Summary

This position is the Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) in the Audiology Service at the Visalia Outpatient Clinic in Visalia - CA. The 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 license. ** A recruitment or relocation incentive may be given to a highly qualified applicant**

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
• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists;OR (2)Education
• Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to the field: hearing science - human anatomy and physiology - hearing instrument science - gerontology - psychology or other general healthcare areas
• NOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements
• Licensure or Registration
• Individuals must hold a full - current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state - territory - commonwealth orthe District of Columbia
• Board Certification
• Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)
• Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technician (HIS).(a)Non-board certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Technician (HIS) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).(b)Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a licensed audiologist.(c)Non-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until board certification is obtained.(d)Temporary appointments of non-board certified Health Technician(HIS) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Health Technician (HIS) GS-6:(1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.(2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices
• Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use - to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion - removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection)
• Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations
• Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids - hearing assistive technology and patient care that is consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist
• Ability to prepare patient - equipment - and/or environment for audiology procedures
• Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests
• 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-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06.Physical Requirements: The duties of the position regularly require periods of sitting - standing and walking
• Working with patients requires sitting - bending - standing - and pushing wheelchairs
• At times - a light to moderate amount of lifting is required.

Duties

• Major duties include: Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories as well as alerting devices
• Fabricating earmold impressions with proper otoscopy
• Ordering earmolds based on plan of care and fitting and modifying earmolds
• Assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits
• Assists patients with hearing aid connectivity
• Responsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented
• Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• Ensures proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• Assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 05652F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized