The Audiology Health Technician positions are designed to aid the audiologists in meeting the clinical needs of the patient population served in the clinic. The health technicians are responsible for routine repairs of hearing aids delivered or mailed to the Audiology Clinic. This is located in the Boise VAMC.

Duties

Duties: 1. Knowledge of the English language including reading comprehension, auditory comprehension, speaking, spelling and writing. Language skills are such that the comprehension/production of spoken and written messages enhance the clinic program service. 2. Knowledge of, and skill in, the setup, use and routine maintenance of selected clinical tools to include those used for hearing aid troubleshooting, electroacoustic test boxes, otoscopes, specula and ear impression materials/techniques and hearing aid modification equipment. 3. Knowledge of terminology and clinical procedures necessary to maintain records related to patients, supplies, equipment, prostheses, and clinical activities. 4. Knowledge of infection control processes and universal precautions. The health technicians are required to provide appropriate methods and levels of disinfection for the assigned equipment. 5. Knowledge of regulations, procedures and guidelines required in ordering supplies and prostheses, and documenting in the medical record, including eligibility for hearing aids and replacement policies. 6. Knowledge of skin irritations sufficient to determine modifications necessary for proper ear mold fit. 7. Ability to analyze many of the unexpected results and use judgment or written resources to resolve most problems without needing to refer to a supervisor. Ability to initiate effective action in an emergency. Has knowledge of appropriate literature both to remain current and to use as references for unusual situations. 8. Knowledge of medical terminology and abbreviations required to communicate with other professionals regarding the patients seen. Knowledge of abbreviations that are not to be used in the medical record. 9. Interviewing and communication skills required of all persons who interact directly with patients and families regarding their medical condition. 10. Technical skills including: a. Proper and safe use of an otoscope and other equipment used in fabricating and modifying hearing aids and earmolds. b. Skill in taking earmold impressions, including determining if it is safe to make an impression, removing debris in the ear canal or having the debris removed by an audiologist prior to taking an impression, proper insertion of otoblocks and impression material, proper removal of finished impression. c. Knowledge of infection control and sterilization procedures for cerumen removal instruments. d. Knowledge of the basic anatomy of the external ear and external auditory canal, ability to observe the difference between normal and abnormal, and to determine the need for referral to an audiologist or physician. f. Basic knowledge of the instruments and tools used in earmold and hearing aid modification and cleaning. g. Basic knowledge of electronics required to troubleshoot hearing aids and assistive devices, including use of an electroacoustic test box, ability to read and compare graphs from the programming software and test box. h. Basic knowledge of current hearing aid programming software and how to make minor adjustments within the clinic guidelines. Ability to interact with the patient to determine if the minor changes corrected the problem or if s/he should be referred to an audiologist for more extensive programming. i. Basic knowledge of electrophysiologic (VNG) equipment and set up procedures. Work Schedule: 0730am-1600, Monday to Friday Compressed/Flexible:Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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: 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). Experience and Education. (1) 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 (2) 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 (3) 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. Grade Determinations: (1) 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. (2) 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/96 PART II APPENDIX G70

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 Boise VA Medical Center 500 West Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 US
• Name: Yolanda Gallegos
• Phone: (208) 422-1000 X7394
• Email: [email protected]