The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) supports the provision of patient care using telehealth technologies which increase a Veteran's access to care and support a Veteran's self-management. This includes developing and delivering virtual and digital technologies which help Veterans communicate synchronously and asynchronously with their health care teams and coordinate, track and manage their health care.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Under supervision of the audiologist, assists with audiologic assessments: 1) Case history: assists with the preliminary interview for veterans being seen for audiometric assessment. These interviews may include completing histories and surveys. The content of these interviews assists the Audiologist with information regarding the veteran's history, self-evaluation of hearing handicap, self-evaluation of needs for assistive listening devices, dizziness assessments. 2) Pure tone air conduction testing: if qualified, the incumbent carries out pure tone air conduction testing under the supervision of the audiologist in accordance with clinic policies and procedures. 3) Impedance testing: Impedance testing (including tympanometry, acoustic reflex, and acoustic reflex decay). 4) Otoacoustic emissions 5) Other types of testing may be rendered upon approval of the Chief of Audiology Section. Hearing Aid Services: 1) Under supervision of the audiologist, assists with hearing aid selection and fittings including: Assisting with the selection of an appropriate hearing aid relative to patient's existing hearing loss. Taking impressions of the ears. Packaging and shipping orders to either the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or Denver Acquisitions and Logistics Department (DALD). Electro-acoustic analysis of hearing aids. Real Ear measurements. Fitting and orienting patients with hearing aid accessories and other assistive listening devices. Hearing Aid Repair The incumbent is responsible for routine repairs of hearing aids delivered or mailed to the Audiology Clinic. During clinic hours, s/he meets with veterans on a one-to-one basis to solve hearing aid problems. In this capacity, the incumbent provides primary level troubleshooting and repair for veterans who are experiencing hearing aid problems. Services commonly provided by the technician include minor hearing aid shell and internal/external component repairs, changing of batteries, cleaning of electrical contracts, removal of impacted cerumen from the aid, replacing ear mold tubing, inspecting and replacing cords, and counseling the veteran in optimal use and proper methods of care for the instruments. As part of the repair responsibility, the incumbent evaluates the operation of assistive listening devices (ALDs) such as hardwired, infrared, and FM systems, etc. Where knowledge is found to be deficient, s/he provides necessary patient education and documents it in the veteran's medical record. The incumbent reviews all post-hearing aid fitting surveys and follows-up with veteran to determine proper course of action to facilitate repairs or refers veteran to the staff audiologist as needed. Electroacoustic analysis of hearing aids using hearing aid testing hardware/software. Use of in-situ, real-ear hardware/software for fitting of new hearing aids or problem solving for existing hearing aids. This includes triaging devices mailed-in to the clinic for repair, mailing out devices for repair, and mailing devices back to veterans once repaired. Basic Hearing aid programming and accessory fitting The health technician performs basic hearing aid programming including restoring previous programming sessions, enabling/disabling manual controls, etc. Hearing device inventory management - The technician is responsible for the certification of electronic ROES invoices, according to the VA Denver Acquisitions and Logistics Center (VADALC) guidelines, for the receipt of new and repaired hearing aids from VA contract manufacturers. The health technician ensures devices have arrived in time for patient appointments, prepares devices for fitting, and verifies patient settings for repaired aids. Providing patient education via approved materials. Supporting the Veteran in completing patient satisfaction surveys. Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the clinic: Enters hearing aid orders and repair services through ROES as directed by supervising audiologists. Coordinate activities of the clinic with medical support services throughout the organization. Manages clinic inventory including devices to be fit, loaner devices, and clinic supplies. Completing other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 7:30am - 4:00pm, Possible Saturday Rotation Compressed/Flexible:Not available 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

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: Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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). 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). Basic 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 NOTE: If qualifying through education, transcripts must be included with you application GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Health Technician (Audiology), GS-7 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, AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully 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 5005/96, Part II, Appendix G50, dated February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS7. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required.

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: Monica Thomson
• Phone: (925) 506-5370
• Email: [email protected]