Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Veterans Health Administration • Shreveport, LA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) performs duties across Audiology clinical and patient-care areas at Overton Brooks VAMC and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The position provides direct and indirect patient care, manages technical and administrative aspects of hearing aid delivery and maintenance, assists audiologists with evaluation and treatment preparation, and supports face-to-face and telehealth encounters. Its primary focus is patient care, diagnostic and treatment procedure support, patient charting, and patient education that do not require the full professional audiology education or licensure-level knowledge and skills of an audiologist.

At the full performance level, the technician performs non-diagnostic otoscopy, identifies abnormalities, and provides cerumen management consistent with an audiologist's plan of care. The technician conducts pass/fail hearing and immittance screenings without interpretation, takes and modifies ear mold impressions, troubleshoots and repairs hearing aids, performs device listening checks and electroacoustic analyses, restores stored hearing aid settings, activates remote controls, and pairs hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth technology. The role also includes educating and counseling patients and caregivers about hearing loss, hearing aids, assistive technology, communication strategies, and realistic expectations.

Administrative and technical duties include checking hearing aids and assistive technology, registering, certifying, issuing, and tracking prosthetic devices, managing loaner inventory when applicable, preparing equipment for patient evaluations and Audiology procedures, and maintaining supplies and equipment. The technician supports face-to-face and telehealth visit setup and delivery, routes Veteran communications, and ensures timely and accurate documentation in medical records and related electronic ordering and tracking systems, including ROES. Encounters and procedures are documented according to medical center timeliness standards and may be coded for audiologist co-signature.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 0730–1630, and may change based on facility needs. Telework is not available; this is not a virtual position. The full performance level is GS-06, and selection may be at GS-05 or GS-06. Non-board-certified applicants who meet eligibility requirements may be considered for a temporary graduate appointment, with care provided under a licensed audiologist's supervision and appointment limited to two years.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists, or successful completion of two academic years above high school with coursework related to hearing science, anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology, or other general healthcare areas. Education and experience cannot be combined to substitute for this basic requirement.
• A full, current, and 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 for the specified temporary graduate Health Technician (HIS) appointment exception.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to meet VA pre-employment requirements, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• 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 verbal and written instructions, and ability to maintain stock and supply inventories.
• GS-06: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; demonstrate knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy, hearing aids and assistive technology, manufacturers and manufacturer software; skill in documenting patient procedures and devices and educating patients about hearing aid use and care; ability to educate patients about hearing loss and communication strategies, make decisions consistent with a documented and co-signed plan of care under audiologist supervision, prepare patients/equipment/environment for Audiology procedures, and triage patient calls or requests.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify for federal employment. Foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education, with the required foreign equivalency documentation.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct and indirect patient care in Audiology clinical and patient-care areas.
• Perform non-diagnostic otoscopy, identify abnormalities, and provide cerumen management consistent with the audiologist's plan of care.
• Conduct pass/fail hearing screenings and immittance screenings without interpretation.
• Take ear mold impressions and fit or modify ear molds as needed.
• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids; perform listening checks and electroacoustic analyses of devices.
• Program previously stored settings into hearing aids, activate remote controls, and pair hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth technology.
• Educate and counsel patients and caregivers about hearing loss, hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, communication strategies, and realistic expectations.
• Complete visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and assistive technology, including accessories and alerting devices.
• Register, certify, issue, and track prosthetic devices, including hearing aids, accessories, and assistive devices; manage loaner hearing aid inventory when applicable.
• Prepare equipment for patient evaluations and Audiology procedures, including daily biologic listening checks of audiometric equipment and calibration checks of real-ear systems.
• Restore device settings following repair or replacement and coordinate factory returns when indicated.
• Assist with setup and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits, including app downloads and Bluetooth pairing in clinic.
• Maintain supply and equipment tracking systems, manage RME and consumable stock, and ensure inventory levels support daily operations.
• Receive and route incoming Veteran phone and electronic communications to the audiology team and facilitate follow-up according to the treatment plan.
• Document interactions and episodes of care accurately and promptly in medical records and electronic tracking and ordering functions, including ROES; code procedures as appropriate for audiologist co-signature.
• Assist audiologists with evaluation and treatment preparation and support patient charting and education.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step within the grade may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child care subsidy eligibility for qualifying full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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