Health Technician (Audiology)

About the role

The incumbent is a Staff Health Technician (Audiology) under the supervision of an audiologist. This position is located within the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at Nebraska Western Iowa (NWI) VAHCS in Omaha - Nebraska.

Responsibilities

• 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:
• Greeting and escorting patients
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting
• Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation
• Notoscopy
• Cerumen management
• Taking earmold impressions
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers
• Performing listening checks on hearing aids
• Electroacoustic analysis of devices
• Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology
• Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids
• Activating remote controls
• Administrative duties may include:
• Managing office supplies
• Tracking loaner stock hearing aid inventory
• Electronic ordering, verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly
• Scheduling appointments
• Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories
• Processing ROES transactions (e.g., certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs)
• Responding to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions
• Aiding patients, visitors, and others requesting information
• Maintaining clean, disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces in the audiology clinic
• Reprocessing reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, English Language Proficiency, 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 bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• 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
• Experience: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) directly related to the position being filled
• GS-5 level experience includes: 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, Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories, Skill in using basic computer software such as email - spreadsheet and word processing
• Demonstrated 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 physiology and function to educate patients and families, Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software, 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, Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures, Ability to document and code patient procedures
• Preferred Experience: Experience working in a hearing aid clinic
• 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements

You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position.

Questions

About physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Total Rewards

• 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: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Telework: Not eligible
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized