Health Technician (Audiology & Speech Language Pathology)

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, SC

19d • Onsite

About The Position

Audiology & Speech Pathology is part of the Columbia VA Health Care System and is located at the WJB Dorn Hospital or Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Duties are performed throughout the medical center, including clinical and other patient-care areas served by the service. The Health Technician works under the Supervisory Speech Pathologist or Audiologist and receives direction from licensed Audiologist or Speech Language Pathologist staff. At this level, the incumbent is expected to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology and/or speech-language pathology. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level related to the position; or successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate or bachelor's degree, including at least 12 semester hours in related courses; or a qualifying combination of experience and education.
• Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position.
• For GS-7, ability to mentor and train new HTASLPs.
• For GS-7, ability to prepare patients for advanced audiologist testing procedures, such as evoked potentials.
• For GS-7, ability to identify diagnoses and dysphagia risk factors in medical records to assist the SLP.
• For GS-7, ability to identify components of dysphagia monitoring.
• For GS-7, knowledge of linguistic parameters such as semantic, syntactic, and phonological categories to assist in creating therapeutic stimuli and home programs.
• For GS-7, ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology and/or speech-language pathology.
• Successful candidates must meet applicable education or certification/licensure requirements before hiring.
• Applicants are subject to applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, and drug testing for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions.
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• A 1- or 2-year trial period is required, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Previous Audiology Technician or Assistant experience.

Responsibilities

• Greet and escort patients throughout the facility.
• Triage patients to an audiologist based on the complexity of procedures being completed.
• Set up patients for procedures, including vestibular, neurodiagnostic, and instrumental swallowing evaluations.
• Instruct and counsel patients individually or in groups on hearing loss and hearing aids, diet thickeners, and safe swallowing skills.
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation.
• Perform non-diagnostic otoscopy, cerumen management, and earmold impressions.
• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids; provide basic hearing aid information to patients and caregivers.
• Perform listening checks and electroacoustic analysis of hearing devices.
• Pair hearing aids and accessories using Bluetooth technology, program previously stored settings into hearing aids, and activate remote controls.
• Prepare swallow study materials for instrumental evaluation.
• Develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology and/or speech-language pathology.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on the position type.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree