This Health Technician (Audiology) position is located in the Audiology Service at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, WV. The duties and responsibilities are to be 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 the Audiology clinic. Duties may be performed at the main campus in Huntington, WV and/or at any of the CBOCs associated with the HVWVVAMC.
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. 4. 3 c. 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: HTA, GS-07 (1) 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. ( 3) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The HTA at this level works under supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to: completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care, preparing patients for advanced diagnostic procedures such as evoked potentials and 12 collaborating with audiology team to develop training programs for patients and staff. Preferred Experience: One year of VA experience within 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-7. Physical Requirements: The work involves periods of prolonged extensive or considerable standing/walking. Lifts, positions, pushes, and/or transfers patients. Lifts supplies/equipment. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching.
Duties include/not limited to: Mentor and train new health technicians in audiology. Develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology. Prepares patients for advanced testing procedures (vestibular, neurodiagnostics, etc.) to be performed by the audiologist. Completes electroacoustic analysis on new and repaired hearing aids. Verifies hearing aid settings are correct upon receipt from repair by connecting to manufacturer software in NOAH and programming to most recently stored settings. Conducts hearing and tympanometric screening, and otoacoustic emission testing (without interpretation) via store- and-forward technology. Coordinates the annual clinical equipment calibration. Coordinates hearing aid manufacturer trainings and provides administrative support to staff audiologists to allow for their attendance. Assists the service chief in the overall management of the service's clinical equipment inventory. Manages the clinical inventory to include devices pending issuance (new and repairs), loaner devices and clinic supplies (disposable and RME). Serves as the services RME Champion and educates all staff on infection control and patient safety. Manages the service's chemical inventory. Participates in performance improvement activities aimed at improving patient safety and efficiency of the patient processes. Greeting and escorting patients. Instructing patient, family members and/or caretakers on hearing loss or hearing aids on an individual basis or in a group setting. Completing non-diagnostic otoscopy. Taking earmold impressions. Troubleshooting and repairing hearing aids. Providing basic hearing aid information to patients, family members and/or caretakers. Performing listening checks of hearing aids Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology. Documenting patient care activities in an accurate and timely manner in the electronic medical record and in ROES. Preparing and mailing IOI-HA surveys. Entering patient data from received IOI-HA surveys in ROES and the electronic medical record. Maintaining appropriate levels of clinical supplies in all patient care areas. Enters requests for new disposable clinical supplies in the CPRC system. Assures all clinical supplies have a current use date and rotate stock properly for first in, first out. Tracking loaner stock and hearing aid inventory. Verify orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly. Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories Processing ROES transactions (e.g. certifying and issuing hearing aids and accessories, entering orders and repairs, etc.) Responding to routine inquiries from patients and facility staff to include but not limited to, determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30am- 4:00pm Functional Statement #: 581-24029-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized