Incumbent is a staff health technician (HIS) under the supervision of a GS-12 staff audiologist or above. This position is located in the Audiology Service at Miami VA Healthcare System in Miami, Florida. 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 Audiology. 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. To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: 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 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. c. Licensure or Registration. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. (1) Loss of Licensure or Registration. A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required licensure or registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. d. Board Certification. Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS). e. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. g. English Language Proficiency. Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determination GS-6: Experience: You must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) for this GS-6 grade level. Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level (FPL) HTA. (2) 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 aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software. (c) Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices. (d) Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use, to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection). (e) Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations. (f) 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. (g) Ability to prepare patient, equipment, and/or environment for audiology procedures. (h) Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests. (3) Assignment. Employees at this level are at the full performance level and work under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist. Assignments associated with this level include, but are not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories, as well as, alerting devices (troubleshoots performance); registering, certifying and tracking prosthetic devices (hearing aids, hearing aid accessories and assistive devices); and assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures, including, but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment. References: VA Handbook 5005/149, Part II, Appendix G-73. March 2018, 2022 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. ["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. Direct patient care duties may include, but not limited to the following: 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 devices9troubleshoots performance); fabricating earmold impressions with proper (non-diagnostic) otoscopy; ordering earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fitting and modifying earmolds if necessary ;providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan, including but not limited to realistic expectations, communication strategies, and or aural rehabilitation; assisting in set up and delivery face to face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures including , but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment ; assisting patients with hearing aid connectivity including , but not limited to downloading applications(or apps), pairing devices in the app, Bluetooth pairing and pairing hearing aid accessories. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in medical record and records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES. The health Technician (HIS) completes documentation per medical center policy for timeless for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist. Administrative duties may include but not limited to the following: Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems 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 regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30720F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
