Audiology Technician

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

Degree: Certificate.

Education: High School diploma or GED equivalent.

Certification: Current certification in the Tri-Service Hearing Technician course or completion of the course within four months after starting employment. American Red Cross or American Heart Association Basic Life Supports (BLS) Certification.

Experience: Experience performing audiometric tests, fitting personnel with hearing protection, presenting hearing safety briefings, scheduling patients for exams, and training personnel on hearing conservation, strongly preferred. Experience using the Defense Occupational and Environmental Readiness System-Hearing Conservation (DOEHRS-HC), preferred. The contract personnel shall have the required education, training, experience and documented current competence in the required specialty position description.

CORE DUTIES 

• Schedules patients and perform hearing tests, otoscopy, earmold impressions, otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing, complete periodic range, hearing protection device fit testing, and unit surveys to ensure proper use of hearing protection and noise abatement strategies. Performs hearing safety briefings.
• Conducts hearing tests in single or multi-person sound booths using DOEHRS-HC.
• Uses the automated system DOEHRS-HC Manager Module to maintain, compare and report hearing readiness, deployment and hearing conservation program data.
• Uses booth less audiometers operated using custom software on tablet-based PCs to conduct hearing tests outside the booth and transfer data to DOEHRS-HC.
• Coordinates hearing conservation activities with Occupational Health personnel, Unit Hearing programs.
• Coordinate coverage, inspect and complete final reports for the Hearing Conservation Program Manager.
• Issues and fits patients/employees with appropriate hearing protection devices.
• Coordinates the maintenance and calibration of DOEHRS-HC equipment and ensures that uploads to the DOEHRS-HC registry are backed-up daily.
• Assists units in the preparation for command inspections. Performs annual unit level educational training. Review after-action reports for shortfalls and non-compliance with regulations.
• Ensure a reporting database is being used to give unit leadership up-to-date information on unit readiness.
• Be available to provide hearing conservation training and earplug fittings at various locations within their local site installation.
• Maintain a level of productivity comparable with that of other individuals performing similar services.
• Participate in peer review and performance improvement activities.
• Practice aseptic techniques as necessary. Comply with infection control guidelines to include the proper handling, storage, and disposal of infectious wastes, and the use of universal precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
• Function with awareness and application of safety procedures.
• Perform efficiently in emergency patient situations following established protocols, remain calm, informing appropriate persons, and documenting events. Anticipate potential problems/emergencies and make appropriate interventions. Notify supervisor, director, or other designated person regarding problems that the HCW is unable to manage.
• Apply an awareness of legal issues in all aspects of patient care and strive to manage situations in a reduced risk manner.
• Participate in the implementation of the Family Advocacy Program as directed. Participation shall include, but not be limited to, appropriate medical examination, documentation, and reporting.
• Exercise awareness and sensitivity to patient/significant others' rights, as identified within the MTF.
• Maintain an awareness of responsibility and accountability for your own professional practice.
• Participate in continuing education to meet own professional growth.
• Attend and/or comply with all annual training classes required by the Command, to include but not limited to online annual training provided by the MTF: disaster training, infection control, Sexual Harassment, Bloodborne Pathogens, Fire and Safety, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE), and all other required training.
• Actively participate in the command’s Performance Improvement Program. Participate in meetings to review and evaluate the care provided to patients, identify opportunities to improve the care delivered, and recommend corrective action when problems exist.
• Participate in the provision of in-service training to clinic staff members. Provide training and/or clinical direction as applicable to supporting government employees (e.g., hospital corpsmen, students, etc.).
• Attend and participate in various meetings as directed.
• Perform timely, accurate, and concise documentation of patient care.
• Operate and manipulate automated systems such as CHCS, AHLTA, ADS, Essentris, MHS Genesis, and Clinical Information System (CIS), participate in clinical staff Performance Improvement (PI) and Risk Management (RM) functions, as prescribed by the Commander. Maintain DOD email account as directed. The HCW shall be responsive to all email and voicemail communications.
• Exercise appropriate delegation of tasks and duties in the clinical direction and coordination of health care team members, patient care, and clinic activities.
• Maintain documentation of all treatment provided in accordance with clinic directives and prepare such records and reports as may be required. All records and reports must be legible. Abbreviations must be only those listed in local instructions.

TRAINING 

Orientation and training shall consist of Command Orientation and Information Systems Orientation. Command orientation of up to 40 hours includes annual online training requirements for topics such as but not limited to fire, safety, infection control, family advocacy, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive Events (CBRNE) Basic Awareness, and various Navy required online trainings. Information Systems Orientation of approximately 24 hours includes the Composite Health Care System (CHCS), Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA), and the Ambulatory Data System (ADS). In addition, HCWs identified as CHCS and/or AHLTA Super-users shall undergo an additional 8 hours of information systems orientation. Additional training for MHS Genesis as required with software updates.

Attend all required trainings to obtain the Tri-Service Hearing Technician Certification to perform the tasks and duties as described in the Audiology Technician position description. Travel expenditures directly related to training are reimbursable in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations.

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