Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Details Posted: 04-Aug-26 Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota Categories Allied Health Internal Number: 855880500 Summary Incumbent is a staff health technician (HIS) under the supervision of a staff audiologist or above. This position is located in the Audiology Service at Sioux Falls VA in Sioux Falls - SD. 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. 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language Proficiency: Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. Â7403(f) Experience and Education: Experience: Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid SpecialistsOR 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 areasNOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirementsLicensure 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 ColumbiaBoard Certification: Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technician (HIS)Non-board certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Technician (HIS) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. Â7405(c)(2)(B)Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a licensed audiologistNon-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until board certification is obtainedTemporary appointments of non-board certified Health Technician (HIS) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointmentGrade Determinations: Health Technician (HIS) - GS-05: Experience: None beyond the basic requirementsKnowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neckKnowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelinesSkill in using basic computer software to complete tasks such as using email - creating spreadsheets and word processingAbility to communicate orally and in writingAbility to follow verbal and written instructionsAbility to maintain stock and supply level inventoriesHealth Technician (HIS) - GS-06: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-5)Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomyKnowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer softwareSkill in documenting patient procedures and patient devicesSkill in providing patient education for hearing aid use - to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion - removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection)Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situationsAbility 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 audiologistAbility to prepare patient - equipment - and/or environment for audiology proceduresAbility to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests References: 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 in the range of GS-5 to 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 positionQuestions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Duties This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENTApplicants in USA Staffing will be qualified based on the resume submitted and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager every 1-2 weeks until the announcement is closed - cancelled - or filledTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to: 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 licensureSupport functions include both direct patient care and administrative dutiesDirect patient care duties may include - but not limited to the following: Hearing aid troubleshooting and repairperforming 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) otoscopyordering earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fitting and modifying earmolds - if necessaryproviding 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 rehabilitationassisting 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 equipmentassisting 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 accessoriesThe incumbent is responsible for 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 via ROESThe Health Technician (HIS) completes documentation per medical center policy for timeliness for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologistAdministrative duties may include - but not limited to the following: Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable itemsensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasksprioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventoryThe Health Technician (HIS) assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency - following the audiologist's plan of careDriver's License required Work Schedule: Monday - Friday7:30am to 4:00pm CST Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesPaid 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Create a Job Match for Similar Jobs Logo About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery. Connections working at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration More Jobs from This Employer https://careercenter.ascls.org/jobs/22476776/health-technician-hearing-instrument-specialist