Health Technician Audiology

About the role

The Health Technician Audiology (HTA) works under the supervision of a GS-12 staff audiologist or above. This position is located within the Audiology Service of the Salt Lake City VA Health Care System. The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service.

Responsibilities

• Supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology.
• Answers & screens calls from patients regarding audiology needs.
• Aids the audiologist with patient assessment & treatment.
• Assists with walk-in appointments.
• Processes incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology.
• Prepares & charges (if required) hearing aids & assistive devices for delivery.
• Maintains a comprehensive supply & equipment tracking system to include: monitoring stock of RME & consumable items, ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks, prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies & equipment with regard to date of expiration, maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies, preparing mailing/shipping requests for items including but not limited to: hearing aid & hearing assistive technology repairs - ear mold orders & return for credit items & maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory.

Requirements

• Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level directly related to the position being filled.
• Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
• Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families.
• Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
• Skills in solving problems or making 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.
• Skills in preparing patients for testing procedures.
• Skills in documenting and coding patient procedures.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Experience: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level directly related to the position being filled.

Skills

• Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck.
• Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies.
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.
• Skills in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Paid time off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
• Parental leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child care subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance.
• Health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Schedule

M-F 8:00am-4:30pm

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Greets and escorts patients.
• Provides patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting.
• Conducts hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation non-diagnostic otoscopy.
• Cerumen management.
• Takes earmold impressions.
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair.
• Provides basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers.
• Performs listening checks on hearing aids.
• Electroacoustic analysis of devices.
• Pairs hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology.
• Programs previously stored settings into hearing aids.
• Activates remote controls.
• Ensures timely and accurate documentation of all interaction in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES.
• Manages office supplies, tracks loaner stock hearing aid inventory, electronic ordering, verifies orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly.
• Places RTC orders for appointments.
• Packages and mails hearing aids and accessories.
• Processes ROES transactions (e.g., certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs).
• Responds to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions.
• Affords assistance to patients, visitors, and other requesting information.
• Manages infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic.
• Ensures maintenance of lean, disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces in the Audiology clinic.
• Reprocesses reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies.