Health Technician -Audiology

SummaryThis position is located within the Salt Lake City VAMC - Audiology Service. The position is physically located at the Ogden - Utah CBOC. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology.Qualifications* This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 14 - 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 10 - 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled 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 PolicyEnglish Language Proficiency: HTA - HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)Experience and/or Education(1) Experience: Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filledOR (2) Education: Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position(TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED IF SELECTING THIS OPTION) OR (3) Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifyingAn example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industryOR (4) Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs(TRANSCRIPTS AND EDUCATION EQUALIVENCY ARE REQUIRED IF SELECTING THIS OPTION) May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)Grade Determinations: HTA GS-7 ExperienceCompletion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filledIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): (a) Ability to mentor and train new HTAs(b) Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist - such as evoked potentials(c) Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiologyPreferred Experience: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower gradeReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work in volves long periods of moving about the work unitThe work requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - lifting - and repositioning and transferring patientsIncumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative - secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disordersThe incumbent must be a mature - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - demonstrating cheerfulness - compassion - courtesy - and concernMust be quick and dependable in taking emergency action in using initiative to prevent accidents.DutiesResponsible primarily for the patient care - supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures - patient charting and patient education - which do not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by Audiology LicensuresSupports functions include both direct patient care and administrative dutiesGreets and escorts patientsPatient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group settingConducts hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretationNon-diagnostic otoscopyCerumen managementTaking earmold impressionsHearing aid troubleshooting and repairProvides basic hearing aid information for patients and caregiversPerforms listening checks on hearing aidsElectroacoustic analysis of devicesPairs hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technologyProgramming previously stored settings into hearing aidsActivating remote controlsResponsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interaction in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES Manages office suppliesTracks loaner stock hearing aid inventoryElectronic orders - verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctlyPlaces RTC orders for appointmentsPackages and mails hearing aids and accessoriesProcesses ROES transactions (e.g. - certifying and issuing hearing aids - entering orders and repairs)Responds to routine inquiries from patients - including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questionsAssists patients - visitors - and other requesting informationManagement of infection control - patient safety - and clinical supplies for the audiology clinicMaintenance of lean - disinfected instrumentation - equipment - and work surfaces in the Audiology clinicReprocesses reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policiesResponsible for planning and carrying out the assignment - resolving most of the conflicts that arise - coordinating the work with other as necessary and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectivesResponsible for carrying out the assignment under the direct supervision of the Supervising AudiologistCompleted work is reviewed by the supervising AudiologistWork Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experienceParental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a childChild Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 52076-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized