Health Technician (Audiology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Miami VA Healthcare System seeks a Health Technician - Audiology to support audiology and speech pathology services at Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center.

The role emphasizes accurate testing support, patient preparation, and equipment maintenance in a busy clinical setting. Ideal candidates communicate well, work as a team, and adapt to a growing academic hospital program.

Qualifications

• Citizenship requirements apply; U.S. citizenship or eligibility is required.
• Experience and education combinations are considered for qualification.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for hearing tests and assist during diagnostic and treatment sessions.
• Fitting, adjusting, repairing, and maintaining hearing aids and assistive devices.
• Calibrate, clean and disinfect audiometric equipment and instruments.
• Maintain patient records, schedule appointments, and aid with billing or insurance documentation.

Job description

Summary

The Health Technician (Audiology) is located within the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at Miami VA Healthcare System (Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center.

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

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7407(a)
• English Language Proficiency
• HTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403 (f)
• 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 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:1
• 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.2
• 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.3
• 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.4
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Health Technician - Audiology - GS-6 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
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• (b) Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families
• (c) Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• (d) 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
• (e) Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures
• (f) Ability to document and code patient procedures
• Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level HTA
• The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this position include - but are not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids 9 and hearing assistive technology
• repairing or returning hearing aids to the factory
• restoring hearing aid or hearing assistive technology settings after repair or replacement
• and ordering - registering - certifying - issuing and tracking prosthetic devices
• The health technician assists in setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures
• The health technician provides clinical procedures consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care which may include non-diagnostic otoscopy - cerumen management - foreign body removal and ear mold impressions and without interpretation - immittance screening and hearing screening
• The health technician educates patients - family and staff on topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care - maintenance - use and operation - hearing conservation and realistic expectations for hearing aid use
• The health technician completes documentation for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist
• Health Technician - Audiology - GS-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: (a) Ability to mentor and train new HTAs
• (b) Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist - such as evoked potentials
• (c) Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology
• Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• The HTA at this level works under supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this position include - but are not limited to: completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care - preparing patients for advanced diagnostic procedures such as evoked potentials and 12 collaborating with audiology team to develop training programs for patients and staff
• 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-7. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work is mostly sedentary
• The work requires walking - standing - bending - and carrying light items such as books - papers and files
• Must have the ability to move a small piece of equipment and transport a patient in a wheelchair
• There is daily use of a computer
• Hearing aid use is permitted.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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) 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
• Licensure: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) CME: Possible $1 -000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Audiology Health Technician supports audiologists by performing clinical - technical and administrative tasks to ensure effective hearing care for patients
• Health Technician pay a critical role in the assessment - diagnosis - and treatment of hearing and balance disorders
• They act as a bridge between patients and audiologists - ensuring smooth clinic operation and high quality patient care
• Duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Preparing patients for hearing tests - explain procedures - and assist during diagnostic and treatment sessions Conducting preliminary hearing screenings - administer standardized tests - and record patient data to support accurate diagnosis Fitting - adjusting - repairing - and maintaining hearing aids and assistive devices
• fabricate and modify earmolds as needed Calibrating - cleaning - and disinfecting audiometric equipment and instruments to ensure proper functioning and infection control Maintaiing patient records - scheduling appointments - managing inventory of supplies and equipment - and assisting with billing or insurance documentation Providing guidance on hearing aid use - care - and auditory health practices Inspecting and troubleshooting hearing aids - alerting devices - and other auditory technology Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00 am - 3:30 pm (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).