Summary

The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) (HIS) FLOAT position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the Viera VA Clinic. The incumbent is assigned to a primary duty station but will routinely cover at other sites in accordance with facility policy. The health technician supports the function of clinical programs in Audiology. The incumbent is a staff health technician (Audiology float) under the supervision of a GS-12 audiologist or above.

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
• Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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
• 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
• 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 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
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS In addition to the basic requirements above - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Health Technician (HIS) - GS-05 Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• 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-06 Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-5) grade
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAS)
• 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/
• Physical Requirements
• Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment
• Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Support functions of the Health Technician (HIS) include both direct patient care and administrative duties
• Direct patient care duties may include - but are 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
• Immittance screening without interpretation
• Non-diagnostic otoscopy
• Taking earmold impressions
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan - including but not limited to - realistic expectations - communication strategies - and/or aural rehabilitation
• Assisting 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
• 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
• Assisting patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency - following the audiologist's plan of care
• Administrative duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Managing office supplies
• 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
• The incumbent is responsible for functional checks for audiometric test equipment daily
• The technician maintains all non-patient care clinic records in accordance with service - medical center - and VA requirements - including - but not limited to calibration logs and work orders
• The technician ensures that clinic records are current - and that reports/information are filed in a timely manner
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Travel: You will be required to travel up to 25% of the time - Driver's License Required 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 81673F - 81209F