Health Technician (Audiology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 38,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is seeking a Health Technician (Audiology) to support diagnostic and treatment procedures in the audiology clinic. The role emphasizes patient care, charting, and education under supervision of an audiologist.

Responsibilities include greeting patients, counseling on hearing aids, screening procedures, and assisting with hearing aid management and administrative tasks within the PM&R service.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency is required.
• Demonstrated communication skills are required.
• Basic computer skills (email, spreadsheet, word processing) are needed.
• Knowledge of hearing care concepts is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Primary responsibility is patient care including diagnostic and treatment support and patient education.
• Support functions include direct patient care and administrative duties.
• Direct patient care may include greeting and escorting patients.
• Provide counseling on hearing loss and hearing aids to patients and families.
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings (non-diagnostic).

Skills

English proficiency

Communication skills

Basic computer skills

Hearing care knowledge

Education

Associate degree or higher

Bachelor’s degree with related coursework

Job description

Summary

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service is recruiting one - (1) Health Technician (Audiology).

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
• 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)
• 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
• 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
• 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: 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
• 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
• 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: Can demonstrate at least some knowledge of hearing aids or working with the hearing impaired
• Physical Requirements: The duties of the position require periods of sitting - standing and walking
• Working with patients in PMRS and the pain clinic require regular sitting - bending and standing
• Patient transport occasionally requires the pushing of wheelchairs
• Work in front of a monitor/screen of 1 to 4 hours per day is required
• Some stressful situations may occur when communicating with patients and their families who may have multiple physical - mental and psychosocial problems and needs
• Lifting/carrying of light items is necessary
• The work requires above average agility and dexterity
• The work may require occasional heavy lifting of equipment or patients - within the technician 's capability
• It requires the ability to utilize an electronic charting system
• The incumbent must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods
• There must also be a high degree of eye-hand coordination when working with the small components associated with hearing aids 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.

Duties

• Duties and Responsibilities: 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
• Administrative duties may include - but not limited to the following: Tracking loaner stock hearing aid inventory
• Electronic ordering - verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly
• Scheduling appointments
• Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories
• Processing ROES transactions (e.g. - certifying and issuing hearing aids - entering orders and repairs)
• Responding to routine inquiries from patients - including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions
• Assisting patients - visitors - and others requesting information
• Management of infection control - patient safety - and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic
• 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
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:00 AM - 5:30PM - 4 days a week Regular Day Off (to be determined) 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) 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: Situational (Ad-hoc) as determined by agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: GS-04 55295-A - GS-05 60719-A - GS-06 60720-A