Health Technician (Audiology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Retirement benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center in Amarillo, TX seeks a Health Technician (Audiology) to support audiologists and meet the clinical needs of Veterans served in the Audiology Service.

The role includes patient instruction, basic hearing aid support, otoscopy, and maintaining clinic equipment, with a Monday–Friday schedule and opportunities for growth within the VA system.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position
• Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• English Language Proficiency as required by VA standards

Responsibilities

• Greeting and escorting patients
• Non-diagnostic otoscopy
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Maintenance of clean - disinfected instrumentation - equipment - and work surfaces in the audiology clinic
• Documentation of patient interactions in EMR and ROES

Skills

Experience

English proficiency

Education

Associate/Bachelor degree with related courses

Tools

Email

Word processing

Spreadsheet

Job description

Summary
The Health Technician (Audiology) position is designed to provide assistance to the Audiologists in meeting the clinical needs of the Veteran population served in the Audiology Service at Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center in Amarillo - TX.

Summary
The Health Technician (Audiology) position is designed to provide assistance to the Audiologists in meeting the clinical needs of the Veteran population served in the Audiology Service at Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center in Amarillo - TX.
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
• Experience and Education
• 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 Education
• Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position
• OR 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
• English Language Proficiency
• HTA - HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403 (f)
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• If an HTA - HTSLP or HTASLP who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• HTAs - HTSLPs or HTASLPs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Grade Determinations: GS-04: Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-05: Experience
• One year 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 Education
• Successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation
• GS-05 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - Abilities
• In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck
• Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing
• Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories
• Skill in using basic computer software such as email - spreadsheet and word processing
• GS-06 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
• GS-06 Demonstrated 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 physiology and function to educate patients and families
• Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid - hearing assistive technology and patient care - consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist
• Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures
• Ability to document and code patient procedures
• Preferred Experience: Knowledge of medical terminology - including that related to hearing
• Knowledge of hearing aid technology - preferably at least three different manufacturers
• Knowledge of ear anatomy
• Experience with medical charting - medical device ordering
• Must possess the ability to perform fine motor tasks requiring the manipulation and handling of very small objects
• 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-04 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Greeting and escorting patients
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting
• Non-diagnostic otoscopy
• Limited Cerumen management
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers
• Performing listening checks on hearing aids
• Electroacoustic analysis of devices
• Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology
• Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids
• Activating remote controls
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES
• Maintenance of clean - disinfected instrumentation - equipment - and work surfaces in the audiology clinic - reprocessing reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 0800 - 1630 Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 53198 - 53199 - 53200
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized