This position is located at VA Palm Desert Community Based Outpatient Clinic within the VA Loma Linda Health Care System. VA Loma Linda Health Care System is a size 1A complex medical facility. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical areas involved with ASPS. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology. The incumbent is a staff health technician (Audiology) under the supervision of a GS-12 audiologist or above.

Duties

***ANY Current and PERMANENT VA Loma Linda Health Care System, VA Employees Nationwide, and all other Federal Employees should apply under CBCT-12246824-24-SS.*** Duties may include, but not limited to the following: Greets and escorts patients. Triages patients to an audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed. Sets-up patient for procedures (e.g., vestibular, neurodiagnostic procedures). Provides patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting. Conducts hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation; Non-diagnostic otoscopy; Cerumen management. Takes earmold impressions. Troubleshoots and repairs hearing aid. Provides basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers. Performs listening checks on hearing aids. Conducts Electroacoustic analysis of devices. Pairs hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology. Programs previously stored settings into hearing aids. Activates remote controls. Manages the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) and hearing aid repair programs, as well as process all new and repaired incoming devices in the Palm Desert Audiology Clinic. Ensures 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 Remote Order Entry System (ROES). Manages office education materials. Tracks loaner stock hearing aid inventory. Processes ROES transactions (e.g. certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs). Responds to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions. Cleans and disinfects instruments equipment, and work surfaces in the audiology clinic. Reprocesses reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 07:30 am to 04:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. Experience and Education: 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. HTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 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). AND GS-07 Level - Grade Determinations: Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06) directly related to the position being filled. Qualifying HTA equivalent experience includes, but are not limited to: working independently under supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist; 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; setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures; providing 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; educating patients, family and staff on topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care, maintenance, use and operation, hearing conservation and realistic expectations for hearing aid use; completing the documentation for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist; completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care, preparing patients for advanced diagnostic procedures such as evoked potentials and collaborating with audiology team to develop training programs for patients and staff. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to mentor and train new HTAs. Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist, such as evoked potentials. Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology. References: VA Handbook 5005/143 Part II Appendix G70 dated May 13, 2021. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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 Jerry L Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital 11201 Benton Street Loma Linda, CA 92357 US
• Name: Shanda Spears
• Phone: (737) 900-5629
• Email: [email protected]