Health Technician (Audiology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA Bedford Healthcare System in Bedford, MA is seeking a Health Technician (Audiology) to support patient care within the Audiology and Speech Pathology Services.

This full-time role (40 hours weekly) operates under the supervision of the Chief of Audiology. Responsibilities include direct patient care and administrative duties, such as patient instruction, hearing aid support, and accurate chart documentation.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of head and neck anatomy.
• Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of hearing assistive technology and hearing aids.
• Knowledge of infection control procedures and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Greeting and escorting patients.
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids.
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and basic testing support.
• Documentation of patient procedures in medical records.

Skills

Anatomy knowledge

Clear communication

Infection control

Inventory/documentation

Basic computer skills

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree related to health care

Tools

ROES/Electronic medical records

Job description

Summary

This Health Technician (Audiology) position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Services at the VA Bedford Healthcare System - in Bedford - MA. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

This Health Technician (Audiology) position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Services at the VA Bedford Healthcare System - in Bedford - MA. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

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
• 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
• Loss of Credential
• An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification identified for the HTA - GS-08 position must be removed from the assignment - which may also result in termination of employment
• 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
• 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.
• 7402 (d)
• 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 (05/31/2021) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification
• (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• 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: HTA - GS-04: Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• HTA - GS-05: Experience
• One year of experience comparable to the next lower level (GS-04) 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
• AND 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
• HTA - GS-06: Experience
• Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-05 directly related to the position being filled
• AND 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
• 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service
• The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology
• The incumbent is under the supervision of the Chief of Audiology & Speech Pathology
• Program goals and objectives are provided
• The employee is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment - resolving most of the conflicts that arise - coordinating the work with others as necessary and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives
• The employee is responsible for carrying out the assignment under the direct supervision of the supervising audiologist
• Completed work is reviewed by the supervising audiologist
• 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 licensure
• Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties
• Direct patient care duties may include - but not limited to the following: Greeting and escorting patients
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting
• Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation
• Non-diagnostic otoscopy
• Cerumen management
• Taking earmold impressions
• 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
• Work Schedule: Full-Time - Monday-Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
• 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 #: F05927 - F05928 - F05079 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
• Notifications: Current federal employees must submit copies of their most recent non-award SF50 (notice of personnel action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position - title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.