Health Technician (Hearing Instrument)

About the role

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 devices (troubleshoots 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 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
• 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
• Ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions
• Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• Maintaining 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
• Assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency, following the audiologist's plan of care

Requirements

This announcement is open to US Citizens. All Federal, Internal, Department of Veterans Affairs, and TVHS (Facility) Employees, should apply to Job Opportunity Announcement CBTG-12879927-26-SP. Please note: Veterans preference will be applied.

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:

• United States 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 VA Policy.
• Experience and Education:
• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists;
• 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.

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.

Board Certification: Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS).

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. The Health Technician (HIS) fabricates earmold impressions with proper otoscopy, orders earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fits and modifies earmolds, if necessary. The Health Technician (HIS) provides patient care in hearing aid repair appointments consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan and provides counselling including, but not limited to realistic expectations, communication strategies and/or aural rehabilitation. The Health Technician (HIS) maintains a 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 with regard to date of expiration; and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory. The Health Technician (HIS) assists 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 Health Technician (HIS) ensures timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions.