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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Health Technician (Audiology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298

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Health Technician (Audiology)

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided pay range This range is provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range $56,584.00/yr - $73,563.00/yr

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the Jamaica Plains - MA campus. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

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

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: HTA - HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by38 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

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

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

Certification: Not required at the GS-07 level

Grandfathering Provision: 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 GS 6 Health Technician Audiology: 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: 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

Ability to document and code patient procedures

Ability to mentor and train new HTAs

Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist - such as evoked potentials

Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology

Preferred Experience: Audiology Health Technician or Audiology Assistant

References: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work include: use of fingers and manipulation of small items - good dexterity (both hands required)

ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously

ability to see and read small numbers from hearing devices - ability to distinguish basic colors

hearing (aid permitted)

speed in working

and emotional stability.

Duties

Direct patient care duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Greeting and escorting patients

Triaging patients to an audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed

Patient set up for advanced diagnostic procedures (e.g. - vestibular - neuro diagnostic procedures (evoked potentials) - telehealth procedures)

Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting

Non-diagnostic otoscopy

Cerumen management

Taking earmold impressions

Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair

Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers

Performing listening checks on hearing aids

Electroacoustic analysis of devices

Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology

Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids

Other duties may include - but are not limited to: Incumbent plans - coordinates and implements the audiologic rehabilitation one-to-one and group focused programs for the Audiology service under the direction and supervision of a licensed audiologist

Properly utilizes an otoscope in performance of non-diagnostic otoscopy

Demonstrates knowledge of the basic anatomy of the external ear and external auditory canal

Ability to observe the difference between normal and abnormal

Possesses basic knowledge of instruments used in tests and procedures

Possesses basic knowledge in electronics required to troubleshoot hearing aids and assistive listening devices

Demonstrates knowledge and experience in appropriate handling - troubleshooting and modification of hearing aids Adapts procedure to accomplish care where guidelines of the position do not apply

Performs impressions of the ear and invasive procedures such as cerumen management when necessary and assesses appropriateness in physical fit of technology

Possesses ability to independently provide in-depth training - handle complexity and a range of variety in education and instruction to patients and family members in a one-to-one or group setting under the direction of a supervising audiologist to optimize rehabilitative and health outcomes and establish realistic expectations for patients utilizing amplification - assistive listening devices and accessories

Incumbent teaches patients and family members on proper health care strategies including use - care - and maintenance of amplification devices and accessories

Proper ear hygiene and demonstrates alerting and assistive listening devices

Work Schedule: Full time - Monday - Friday-Hours to be determined at interview

Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Position Title/Functional Statement #:Health Technician (Audiology)/PDF03294 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 experience

Parental 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 child

Child 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 $416.66

Retirement: 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)

Notifications: This is a NOT Bargaining Unit position

Position is in the Excepted Service

Current federal employees must submit copies of their most recent non-award SF50 (notice of personnel action)

The SF50 must identify the position - title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted)

In some cases - more than one SF50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held

This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay

The incumbent may be required to travel to other Boston VA campuses and CBOC's

Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Seniority level Mid-Senior level

Employment type Full-time

Job function Health Care Provider

Industries: Government Administration

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