Health Technician (Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology)

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, SC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician supports audiology and speech-language pathology patient care, diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting, and patient education that do not require the full professional education, knowledge, or licensure of an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. The role combines direct patient care with administrative duties and is performed throughout the medical center, including clinical and other patient-care areas. The incumbent works under the Supervisory Speech Pathologist or Audiologist and receives direction from licensed audiology or speech-language pathology staff.

The position follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not eligible for telework and is not a virtual position. The full-performance level is GS-07. The employee may be required to serve a one- or two-year trial period. A pre-employment physical evaluation, background/security investigation, and drug screening for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions are required. Seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA health care personnel.

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 demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the position; or two academic years above high school leading to an associate or bachelor's degree, including at least 12 semester hours in related courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• For GS-07, one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, directly related to the position.
• For GS-07, ability to mentor and train new HTASLPs; prepare patients for advanced audiology testing such as evoked potentials; identify diagnoses and dysphagia risk factors in medical records to assist the SLP; and identify components of dysphagia monitoring.
• For GS-07, knowledge of linguistic parameters such as semantic, syntactic, and phonological categories to assist in creating therapeutic stimuli and home programs, and ability to develop and implement the technician role in a focused audiology and/or speech-language pathology program.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and any required background/security investigation and drug screening.
• Complete required application steps and online assessment, and complete the required onboarding process and identification documentation.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Education used to qualify must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Audiology Technician or Assistant experience.

Responsibilities

• Support patient care and diagnostic and treatment procedures in audiology and speech-language pathology.
• Complete patient charting and provide patient education.
• Perform both direct patient-care and administrative support duties across the medical center's clinical and other patient-care areas.
• Under the direction of licensed audiology or speech-language pathology staff, prepare patients for advanced testing such as evoked potentials.
• Assist speech-language pathologists by identifying diagnoses and dysphagia risk factors in medical records and recognizing components of dysphagia monitoring.
• Help create therapeutic stimuli and home programs using knowledge of linguistic parameters.
• At the GS-07 level, mentor and train new Health Technicians in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (HTASLPs), and develop and implement the technician role in a focused audiology or speech-language pathology program.
• Follow clinic policies and standard operating procedures for infection control and for cleaning, sterilization, and disposition of reusable medical equipment, including endoscopes, as well as radiation safety.
• Address incoming patient devices related to hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, or cognitive-communication devices, and prepare and charge assistive devices for delivery when required.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal employment or military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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