The Audiology Health Technician positions are designed to aid the audiologists in meeting the clinical needs of the patient population served in the clinic. Each health technician functions as a member of the Audiology staff to provide health care support.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following: When it is necessary for a hearing aid to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, the health technician prepares all necessary paperwork and records and packages and ships the instrument. The incumbent makes appropriate entries in the clinic's record tracking system in order to ensure that the hearing aid is properly tracked during the repair process. The health technician independently resets the fitting parameters of programmable hearing aids that have been returned from the manufacturers for repairs. Uses the most advanced hearing aid fitting technology and software to prepare the repaired hearing aids for shipping to the patient. Independently makes minor programming adjustments, within clinic guidelines, to increase or decrease volume, run feedback manager, add or remove program options from the programming button, and consults the audiologists for any more detailed programming changes. Makes minor shell changes and external component repairs. Determines if shell or programming adjustments are needed to solve patient fit problems. Compares electroacoustic output curves to NOAH program, makes minor adjustments to bring within compliance or sends out for repair. Independently determines the patient's need for loaner hearing aids based on the patient's degree and nature of hearing loss, audiological profile and hearing aid fitting rationale data. Independently determines patient need for assistive devices, orders devices such as Pocket Talkers and TV devices from the Denver Acquisitions and Logistics Center and instructs patients in proper use and care. Troubleshoots assistive devices to determine if a replacement is needed. Responsible for entering ROES orders for hearing aid repairs, batteries and clinic supplies as necessary. Tracks and certifies hearing aid orders as they are received, as well as taking necessary steps for correcting errors or changes as they occur. Maintains an adequate supply of materials and other supplies to meet the clinic needs. Maintains stock of supplies, forms, batteries, and impression boxes in all clinic rooms. Works with Staff from Material Management to insure that supplies are ordered and re-stocked. Maintains stock of loaner hearing aids and pocket-talkers and insures they are in good working order at all times. Receives turned in hearing aids, removes from veteran's record, and determines if the aids can be used as loaners or turned in for salvage. Sends potential loaner aids for refurbishment to insure that they are fully operational. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am- 4:00 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: (1) 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 (2) 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 (3) 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 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). 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). GS-7 Health Technician-Audiology Grade Determinations: 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 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 Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending, and carrying light items such as incoming mail, papers, books. Occasionally a piece of equipment would need to be moved. A significant amount of walking is also required to interact with patients and other services.

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 Boise VA Medical Center 500 West Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 US
• Name: Shayna Lewis
• Phone: 918-577-3080
• Email: [email protected]