Hearing Instrument Specialist Apprentice, Ent Inst. Mcallen

DHR Health - US:TX:Edinburg - Days

Summary:

FLSA STATUS: Exempt Non-Exempt

MISSION STATEMENT:

Our Mission is to improve the well-being of those we serve with a commitment to excellence: every patient, every encounter, every time.

VISION:

Our Vision is to create a world-class health system to advance medicine and increase access for the communities we serve by empowering caregivers to heal through compassion, knowledge, innovation, integrated care and excellence.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Hearing Instrument Specialist Apprentice is responsible for the identification and rehabilitation of hearing impairment including determining the appropriateness and benefits of amplification. Also, provides basic audiometric testing. The Hearing Instrument Specialist counsel patients regarding their results and reviews options that best meets their hearing care needs. Performs hearing aid testing, selection, and fitting to all populations. Reviews pricing and sale of hearing aids as a part of the patient education.

POSITION EDUCATION/ QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or GED, prefer an AAS in Hearing Instrument Specialist or Hearing Instrument Specialist licensure as required by state law. Must have successfully completed the state licensing requirements to be deemed a Hearing Instrument Fitter/Dispenser.

• Must hold a current temporary training permit

• Must have completed the supervised practicum

• You have successfully met the examination requirements

• An apprentice permit holder shall work under the direct or indirect supervision of an eligible supervisor for at least one year

• Excellent interpersonal skills that allow effective working relationships with a diverse customer, colleague, and vendor population. This includes listening, sales, and problem solving skills.

• Strong keyboard/computer/Audiology diagnostic and hearing aid software and equipment experience.

• Must be able to organize time and prioritize numerous duties within strict deadlines.

• Requires the ability to deal with numerous interruptions.

• Must deal with customers in a caring and respectful manner.

• Must be detailed oriented.

Responsibilities:

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Administers Test

• Conducts air and bone conduction threshold measurements

• Performs standard audiometric testing as required by state law

• Obtains Speech Reception Thresholds (SRT)

• Establishes Most Comfortable Listening Level (UCL/LDL)

• Uses speech masking

• When applicable performs advanced diagnostic testing

• Coordinates and interprets test results

• Completes chart notes for each patient seem and sends written reports to referring physician and primary care physician

Manages Hearing Rehabilitation

• Counsels patients regarding test results.

• Reviews and recommends products for hearing care options.

• Thoroughly explain the actual and realistic expected results and capabilities of the hearing instrument in restoration of the patient’s hearing.

• Provides hearing aid dispensing, including selection, fitting, ear-mold acoustics, ongoing management with follow-up, and education.

• Demonstrates and sells Assisted Listening Devices (ALD’s), batteries, and other special products.

• Refers patients to appropriate medical professionals as needed.

Provides Appropriate Validation and Verification of Hearing Aids

• Follows correct and timely fitting protocols

• Performs appropriate patient counseling

Miscellaneous Duties

• Performs front office/desk duties on an as needed basis.

• Performs hearing aid repairs.

• Performs hearing aid checks and cleaning.

• Aware of and supportive of marketing activities.

• Responsible for revenue and margin outcomes.

• Assists customers with exchanges or returns as needed.

• Involved in clinical quality outcomes, including efficiency and productivity.

• Provides excellent customer service and maintains good public relations.

• Performs all other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

• Follows good safety and infection control protocols.

• Exercises confidentiality relating to patient and business information.

• Work may require sitting for long periods of time, and also stooping, bending and stretching for files and supplies. Employee will occasionally be asked to lift items weighing up to 30 pounds. Position requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, operate a computer, telephone, calculator, copier and such other office equipment if necessary, along with handling hearing instruments. Position also requires viewing computer screens, typing for long periods of time, and working in an environment which can be very stressful.

Other information:

LINES OF REPSONSIBILITIES:

(Chain-of-command)

1. Office Manager 2. Director 3. Chief Ambulatory Officer

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

Provide excellent customer service to all DHR customers. All employees are required to attend the DHR C.A.R.E.S program which outlines the Customer Service Principals including: Commitment, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Service.

AGE SPECIFIC:

Employees must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirement relative to his or her age.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: (ADA):

A. Essential Duties: Indicated by bold print within performance standards, preceding individual numbered criteria.

The following table provides physical requirements that will be associated with, but not limited to, this position:

B. Working Conditions: Work is performed in a laboratory and exam room area, and involves frequent contact with patients. Work may be stressful at times. The employee must be comfortable asking patients for money. Interaction with others is constant and interruptive. The individual spends over 95% of his/her time in an air-conditioned environment with varying exposures to noise. There is protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes. The position does have low exposure to malodorous, infectious body fluids from patients and some minimal exposure to noxious smells from cleansing agents.

C. Occupational Exposure: This position has minimal to no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues and is an OSHA Category III (although situations can be imagined or hypothesized under which anyone, anywhere, might encounter potential exposure to body fluids). Person who performs these duties are not called upon as part of their employment to perform or assist in emergency medical care or first aid or to be potentially exposed in some other way.

D. Aptitudes: HIGH 1 2 3 4 5 6 LOW

Intelligence: General learning ability: The ability to “catch on” or understand instructions and underlying principles. Ability to reason and make judgments. 3

Verbal: Ability to understand meanings of words and ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively. To comprehend language, to understand relationships between words, and to understand meanings of whole sentences and paragraphs. To present information or ideas clearly. 3

Numerical: Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately. 2

Spatial: Ability to comprehend forms in space and understands relationships of plane and solid objects. Frequently described as the ability to “visualize” objects or two or three dimensions, or to think visually of geometric forms. 2

Form Perception: Ability to perceive pertinent details and objects or in pictorial or graphic material to make visual comparisons and discriminations and see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines. 3

Clerical Perception: Ability to receive pertinent details and verbal or tabular material. To observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetic computation. 2

Motor Coordination: Ability to coordinate eyes and hands to fingers rapidly and accurately in making precise movements with speed. Ability to make a movement response accurately and quickly. 3

Finger Dexterity: Ability to move hands easily and skillfully. To work with fingers in placing and turning motions. 3

Manual Dexterity: Ability to move hands easily and skillfully. To work with hands in placing and turning motions. 3

Eye-Hand-Foot Coordination: Ability to move the hand and foot coordinately with each other in accordance with visual stimuli. 3

Color Discrimination: Ability to perceive and respond to similarities or differences in colors, shapes, or other values of the same or different color. To identify a particular color, or to recognize harmonious or contrasting color combinations, or to match color adequately. 3

I have read and reviewed my job description with my supervisor or designee and I understand the job I am expected to perform.

If applicable ____________ certification will be completed within _________ time frame of hire/transfer date.

Employee Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____________________

Transfer/Hire Date Effective: ________________________.