Summary

This position is the Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) in the Audiology Service at the Visalia Outpatient Clinic in Visalia - CA. The primary responsibility is for patient care - supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures - patient charting and patient education - which do not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology license. ** A recruitment or relocation incentive may be given to a highly qualified applicant**

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• Experience and Education
• Experience
• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists
• OR Education
• Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to the field: hearing science - human anatomy and physiology - hearing instrument science - gerontology - psychology or other general healthcare areas
• NOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements
• Licensure or Registration
• Individuals must hold a full - current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state - territory - commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• Loss of Licensure or Registration
• A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required licensure or registration must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Board Certification
• Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)
• Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technician (HIS)
• Non-board certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Technician (HIS) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a licensed audiologist
• Non-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until board certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-board certified Health Technician(HIS) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - Health Technician (HIS) must actively pursue meeting requirements for board certification starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the Health Technician (HIS) with the written requirements for board certification - including the time (i.e. - two years) by which the board certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming board certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain board certification during the two-year period may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Certification
• A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• English Language Proficiency
• Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• In addition to the basic requirements outlined above - the following criteria must be met for the grade
• Health Technician (HIS) - GS-05: Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neck
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines
• Skill in using basic computer software to complete tasks such as using email - creating spreadsheets and word processing
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories
• Health Technician (HIS)GS-6: Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices
• Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use - to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion - removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection)
• Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations
• Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids - hearing assistive technology and patient care that is consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist
• Ability to prepare patient - equipment - and/or environment for audiology procedures
• Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests
• 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-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: The duties of the position regularly require periods of sitting - standing and walking
• Working with patients requires sitting - bending - standing - and pushing wheelchairs
• At times - a light to moderate amount of lifting is required.

Duties

• The GS-5 Health Technician (HIS) serves in an entry level developmental position and works under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this level include - but are not limited to the following: Performs non-diagnostic otoscopy including proper bracing techniques and making appropriate referrals for abnormalities and cerumen management
• Rechecks air-conduction pure tone threshold testing to assist the audiologist in modifying the treatment plan during hearing aid repair appointments
• Provides patient care in hearing aid repair appointments - consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan
• Completes visual and auditory checks with listening stethoscope of hearing aids prior to and following repair of device (troubleshoots performance)
• Processes incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology
• Prepares and charges hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery
• Receives devices and restoring settings of hearing aid/hearing assistive technology after repair or replacement from manufacturer - such as Denver Logistics Center (DLC)
• Maintains proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies
• Adheres to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning - sterilization - and disposition of reusable medical equipment (RME)
• Completes documentation per medical center policy for timeliness for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist
• Provides instruction to patients - family and staff on device topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care - maintenance - use and operation
• Receives and completes incoming communications from Veterans (electronic and telephone) - and facilitates follow-up based on audiologist's treatment plan to include ordering supplies
• The GS-6 Health Technician (HIS) serves at the full performance level and works under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this level include - but are not limited to the following: Completes visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories - as well as - alerting devices (troubleshoots performance)
• Registers - certifies - and tracks prosthetic devices (hearing aids - hearing aid accessories and assistive devices)
• Assists in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures - including - but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment
• Fabricates earmold impressions with proper otoscopy - orders earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fits and modifies earmolds - if necessary
• Provides patient care in hearing aid repair appointments consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan and provides counselling including - but not limited to realistic expectations - communication strategies and/or aural rehabilitation
• Maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration
• and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory
• Assists patients with hearing aid connectivity including but not limited to downloading applications (or apps) - pairing devices in the app - Bluetooth ® pairing and pairing hearing aid accessories
• Assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency following the audiologist's plan of care
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized