Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Summary

The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist - HIS) position is located in the Audiology Service at the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care system (GCVHCS) at the Pensacola - FL Outpatient Clinic and serves as a member of the audiology service and hearing health care team.

About the Role

This position requires proficiency in spoken and written English, as well as knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neck, infection control procedures and guidelines, and the ability to communicate and solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, and patient care.

Responsibilities

• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology
• Fabricating earmold impressions with proper (non-diagnostic) otoscopy
• Ordering earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC
• Fitting and modifying earmolds, if necessary
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers
• Aiding in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits
• Assisting patients with hearing aid connectivity
• Ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records
• Completing documentation per medical center policy for each episode of care and coding procedures as appropriate in the patient record

Requirements

• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists
• Full - current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state - territory - commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• Active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)
• Commitment to staying updated with the latest advancements and technologies in hearing instruments
• Participation in ongoing professional development or continuing education courses

Qualifications

• Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• Skills in documenting patient procedures and patient devices
• Skills 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 situations
• Ability 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 audiologist
• Ability to prepare patient - equipment - and/or environment for audiology procedures
• Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests

Skills

• Knowledge of audiometric equipment and software used for hearing evaluations
• Familiarity with different types and brands of hearing aids and assistive listening devices
• Competence in troubleshooting and maintaining hearing aid devices
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for patient interaction
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team

Benefits

• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting)
• Federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Retirement
• Pay
• Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave
• Child Care Subsidy
• Telework
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS)