Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Technician)

Veterans Health Administration•Mayaguez, PR

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Audiology Service at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System’s Mayaguez Satellite Clinic. The Health Technician supports diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient care, charting, and patient education. The role includes direct patient-care and administrative functions, performed in clinical and other patient-care areas associated with Audiology. The technician troubleshoots and repairs hearing aids; checks hearing aids and hearing assistive technology; takes earmold impressions after non-diagnostic otoscopy; and orders, fits, and modifies earmolds according to the plan of care. The technician provides patients and caregivers with basic hearing-aid information consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan, documents interactions and encounters in the electronic medical record and ROES, tracks supplies and equipment, and triages patient calls and Audiology requests according to priority and urgency and the audiologist’s plan of care. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. The full-performance level is GS-6; selection may be at GS-5 or GS-6. The role requires a current, unrestricted state or territorial license or registration as a hearing instrument specialist and active NBC-HIS board certification, subject to the stated temporary appointment exception for eligible non-board-certified applicants. Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English and spoken Spanish. Physical tasks may include standing or walking for moderate periods, handling devices and performing otoscopy, transporting moderate equipment, and precise hand and finger work.

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 and spoken Spanish.
Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists, or successful completion of two academic years above high school with relevant coursework in 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.
Full, current, unrestricted license or registration to practice as a hearing instrument specialist in a state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Active NBC-HIS board certification; eligible non-board-certified applicants may qualify for the specified temporary, entry-level appointment under audiologist supervision, subject to the stated limits.
For GS-6, one year of experience equivalent to GS-5.
For GS-5, knowledge of basic head and neck anatomy and infection-control procedures; basic computer software skills; oral and written communication; ability to follow instructions; and ability to maintain inventory of stock and supplies.
For GS-6, knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy, hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, manufacturers, and manufacturer software; skill in documenting procedures and patient devices; ability to educate patients, solve problems consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under audiologist supervision, prepare patients/equipment/environments, and triage calls or requests.
Must complete required application steps, including the online assessment, and satisfy applicable background/security, pre-employment, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
Must meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
Must serve the stated one- or two-year trial period.
Physical capacity may be needed to stand or walk for moderate periods, handle devices and perform otoscopy, lift and transport moderate equipment, and perform precise hand and finger tasks.

Nice To Haves

Clinical knowledge of hearing instrument technology.
Skills in patient interaction and customer service.
Competence in following clinical protocols and technical procedures.
Ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.
Technical proficiency with clinical equipment and computer systems.
Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary clinical teams.

Responsibilities

Support diagnostic and treatment procedures in Audiology.
Provide direct patient care, patient charting, and patient education, along with administrative support.
Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids.
Perform visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology.
Fabricate earmold impressions with proper non-diagnostic otoscopy; order earmolds according to the plan of care through prosthetics or DLC; and fit and modify earmolds.
Provide patients and caregivers with basic hearing-aid information consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan.
Document interactions and encounters accurately and promptly in the medical record, using electronic medical record and ROES tracking and ordering functions; code procedures as appropriate in preparation for audiologist co-signature.
Maintain supply and equipment tracking systems, including monitoring stocks of reusable medical equipment and consumables.
Triage patient phone calls and Audiology requests by priority and urgency, following the audiologist’s plan of care.
Prepare patients, equipment, and/or the environment for Audiology procedures.
Provide patient education and training regarding hearing-aid use, including insertion, removal, cleaning, and disinfection, and hearing loss and communication strategies, as appropriate to grade and supervision.