The Health Technician (Audiology) position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service which is a part of the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Duties

Full performance level of a Health Technician (Audiology) is a GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to a GS-6. The major duties described below are at the full-performance level of a GS-6: Completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids 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 completes documentation for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday - 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual/remote position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for this position at the GS-4 grade level: English Language Proficiency Basic Experience: Six (6) months of creditable experience in a health care industry comparable to the next lower level (GS-3) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. --OR-- Basic 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. Transcripts Required. --OR-- Basic Combination Education and Experience: Combination of creditable experience and education which are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. 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. Transcripts Required. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of experience and/or education required to qualify for this position at the GS-4, GS-5 or GS-6 grade levels. GS-4 Entry Level: None beyond the basic requirements as per the above. GS-5 Developmental Level: At least 1 year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-4) or successful completion of four (4) academic years of education above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the health care industry or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study related to the health care industry. In addition, I can demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck; (2) Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing; (3) Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies and speech-language pathology needs; (4) Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines; (5) Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories; (6) Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing. . GS-6 Full-Performance Level: At least 1 full year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) that is directly related to the Health Technician (Audiology) and which demonstrates the KSAs related to the duties of the position to be filled. Creditable experience typically includes but is not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids 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. In addition, demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy. (2) Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families. (3) Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software. (4) 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. (5) Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures. (6) Ability to document and code patient procedures. References: VA Handbook 5005/143, Part II, Appendix G70, Health Technician (Audiology) Qualification Standards, 5/13/2021 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: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Woa Townsend
• Phone: 317-988-0059 X180059
• Email: [email protected]