The Health Technician (Audiology) (HTA) provides clinical and administrative support for Audiology Service and tele-audiology program. The incumbent assists with audiologic assessments and hearing aid services (including hearing aid selection, and hearing aid fittings, hearing aid orders, and repairs). The HTA supports the tele-audiology program and functions as a clinical tele-presenter.

Duties

Assignments associated with this position include but are not limited to completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care, preparing patients for advanced diagnostic procedures, and collaborating with audiology team to develop training programs for patients and staff. Audiology duties include but are not limited to: Assisting the audiologist with hearing evaluations, hearing aid selections, hearing aid fittings, and hearing aid follow-up. Performing otoscopy and hearing screenings including pure tone, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions. Performing invasive procedures such as ear impressions and cerumen management (competency required). Completing hearing aid checks, troubleshooting, and repairs. Entering hearing aid orders and repair services via ROES. Completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care. Serving as a technical expert in the operation and maintenance of specialized equipment. Gathering and compiling statistics for necessary reports. Coordinating activities of the clinic with medical support services throughout the organization. Participating in performance improvement activities. Managing clinic inventory including devices to be fit, loaner devices, and clinic supplies. Completing documentation in the medical record. Carrying out other duties as assigned Tele-audiology duties include but are not limited to: Service as a tele-presenter during telehealth encounters. Configuring, installing, troubleshooting, cleaning, and performing minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology including hardware and software with assistance of Biomed and IT. Providing established standardized competency-based training, guidance and information on the use of advanced telehealth technologies to patients, staff, and providers. Providing established standardized competency-based training for telehealth technology. Participating in performance improvement activities. Developing reporting procedures, sampling techniques and measurements at various points in the telehealth processes to identify/analyze inherent weaknesses in work and procedures. Coordinating clinic setup and monitoring of workload capture and issues for assigned patient and provider clinics including telehealth resource-based scheduling. This includes placing interfacility consults as needed, prior to the scheduled appointment. Managing inventory and supplies. Completing documentation in the medical record. Carrying out other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm, possible Saturday rotation Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000/Health Technician (Audiology) 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: 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: HTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 3. 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. 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 (May 13, 2021) 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 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 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: Health Technician (Audiology), GS-07 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. 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 5005/143, PART II, APPENDIX G70, HEALTH TECHNICIAN (AUDIOLOGY) QUALIFICATION STANDARD, 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-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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Spark M Matsunaga Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 459 Patterson Road Honolulu, HI 96819 US
• Name: Lizbeth Torres
• Phone: (415) 221-4810 X24760
• Email: [email protected]