The Health Technician position is designed to provide the Audiologists with assistance in meeting the clinical needs of the Veteran population served in the Audiology Clinic. The position combines patient care activities with technical support functions for the staff audiologists. These support functions are comprised of both clinical and administrative duties.

Duties

Assists audiologist with patient assessment and treatment, which may include rooming the patient, history taking, non-diagnostic otoscopy and preparing the patient for routine tests Cleans hearing aids, their accessories, or assistive listening devices, and change any routine maintenance parts as needed; completes in house hearing aid repairs as possible; sends hearing aids to the manufacturer for repair if they cannot be repaired in house Prepares hearing aids, their accessories, or assistive listening devices for shipment, including proper documentation in the Remote Order Entry Systems (ROES) Maintains hearing aid loaner inventory, including tracking in the ROES system Maintains assigned levels of hearing aid repair parts, and re-order as needed through the ROES system Monitors clinic stock, including ordering items through Central Medical Supply, such as infection control products; and monitor clinic supply cabinet stock, alerting supply chain staff as necessary Enters notes into electronic health records in accordance with guidelines and VHA requirements. Confirms patient identifiers as required Manages other data to include VISTA, scheduling software packages, or other VHA systems Checks and uses other standard software programs, to include word documentation programs, messaging programs, and email Schedules patients into scheduling package if/when front office staff are not available Answer calls regarding hearing aids issues, knowing when to transfer the call to the triage audiologist Opens incoming mail aid packages, determining where products should be routed, and properly marking anything in the electronic health record or ROES with regard to such packages Prepares hearing aids, their accessories, and assistive listening devices, for hearing aid fittings, including charging aids as needed; Restores hearing aid settings after repair or replacement Completes non-diagnostic otoscopy, limited cerumen removal, limited foreign body removal Completes earmold impressions as needed for hearing aid orders, re-orders, earmold orders, or earmold re-orders Educates patients and caregivers on the care of hearing aids, their accessories, and assistive listening devices Completes entry into the electronic medical records, with encounter or episode of care information, in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am -4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 91395,91396,91397 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. 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 Certification: None Required Physical Requirements: Outlined Below English Language Proficiency: HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 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). Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-4 grade level, you must meet the basic experience and/or education requirements of having 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. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a health technician in the health care field; OR Have successfully completed two academic years above high school leading to an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position; OR Have a combination of both experience and education. To qualify for the GS-5 grade level, you must have one year 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. Examples of experience include but is not limited to the following: assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment; adhering to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition of reusable medical equipment (RME); maintaining a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items; ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks; prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration; maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies; preparing mailing and shipping requests for items including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology repairs, ear mold orders and return for credit items; and maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory. OR Have successfully completed four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation. OR Have a combination of both experience and education. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, you must fully demonstrate the following Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck. Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing. Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies. Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines. Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories. Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing. To qualify for the GS-6 grade level, you must have one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being held. Examples of experience include: answering and screening calls from patients regarding audiology needs; assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment; assisting with walk-in appointments; processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology; and preparing and charging (if required) hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery; maintaining a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system; monitoring stock of RME and consumable items; ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks; prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration, etc. In addition to the experience listed above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy. Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families. Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software. Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid, hearing assistive technology and patient care, consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist. Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures. Ability to document and code patient procedures. References: VA Handbook 5005/143, Part II, Appendix G70 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work requires a combination of sitting, walking and bending over, consistent with patient care. There will be some carrying of light to moderate items. The need to push wheelchairs and transfer patients is not frequent but will 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center 1481 West Tenth Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 US
• Name: Robert Wheaton
• Phone: 317-988-0095
• Email: [email protected]