The Audiology Health Technician position is designed to provide assistance to the audiologists in meeting patient care needs of the Audiology patient population. The incumbent functions as a team member of the Audiology section providing health care support. While the incumbent works under the guidance of the Audiologist, he/she is required to interact with a high level of independence, making appropriate service delivery decisions, seeking clarification and/or assistance when appropriate.

Duties

The position has a high degree of visibility throughout the Clinic as a result of direct patient care provided by the Health Technician and contacts with the Veteran population, many of whom are severely disabled and are without additional resources. Professionalism, proficiency, and a high positive image are critical and required. The incumbent must perform and exhibit knowledge and skills specific to the young adult, the adult, and the geriatric patient. The incumbent must be highly motivated, seek ways to expedite care, and eliminate problematic clinical processes. MAJOR DUTIES: The technician independently assesses the patient's contraindications for impressions of the ear and auditory canal, including presence of cerumen or other medical issues. The technician is responsible for making impressions of the ear for earmolds, custom hearing aids, and hearing aid repairs due to poor fit or changes in patient status (i.e. loss/gain of weight) including those on surgically-altered or difficult to fit ears. Prior to fabricating the impression, the technician is responsible for careful examination of the ear and its environs, cleaning of the area as needed, placement of an oto-block, and visual confirmation of oto-block placement/coverage. After making the impression, the technician is responsible for verifying complete removal of impression material, assessing the ear canal, and assessing completeness of the ear impression. The technician is then responsible for preparing, shipping, and verifying the hearing aid repair/order with the ear impression. Receives patients from the Audiologists and independently completes the earmold impressions Receives patients from the Audiologists to assist further with cleaning, education or repair of hearing aid/assistive device. The technician is responsible for follow up hearing aid care for patients fitted with hearing aids in order to determine the success of the physical fit and to make any necessary modifications. The technician questions patients and employs one or more diagnostic measures in order to determine the cause(s) of the hearing aid related problem(s) and provides primary level troubleshooting and repair of hearing aids. If the patient is experiencing physical adjustment or other adjustment problems associated with the hearing aid(s), the technician may independently apply one or more of the following procedures. Modify the earmolds, tubing, receiver length or shell, Repair hearing aids in house (i.e. changing batteries, battery doors, cleaning of all parts of the hearing aids, replacing tubing, replacing receivers/cords, etc.) Refer the patient to the Audiologist for additional counseling, recommendations and/or re-evaluation. The technician may be required to monitor patients with limited dexterity or intellectual capacity several times to ensure the proper use and care of hearing aids. When a hearing aid or assistive device is unable to be repaired in-house, the technician processes all repair paperwork and ships the devices to the VA contractor in the proper packaging. This includes properly tracking devices/repairs. The technician uses tools ranging from brushes/pliers to electrical hand tools to modify hearing aids or earmolds for a more comfortable fit or to change the response of the hearing aid. The technician determines if a patient should be referred to the Audiologist for assessment of rehabilitative needs or extensive reprogramming of the hearing aids. The technician is required to properly document all interactions in the medical record in the form of a clinical progress note. Consults with Audiologists to determine the patient's needs for loaner hearing aids from clinic stock. Receives and screens all calls from veterans, or incoming devices from veterans with complaints about their hearing aids or assistive devices. Reviews all hearing aid follow-up questionnaires and follows-up with veterans to determine proper course of action to facilitate repairs or refers patients to their Audiologist. Enters IOI-HA into Remote Order Entry System. Triages phone calls and secure messages. Performs cerumen removal once approved by patient's Audiologist or an Audiologist. Cerumen removal is not performed without authorization of an Audiologist. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00am-4:30pm or Monday thru Friday 7:30am-4:00pm 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 PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic requirements: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a). b. 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 c. 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. d. Grandfathering Provision. Health Technicians (Audiology) 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: (1) They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) 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. (2) 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. (3) HTAs, who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. f. 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). Grade determination GS-4 None beyond basic requirements Grade determination GS-5 (1) Experience. 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. OR (2) Education. Successful completion of 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. 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: (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy. (b) Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing. (c) Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies. (d) Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines. (e) Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories. (f) Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing. Grade determination GS-6 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. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy. (b) Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families. (c) Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software. (d) 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. (e) Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures. (f) Ability to document and code patient procedures. Grade determination 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. (2) 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. (d) Ability to provide education and counseling regarding hearing loss and hearing instruments. 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-7 above the full performance level.

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 Bruce W Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1201 Northwest 16th Street Miami, FL 33125 US
• Name: Joselyne Figueroa-Cruz
• Phone: 787-641-7582 X126204
• Email: [email protected]