Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

About the role

The Health Technician, Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS) position is located in the Audiology Service at the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) located in Gaylord or Indian River, affiliated with Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan.

Responsibilities

• Direct patient care duties may include, but not limited to:
• 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 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
• 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
• 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 audiologist
• Administrative duties may include, but not limited to the following:
• Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of reusable medical equipment (RME) and consumable items
• Prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory
• Auxiliary duties may include, but not limited to the following:
• Assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency, following the audiologist's plan of care

Requirements

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens.

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neck
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines
• Skill in using basic computer software to complete tasks such as using email, creating spreadsheets and word processing
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories

Physical Requirements

This position frequently requires light to moderate lifting. Normally such lifting will involve, but not be limited to