This position is located in Audiology/Speech Service (ASPS) at Victorville 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 under the supervision of a GS-12 audiologist or above.

Duties

Duties may include, but not limited to the following: Greets and escorts patients. Provides patient/family member instruction/counseling on hearing loss and hearing aids. Performs non-diagnostic otoscopy. Services hearing aids and hearing aid accessories i.e restoring/programming previously stored settings; hearing aid troubleshooting/electroacoustic analysis and repair. Demonstrates proper use and care of Pocketalkers, and other assistive devices. Triages patient to an audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed. Mentors and trains new HTAs, conduct hearing (pass/fail) screenings without interpretation (AMTAS/Store and Forward Telehealth) Prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist such as evoked potentials/Vestibular patient room set up, Assists the Audiologist in individual and group aural rehabilitation sessions either F2F or VVC. Ensures timely and accurate documentation of all interactions and each episode of care in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions. Manages and transports orders clinical and office supplies and manages loaner stock inventory. Verifies and receives orders to ensure components are present and working correctly, packaging and mailing ASP accessories, processing ROES transactions (e.g. certifying hearing aids, entering orders and repairs), Schedules appointments Responds to routine inquiries from patients and visitors requesting information, Manages infection control and patient safety. Maintains a clean and disinfected instrumentation, equipment and work surfaces. Participates in performance improvement activities aimed at improving the efficiency of the ASPS specifically attending hearing aid manufacturer training. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 7:30am to 4:00pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 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 i 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. Certification. Not required at the GS07 grade level. 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 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. Temporary appointments may not be extended. The HTA may not be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard is obtained it must be maintained as a condition of employment in the occupation. 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) (HTA) GS-07 Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS06) 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: 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. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The HTA at this level works under supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist. 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 such as evoked potentials and collaborating with audiology team to develop training programs for patients and staff. Preferred Experience: Customer Service, Audiology. References: VA Handbook 5005/143 PART II APPENDIX G70 May 13, 2021.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); near vision corrected to 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; and hearing (aid permitted).

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 Jerry L Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital 11201 Benton Street Loma Linda, CA 92357 US
• Name: Christina Rigole
• Phone: (909)583-6505
• Email: [email protected]