Health Tech (Audiology)
The Lead Audiology Health Technician position is designed to assist the Audiologists and the Speech-Language Pathologists in meeting the clinical needs of the patient population served in the Clinic. The incumbent functions as a member of the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service staff to provide health care support. In the process of doing so, the incumbent is required to deal directly with veteran patients and their families in a variety of ways and settings. While the incumbent is under the guidance of the professional Audiology & Speech Pathology staff, he/she is required to interact with a high level of independence, making appropriate service delivery decisions, seeking clarification and/or assistance when appropriate. The Lead Audiology Health Technician provides support in four functional areas:
1) Hearing aid troubleshooting and repairs, tracking of repair items; 2) Hearing aid and earmold certification and tracking; 3) Supply orders and management; 4) Clinic data management and record management for all Clinic staff and students including onboarding for new employees and students The incumbent is responsible for routine repairs of hearing aids delivered or mailed to the Audiology Clinic. During clinic hours, he/she meets with veterans on a one-to-one basis to solve hearing aid problems. In this capacity, the incumbent provides primary level trouble shooting and repair for veterans who are experiencing problems. The ability to succeed in this role requires effective communication with patients who are experiencing communication disorders. Services commonly provided by the Technician include the evaluation of hearing aid function and fit through listening checks, visual inspection, changing of batteries, cleaning of electrical contacts, shell repairs removal of impacted cerumen from the aid, replacing earmold tubing, inspecting and replacing cords and counseling the veteran in optimal use and proper methods of care for the instruments. When it is necessary for a hearing aid to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, the incumbent prepares all necessary paperwork and records and packages and ships the instrument. The incumbent makes appropriate entries in the clinic's record tracking system in order to ensure that the hearing aid is properly tracked during the repair process. ROES Entries:
The incumbent will be responsible for entering ROES orders for hearing aid repairs, batteries and other supplies as necessary. He/she will track and certify hearing aid orders as they are received, as well as taking necessary steps for correcting errors or changes as they occur. Equipment and Supply Management:
The incumbent maintains an adequate supply of materials and other supplies (as requested by Audiology staff) to meet the clinic needs. Maintenance of these materials should be weekly. The technician maintains clinic records in accordance with service line, medical center and VA requirements. The technician ensures that clinic records are current and that reports/information are filed Specialized reports and staff records:
The incumbent performs data management functions that are critical to the delivery of Audiology services. These include the entry of workload information into the QUASAR, collection, tabulation and analysis of the patient data that are used in the clinic's performance improvement program. Data sources may include patient observations and surveys, workload reports, quality assurance measures and reports. Using extracted data, the incumbent creates graphics for reports and presentations using programs such as Excel and PowerPoint. Timekeeping:
Timekeeping duties to enter and post in an accurate and timely fashion all staff tours of duty and pay period entries as well as any other administrative tasks assigned by supervisor. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday 7:
30AM - 4:
00 PM Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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 Policy. English Language Proficiency:
In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. Time-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your education or experience, as described below. Preferred
Experience:
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION Knowledge of the English language including reading comprehension, auditory comprehension, speaking, spelling and writing. Language skills are such that the comprehension/production of spoken and written messages enhance the clinic program serviced by the incumbent. Knowledge of and skill in the setup, use and routine maintenance of selected clinical tools to include those used for hearing aid troubleshooting, electroacoustic assessment devices, cerumen management, the otoscopy and ear impression materials and techniques and hearing aid modification equipment. Knowledge of a body of standardized rules and skills sufficient to perform procedures requiring considerable training and experience to carry out and resolve recurring problems. Knowledge of and skill in using the appropriate VISTA packages necessary to complete data entry and workload tracking and transactions in the ROES package. Knowledge of and skill using a variety of computer programs, specifically Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of infection control processes and universal precautions. The incumbent is required to provide appropriate methods and levels of disinfection for the assigned equipment Knowledge of VA policies and regulations. Knowledge of medical terms and clinical procedures. Grade Determinations:
For GS-07:
One (1) year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 Health Technician level in the Federal service is required. Specialized experience is technician experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and ability (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of such experience are:
Taking an ear mold impression; Resetting fitting parameters of programmable hearing aids; Maintains .clinic records; Monitoring and maintaining inventory of instruments; etc Substitution of Education for
Experience:
(If qualifying based on education, applicant must submit copy of transcripts).For GS-7:
Generally not applicable, however Bachelors (BA/BS) in communicative Disorders/Speech & Hearing may be considered. OR, Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS 07 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS 07. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. References:
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https:
//www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS7. Physical Requirements:
Light Lifting (under 15lbs); Light Carrying (under 15lbs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Walking (up to 2 hours); Standing (up to 2 hours); Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted).
