Summary
The Health Technician Audiology (HTA) assists the staff audiologists in meeting the clinical needs of the patient population served in the Audiology Clinic. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties. This position is located in one of our CBOCs in Salem, Oregon.
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Duties
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Duties and Responsibilities: The HTA functions as a member of the Audiology staff to provide healthcare support. Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting, and patient education, which do not require the full professional education or knowledge and skills represented by Audiology licensure. The HTA is required to interact directly with veteran patients and their families in a variety of ways and settings. Direct patient care duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Greeting, escorting, and assisting walk-in patients or others requesting information at the Audiology Clinic
- Triaging patients to an audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed
- Patient set up for procedures and interventions (e.g., general diagnostics, vestibular, and neurodiagnostic procedures, implant and hearing aid programming)
- Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation
- Performing non-diagnostic otoscopy
- Taking earmold impressions
- Educating/counseling patients and caregivers on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting
- Hearing aid listening checks, troubleshooting, cleaning, and repair
- Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology; activating remote controls
- Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids; Electroacoustic analysis of hearing aid devices
- Ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions and encounters in the electronic medical record
Administrative duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Scheduling appointments to maximize clinic availability
- Managing office supplies
- Performing transactions using the Remote Order Entry System (e.g. certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs)
- Maintaining inventory and status of all new and repaired hearing aids awaiting scheduling. This includes verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly
- Tracking loaner stock hearing aid inventory
- Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories
- Responding to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions
- Management of infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the Audiology Clinic
- Maintenance of clean, disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces in the Audiology Clinic based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm, PST
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending, and carrying light items such as incoming mail, papers or supplies. Occasionally a piece of equipment may need to be moved. A significant amount of walking is also required to interact with patients and other services. The work requires recurring use of tools and equipment related to audiology procedures and hearing aid services.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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.
Basic Requirements:
- Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
- English 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 Education:
- 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 filled. OR
- 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. OR
- Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An 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 industry.
- Grandfathering Provisions: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including position education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
- They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
- If an HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
- HTAs, HTSLPs or HTASLPs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
- Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Qualifications for GS-04
- Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
- Assignment. This is an entry level developmental position. The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist. The assignment of this position includes but is not limited to assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment. The health technician must adhere to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition of reusable medical equipment (RME). The health technician maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items; ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks; prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration; maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies; preparing mailing and shipping requests for items including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology repairs, ear mold orders and return for credit items; and maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory.
Qualifications for GS-05
- Experience. One year 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. OR
- Education. Successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation. AND
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities(KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck.
- Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing.
- Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies.
- Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.
- Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories.
- Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing.
- Assignment. This is a developmental position. The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to answering and screening calls from patients regarding audiology needs; assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment; assisting with walk-in 6 appointments; processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology; and preparing and charging (if required) hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery. The health technician must adhere to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition of RME. The health technician maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system to include: monitoring stock of RME and consumable items; ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks; prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration; maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies; preparing mailing and shipping requests for items including but not limited to: hearing aid and hearing assistive technology repairs, ear mold orders and return for credit items; and maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory.
Qualifications for GS-06: See Education Tab.
Preferred Experience: Working experience with hearing aides.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06
Education
Qualifications for GS-06
- Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
- Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families.
- Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
- Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid, hearing assistive technology and patient care, consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist.
- Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures.
