Heath Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

About the role

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Service (ASPS) at James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Mountain Home, TN. The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the ASPS service. The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) [HIS] supports the function of the clinical programs in ASPS.

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

Requirements

• Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• Prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory
• Triage phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency, following the audiologist's plan of care

Qualifications

• 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
• Full, current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• 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
• Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices
• Skill 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