Summary

This Health Technician (Audiology) position serves the Audiology Section of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Katy - TX - part of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston - TX. The primary responsibilities are for patient care - supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures - patient charting and patient education.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (Audiology) must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Experience and Education: (1) Experience
• Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled
• OR (2) Education
• Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position
• OR (3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• Certification: None
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Health Technician (Audiology) - GS-0640-7 Experience: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs):In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to mentor and train new HTAs
• Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist - such as evoked potentials
• Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology
• Preferred Experience: 2+ years of experience as a Health Technician
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service
• The duties of the Health Technician (Audiology) - include but are not limited to: Provides support in four functional areas: 1) hearing aid troubleshooting and repairs - electroacoustic evaluation - minor hearing aid programming - ear impressions related to hearing aid repairs - tracking of repair items 2) Hearing aid and earmold certification and tracking 3) supply orders and management 4) daily equipment checks and maintenance Provides support for diagnostic and treatment procedures
• Responsible for patient charting and patient education
• Provides support functions including both direct patient care and administrative duties
• Mentors and trains new Audiology health technicians
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 08:00 am - 04:30 pm (subject to change based on the needs of the facility) Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 580-02359-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized