The position Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical - Audiology) is located in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Service (ASPS), Audiology Section, in the VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS). The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas. The incumbent assists with audiologic assessments, hearing aid services.

Duties

This position functions above the full performance level for the Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) position and serves in an advanced role. The higher-level duties associated with this advanced-level position may include, but are not limited to: a) Coordinating, installing, maintaining and managing the inventory of telehealth technologies including hardware and software with assistance of Biomed and IT; b) Providing established standardized competency-based training, guidance and information on the use of advanced telehealth technologies to patients, staff, and providers; c) Providing established standardized competency-based training for telehealth technology, facilitating interactive simulations for clinical staff participating in telehealth programs; d) Participating in performance improvement activities aimed at improving the efficiency of the patient telehealth processes. Audiology specific duties: Performs diagnostic, treatment, and aftercare procedures: a) Conducts hearing and tympanometric screening, and otoacoustic emission tests (without interpretation) via store-and-forward technology. b) Performs invasive procedures such as, ear impressions and cerumen management (competency required). c) Cerumen management. In accordance with clinic protocols, performs cerumen management. This includes evaluating the need for cerumen management, assessing contraindications, and selecting an appropriate method (mechanical, suction, irrigation). The health technician performs cerumen management, recognizes potential complications, and initiates referrals to the Audiology staff, primary care, or ENT as necessary. Follows infection control guidelines. Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the clinic: a) Gathers and compiles statistics for necessary reports. b) Enters hearing aid orders and repair services through ROES as directed by supervising audiologists. c) Coordinate activities of the clinic with medical support services throughout the organization. Full performance level assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to: a) Coordinating and/or directly configuring, installing, troubleshooting, inventory management, cleaning, and performing minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology including hardware and software. b) Providing established standardized competency-based training, guidance and information on the use of advanced telehealth technologies to patients, staff, and providers. Serving as a point of contact to answer questions and address concerns related to these technologies. c) Providing established standardized competency-based training for telehealth technology, facilitating interactive simulations for clinical staff participating in telehealth programs. d) Maintaining knowledge of and skill in applying an extensive body of rules, procedures, and operations in telehealth-related technologies and a variety of computer hardware and software used for telecommunications, data entry and retrieval, record maintenance, document and report generation. e) Participating in performance improvement activities aimed at improving the efficiency of the patient telehealth processes. f) Developing reporting procedures, sampling techniques and measurements at various points in the telehealth processes to identify/analyze inherent weaknesses in work and procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (TeleHealth Clinical) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English. 3. Experience and Education: Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or health technician.OR Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation.OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; or (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces. Grandfathering Provision: 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: Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical - Advanced), GS-7 (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze, evaluate and resolve problems. (b) Knowledge of quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement. (c) Ability to function effectively between competing priorities. (d) Knowledge of proper maintenance and troubleshooting of telehealth equipment. (e) Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize and coordinate activities of a health technician in order to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work. (f) Ability to assist in Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) development, outcome management and strategic planning. (g) Ability to perform successful knowledge transfer regarding the use of telehealth technologies. Preferred Experience: Minimum 1 year of experience with the following: a. Telepresenter using audiology specific peripheral equipment/transducers (headphones, inserts, bone conduction) b. Hearing aid troubleshooting/in-house repairs c. Hearing aid orientations d. Pairing/troubleshooting bluetooth connections with hearing aids e. Pairing/troubleshooting assistive listening devices (such as remote mics and tv connectors) with hearing aids Occasional travel between CBOCs (Mare Island & Martinez Clinic) References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/96, PART II, APPENDIX G50, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Charmaine Runne
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]