Health Technician (Audiology)

Summary

The Health Technician Audiology (HTA) assists the staff audiologists in meeting the clinical needs of the patient population served in the Audiology Clinic. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties.

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:

• 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)
• 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 bachelors 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• HTA - GS-06(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
• 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
• (3) Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level HTA
• The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this position include - but are not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids 9 and hearing assistive technology
• repairing or returning hearing aids to the factory
• restoring hearing aid or hearing assistive technology settings after repair or replacement
• and ordering - registering - certifying - issuing and tracking prosthetic devices
• The health technician assists in setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures
• The health technician provides clinical procedures consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care which may include non-diagnostic otoscopy - cerumen management - foreign body removal and ear mold impressions and without interpretation - immittance screening and hearing screening
• The health technician educates patients - family and staff on topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care - maintenance - use and operation - hearing conservation and realistic expectations for hearing aid use
• The health technician completes documentation for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist
• 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.

Duties

• The HTA functions as a member of the Audiology staff to provide healthcare support
• Primary responsibility is for patient care - supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures - patient charting - and patient education - which do not require the full professional education or knowledge and skills represented by Audiology licensure
• The HTA is required to interact directly with veteran patients and their families in a variety of ways and settings
• Direct patient care duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Greeting - escorting - and assisting walk-in patients or others requesting information at the Audiology Clinic Triaging patients to an audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed Patient set up for procedures and interventions (e.g. - general diagnostics - vestibular - and neurodiagnostic procedures - implant and hearing aid programming) Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation Performing non-diagnostic otoscopy Taking earmold impressions Educating/counseling patients and caregivers on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting Hearing aid listening checks - troubleshooting - cleaning - and repair Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology
• activating remote controls Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids
• Electroacoustic analysis of hearing aid devices Ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions and encounters in the electronic medical record Administrative duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Scheduling appointments to maximize clinic availability Managing office supplies Performing transactions using the Remote Order Entry System (e.g
• certifying and issuing hearing aids - entering orders and repairs) Maintaining inventory and status of all new and repaired hearing aids awaiting scheduling
• This includes verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly Tracking loaner stock hearing aid inventory Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories Responding to routine inquiries from patients - including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions Management of infection control - patient safety - and clinical supplies for the Audiology Clinic Maintenance of clean - disinfected instrumentation - equipment - and work surfaces in the Audiology Clinic based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing - bending - and carrying light items such as incoming mail - papers or supplies
• Occasionally a piece of equipment may need to be moved
• A significant amount of walking is also required to interact with patients and other services
• The work requires recurring use of tools and equipment related to audiology procedures and hearing aid services.