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
1) Hearing aid troubleshooting and repairs, tracking of repair items; 2) Hearing aid and earmold certification and tracking; 3) Supply orders and management; 4) Clinic data management and record management for all Clinic staff and students including onboarding for new employees and students The incumbent is responsible for routine repairs of hearing aids delivered or mailed to the Audiology Clinic. During clinic hours, he/she meets with veterans on a one-to-one basis to solve hearing aid problems. In this capacity, the incumbent provides primary level trouble shooting and repair for veterans who are experiencing problems. The ability to succeed in this role requires effective communication with patients who are experiencing communication disorders. Services commonly provided by the Technician include the evaluation of hearing aid function and fit through listening checks, visual inspection, changing of batteries, cleaning of electrical contacts, shell repairs removal of impacted cerumen from the aid, replacing earmold tubing, inspecting and replacing cords and counseling the veteran in optimal use and proper methods of care for the instruments. When it is necessary for a hearing aid to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, the incumbent prepares all necessary paperwork and records and packages and ships the instrument. The incumbent makes appropriate entries in the clinic's record tracking system in order to ensure that the hearing aid is properly tracked during the repair process. ROES Entries:
The incumbent will be responsible for entering ROES orders for hearing aid repairs, batteries and other supplies as necessary. He/she will track and certify hearing aid orders as they are received, as well as taking necessary steps for correcting errors or changes as they occur. Equipment and Supply Management:
The incumbent maintains an adequate supply of materials and other supplies (as requested by Audiology staff) to meet the clinic needs. Maintenance of these materials should be weekly. The technician maintains clinic records in accordance with service line, medical center and VA requirements. The technician ensures that clinic records are current and that reports/information are filed Specialized reports and staff records:
The incumbent performs data management functions that are critical to the delivery of Audiology services. These include the entry of workload information into the QUASAR, collection, tabulation and analysis of the patient data that are used in the clinic's performance improvement program. Data sources may include patient observations and surveys, workload reports, quality assurance measures and reports. Using extracted data, the incumbent creates graphics for reports and presentations using programs such as Excel and PowerPoint. Timekeeping:
Timekeeping duties to enter and post in an accurate and timely fashion all staff tours of duty and pay period entries as well as any other administrative tasks assigned by supervisor. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday 7:
30AM - 4:
00 PM Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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 Policy. English Language Proficiency:
In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. Time-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your education or experience, as described below. Preferred
Experience:
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION Knowledge of the English language including reading comprehension, auditory comprehension, speaking, spelling and writing. Language skills are such that the comprehension/production of spoken and written messages enhance the clinic program serviced by the incumbent. Knowledge of and skill in the setup, use and routine maintenance of selected clinical tools to include those used for hearing aid troubleshooting, electroacoustic assessment devices, cerumen management, the otoscopy and ear impression materials and techniques and hearing aid modification equipment. Knowledge of a body of standardized rules and skills sufficient to perform procedures requiring considerable training and experience to carry out and resolve recurring problems. Knowledge of and skill in using the appropriate VISTA packages necessary to complete data entry and workload tracking and transactions in the ROES package. Knowledge of and skill using a variety of computer programs, specifically Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of infection control processes and universal precautions. The incumbent is required to provide appropriate methods and levels of disinfection for the assigned equipment Knowledge of VA policies and regulations. Knowledge of medical terms and clinical procedures. Grade Determinations:
For GS-07:
One (1) year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 Health Technician level in the Federal service is required. Specialized experience is technician experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and ability (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of such experience are:
Taking an ear mold impression; Resetting fitting parameters of programmable hearing aids; Maintains .clinic records; Monitoring and maintaining inventory of instruments; etc Substitution of Education for
Experience:
(If qualifying based on education, applicant must submit copy of transcripts).For GS-7:
Generally not applicable, however Bachelors (BA/BS) in communicative Disorders/Speech & Hearing may be considered. OR, Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS 07 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS 07. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. References:
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https:
//www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS7. Physical Requirements:
Light Lifting (under 15lbs); Light Carrying (under 15lbs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Walking (up to 2 hours); Standing (up to 2 hours); Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted).
- Department:
0640 Health Aid And Technician - Salary Range:
$47,014 to $61,114 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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