Health Technician - Hearing Instrument Specialist

Overview

Summary This position is within the Audiology Service at the George

E. Wahlen Medical Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The Health Technician supports clinical programs in Audiology. Primary responsibility is patient care—supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting, and patient education—which does not require a full professional audiology education or licensure. Support functions include direct patient care and administrative duties.

Summary This position is within the Audiology Service at the George

E. Wahlen Medical Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The Health Technician supports clinical programs in Audiology. Primary responsibility is for patient care—supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures—patient charting & patient education—which does not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care & administrative duties.

• Provide patient care support for diagnostic and treatment procedures in Audiology.
• Assist with patient charting and patient education.
• Support functions include direct patient care and administrative duties.
• Assist in setting up and delivering face-to-face and telehealth audiology visits by preparing equipment for patient evaluation and other procedures.
• Assist in daily calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment as needed.
• Assist patients with hearing aid connectivity, including downloading apps, pairing devices, Bluetooth pairing, and pairing hearing aid accessories.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation in the electronic medical record and other tracking systems.
• Maintain stock and supply levels and manage inventory, including RME and consumables.
• Provide triage of patient calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency.
• Support the organization’s workflow to prepare patient equipment and environment for audiology procedures.

• Basic Requirements:
• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy.
• English Language Proficiency:
  Proficient in spoken and written English per 38 U.S.C.
• Experience and
  
  Education:
  
  Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists OR two academic years above high school in related coursework (hearing science, anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology, or other healthcare areas).
• Foreign
  
  Education:
  
  Credits from education outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent by a private organization specializing in foreign credentials interpretation.
• Licensure or Registration:
  Full, current, and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in the applicable jurisdiction.
• Board Certification:
  Active NBC-HIS certification.
• Exception for Non-Board Certified HIS:
  Temporary appointment as a graduate HIS may be granted under 38 U.S.C. authority with supervision by a licensed audiologist.
• Non-board certified individuals may be appointed at entry level (GS-5) and may not be promoted until board certification is obtained.
• Temporary appointments of non-board certified HIS may not be extended beyond two years or converted to another temporary appointment.
• May qualify under the Grandfathering Provision if applicable.
• Grade Determinations: GS-5 requires no additional experience beyond the basic requirements; KSAs include knowledge of head/neck anatomy, infection control, basic computer skills, and communication abilities. GS-6 requires one year of experience at GS-5 level and KSAs including ear anatomy, hearing aids, patient education, triage, and plan-of-care supervision under an audiologist.
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Active NBC-HIS board certification.
• Reference: VA Qualification Standards.
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Frequent bending and lifting up to 50 pounds; ability to work in varying weather; ability to push/pull up to 200 pounds for wheelchair-bound patients; visual and dexterity capabilities for otoscope use.
• Note:
  
  The full performance level is GS-6; actual hiring range is GS-5 to GS-6.

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will…