Lead Health Technician (Audiology)

Veterans Health Administration • Hines, IL

18d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and its Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) satellites. Duties are performed throughout the medical center, including clinical and other patient-care areas. The Lead Health Technician (Audiology) supports clinical audiology programs through patient-care and administrative work that does not require a full professional audiology education or audiology licensure. The lead technician also assists the audiology supervisor and/or staff audiologist with technician oversight, work assignments, workflow, staff training, and efficient patient-care operations. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Six months of qualifying experience comparable to the next lower level; or two academic years above high school leading to an associate or bachelor's degree, including at least 12 semester hours in related courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Qualifying experience must use knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current Health Technician (Audiology), Health Technician (Speech-Language Pathology), or combined Health Technician (Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology) practice. Experience may be paid or unpaid health-technician employment in the health-care field.
• For the GS-08 assignment, certification by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) as a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC) is required.
• For GS-08, one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position.
• For GS-08, demonstrate knowledge of organization and leadership theory; ability to apply leadership principles when interacting with staff; ability to identify clinic-operation problems, consider solutions, and implement supervisor-approved actions; and skill in communicating programmatic decisions to staff.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must complete applicable background/security investigation, drug-testing, onboarding, identification, and application-document requirements.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• If education is used to qualify, transcripts must be provided; only education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions is acceptable. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in audiology, including work with hearing aids.

Responsibilities

• Greet and escort patients and schedule appointments.
• Provide individual or group instruction and counseling about hearing loss and hearing aids.
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation and perform non-diagnostic otoscopy.
• Provide cerumen management and take earmold impressions.
• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids, provide basic information to patients and caregivers, and perform listening checks and electroacoustic analysis of devices.
• Pair hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth technology, program previously stored settings into hearing aids, and activate remote controls.
• Document patient interactions in medical records.
• Manage office supplies and track loaner hearing-aid inventory.
• Place electronic orders and process ROES transactions, including certifying and issuing hearing aids and entering orders and repairs.
• Manage infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic.
• Provide basic counseling to employees about test results and criteria for referral to the hearing conservation program.
• Perform biological checks and calibration of audiometric instrumentation.
• Assist the audiology supervisor and/or staff audiologist with technician oversight, including assigning work, monitoring workflow, providing performance input, resolving daily workplace issues, and maintaining efficient patient-care flow.
• May train staff, students, and/or trainees and provide input on special advancements, promotions, and disciplinary actions for HTA staff.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package is described; specific benefits and eligibility depend on the position and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

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