Health Technician (Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbia, SC invites applications for a Health Technician (Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Support). The role supports patient care and administrative tasks in the audiology/SLP clinic, under supervision of a licensed professional.

Qualifications include experience or education in health-related fields, with specific pathways outlined by the VA. The position emphasizes infection control, patient preparation for testing, and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level in related duties.
• Education path includes two academic years above high school or an associate degree with health-related coursework.
• Experience/education combinations are qualifying.

Responsibilities

• Handle incoming devices from patients with hearing aids, assistive tech, or cognitive-communication devices and prepare/charge devices as needed.
• Adhere to infection control, cleaning, sterilization, and disposal procedures including endoscopes and radiation safety.

Skills

Patient care support

Infection control procedures

Education

Two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree with at least 12 semester hours in health-related courses

Job description

Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education, which do not require a full professional audiology or speech-language pathology education or knowledge and skills represented by licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties. 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.

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 least12 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.

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

incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids, hearing assistive technology or cognitive-communication devices; and preparing and charging, if required, assistive devices for delivery. The health technician adheres to the audiology and speech- language pathology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition RME including endoscopes and radiation safety.

HTASLP, GS-07

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 (KSAs).

• (a)Ability to mentor and train new HTASLPs.
• (b)Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performedby the audiologist, such as evoked potentials.
• (c)Ability to identify the diagnosis and dysphagia risk factors in themedical record to assist the SLP.
• (d)Ability to identify the components of dysphagia monitoring.
• (e)Knowledge of linguistic parameters such as semantic, syntactic andphonological categories, to assist in creating therapeutic stimuli andhome programs.
• (f)Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program ina focused area of audiology and/or speech-language pathology.

Assignment.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The HTASLP works under the direction of a licensed audiologist or SLP.

Preferred Experience:

Audiology Technician or Assistant experience.

Reference:

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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).