Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Description
Provide state-of-the-art hearing aids to our members without a hearing aid benefit. This is a fee-for-service offering for our members.
Essential Responsibilities
HEARING AID DISPENSING AND MAINTENANCE. Evaluation and custom fitting patients with amplification. Programming and designing the hearing aid response to match the individual hearing loss. Adjusting and modifying the amplification characteristics as patients acquire experience with amplification and/or developing changing needs. Provide patients with ongoing counseling and hearing aid checks to determine the aide effectiveness. REM as a objective measure of the aids effectiveness. Earmold impressions. Hearing Aid Repairs including replacing battery doors, tubing, and small patching of holes. Grind, buff, and polish the hearing aid to modify it. Fill out repair forms, review hearing aid history and warranty information. HEARING AID EVALUATION AND COUNSELING. Determine clinical candidacy for amplification utilizing objective measurements, evaluation of the patient’s level of motivation and level of acceptance for their hearing problem. By in-depth discussion, provide precise hearing aid information re: types, styles, and costs. Outline the significant and varied technologies in a manner that can be understood by the consumer. AUDIOLOGIC EVALUATIONS. Includes audiometric testing, impedance measurement. Determine status of patient’s hearing abilities, provides information for both physician and patient. CLINIC MANAGEMENT. Responsible for clinical and administrative oversight of dispensing services at the HAC. Helps to determine job duties for reception staff. Management of clinical protocols, product selections, and customer service protocols. Monitors quality assurance issues relating to the practice of audiology and dispensing including compliance with audiology and dispensing laws and ethical codes, ensuring high quality professional standards. DOCUMENTATION. Record test results in charts. Document in chart modifications and adjustments for each hearing aid encounter. Complete programming sheets, delineating the characteristics of the hearing aids response. INVENTORY MANAGEMENT/RECORD KEEPING. Determine the needs for the supply of hearing aids and related materials used in the fitting process. Review invoices for accuracy and log on monthly expense sheet, confirm cost of goods sold for each member. Record hearing aid sales, types, and styles sold on monthly tally sheets. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. Develops new programs and policies for hearing aid dispensing services. Provides new technology updates and shares information for improving hearing aid fitting skills to staff audiologists and physicians. Journal and research article reading and review of related professional reports.
Experience
Basic Qualifications:
Minimum three (3) years of experience in the field of audiology with at least one (1) year of experience in the field of state-of-the-art computerized hearing aid dispensing within the past three (3) years required. The following may substitute: Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.)
EducationMaster’s degree in communication disorders/audiology and completion of a CFY with a passing score on National examinations in Audiology administered by Educational Testing Services.
License, Certification, RegistrationCurrent Oregon Audiology license required upon hire/transfer. National Provider Identifier (NPI) required prior to employment start date.
Additional Requirements:Meeting licensure requirements for continuing education.
Preferred Qualifications:Minimum two (2) years leadership experience preferred. Minimum five (5) years or more of post-licensure experience in the field of state-of-the-art computerized hearing aid dispensing. Includes competency in client consultation, sales, and training for products dispensed at KP HAC. Previous experience in hearing aid center management preferred. Up-to-date skills of cutting edge technological advances in hearing aids followed and implemented. Hearing aid dispensary management capabilities in clinical protocols, product selections, customer service, and audiologist training.
