This position is in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System at the Sarasota Community Clinic. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology Service. The Health Technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology and is under the supervisor of the Audiologist.

Duties

Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education, which do not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties. In addition, the incumbent must be able to mentor and train new Audiology Health Technicians. Direct patient care duties may include, but not limited to the following: Triaging patients to an Audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed Patient set up for procedures (e.g., vestibular, neurodiagnostic procedures) Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation, non-diagnostic otoscopy, cerumen management, taking earmold impressions, hearing aid troubleshooting and repair Provide basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers Performs listening checks on hearing aids Electroacoustic analysis of devices Pairs hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology Programs previously stored settings into hearing aids Activates remote controls Ensures timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES Administrative duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Tracks loaner stock hearing aid inventory Electronic ordering Verifies orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly Schedules appointments Packages and mails hearing aids and accessories Processes ROES transactions (e.g. certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs) Responds to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions Assists patients, visitors, and others requesting information Management of infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, with a shift from either 7:30am to 4:00pm or 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not suitable for telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 21824F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: 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). 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.?? Grade Determinations: Experience: Candidates must have completed one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06) directly related to the position being filled. The knowledge, skills, and abilities at the GS-06 grade level are: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience listed above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) at the GS-07 grade level: 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. 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 CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Jayme Cooper
• Phone: 717-222-1893
• Email: [email protected]