient procedures and devices and teaching hearing-aid use, insertion, removal, and hygiene; and ability to educate patients about hearing loss and communication strategies, solve relevant problems consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under audiologist supervision, prepare patients/equipment/environments for procedures, and triage patient calls or audiology requests.
• A driver’s license is required; travel up to 25% of the time is required.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Subject to background and security investigation; selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must complete the application requirements detailed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment upon completion.

Nice To Haves

• A highly qualified candidate may be eligible for a recruitment incentive, subject to approval, funding, and policy.

Responsibilities

• Greet and escort patients.
• Provide individual or group instruction and counseling on hearing loss and hearing aids.
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings and immittance screenings without interpretation, and perform non-diagnostic otoscopy.
• Take earmold impressions.
• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids; perform listening checks and electroacoustic analyses of devices.
• Provide basic hearing-aid information to patients and caregivers consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan, including realistic expectations, communication strategies, and aural rehabilitation.
• Prepare equipment and assist with face-to-face and telehealth visits and audiology procedures, including daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment.
• Pair hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth, program previously stored settings into hearing aids, and activate remote controls.
• Triage patient phone calls and audiology requests according to priority and urgency, following the audiologist’s plan of care.
• Manage office supplies and track loaner hearing-aid inventory.
• Place electronic orders and verify that orders arrive with the required components in working condition.
• Schedule appointments; package and mail hearing aids and accessories.
• 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 requesting information.
• Manage infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic.
• Clean and disinfect clinic instruments, equipment, and work surfaces; reprocess reusable medical equipment according to facility policy and medical center procedures.
• Perform daily functional checks of audiometric test equipment.
• Maintain non-patient-care clinic records, including calibration logs and work orders, and ensure records are current and information is filed promptly.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on the position and employment status.

What This Job Offers

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