The VA Cheyenne Health Care System, Audiology Service, is currently recruiting for (1) GS-0640 Health Technician-Audiology to work at the Loveland, Colorado Outpatient Clinic within the Veterans Health Care System facility.

Duties

The duties for the Health Technician-Audiology duties include, but are not limited to the following: Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education. The duties and responsibilities are to carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology section. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology. Greeting and escorting patients Patient instructions and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting. Conducting hearing pass/fail screening 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 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. Managing office supplies Tracing loaner and stock hearing aid inventory Electronic Ordering Verifying orders upon arrival and making sure they are working properly Packaging and mailing hearing aid accessories Processing ROES transactions Responding to routine inquires 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 442-52126A, 442-52127A, 44252128A 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: 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: Health Technicians-Audiology appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken & written English. 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. OR Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. If an HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. HTAs, HTSLPs or HTASLPs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. 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. Grade Determinations: Grade determination requirements GS-4 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Grade determination requirements GS-5 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. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, 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. Grade determination requirements GS-6 This is the full performance grade for this occupational series. 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. In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G70. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of a GS-4 to a GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of sitting, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items. Must be able to push a patient in a wheelchair and assist in transferring from wheelchair to exam chair. Preferred Experience: Experience working with the veteran population References: VA Handbook 5005/3, 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 Cheyenne VA Medical Center 2360 East Pershing Boulevard Cheyenne, WY 82001 US
• Name: Amanda Strickland
• Email: [email protected]