Job Description

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology Section of the Durham VA HealthCare System in Durham, North Carolina. The duties and responsibilities are to be 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.

Overview

• Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

07/24/2023 to 08/14/2023

Salary

$43,778 - $56,908 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 6

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

No

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent -

Work schedule

Full-time -

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Drug test

Yes

Position sensitivity and risk

Trust determination process

Announcement number

CBTA-12062265-23-KLL

Control number

738947600

This job is open to

Videos

Duties

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Primary responsibility is for 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 licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care (face to face and telehealth) and administrative duties.

Direct patient care duties may include, but not limited to the following:

• Greeting and escorting patients;
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting;
• Non-diagnosticotoscopy;
• Limited 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 Bluetoothtechnology;
• Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids;
• Activating remote controls;
• Staff the audiology phone triage line;
• Other duties as assigned.

The incumbent is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES.

Administrative duties may include, but not limited to, the following:

• Managing office supplies;
• Tracking loaner stock hearing aid inventory;
• Electronic ordering, verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly;
• Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories;
• Copying/reproducing patient education materials;
• Clinical outcome data entry;
• Processing ROES transactions (e.g. certifying hearing aids, entering orders and repairs);
• Certifying and issuing assistive devices (e.g., remotes, Bluetooth accessories, etc.);
• Responding to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions;
• Assisting patients, visitors, and others requesting information;
• Scheduling and managing secure messaging when directed by supervisor;
• 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, reprocessing reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies.
• All duties performed according to established protocols, guidelines, SOPs, and directives.

Requirements

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.
• Experience and Education: Do you posses the required education and/or experience for this position?(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 filled.
• OR
• (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.
• OR
• (3) 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.
• 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:

• (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
• (b) Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families.
• (c) Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
• (d) 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.
• (e) Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures.
• (f) Ability to document and code patient procedures.

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)

References: VA Handbook 5005/143 PART II APPENDIX G70

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: .

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

• Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .

Federal government of the United States