Summary

The incumbent works in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Clinic at the Columbia VA Health Care System and serves under the Supervisory Speech Pathologist or Audiologist with direction from the licensed professional staff (Audiologist or Speech Language Pathologist).

Qualifications

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
• 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: HEALTH TECHNCIAN -AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (HTASLP) - GS-06 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
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• (b) Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families
• (c) Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• (d) Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid - hearing assistive technology and patient care - consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist
• (e) Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures.(f) Ability to document and code patient procedures
• HEALTH TECHNCIAN -AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (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)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to mentor and train new HTASLPs
• (b) Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist - such as evoked potentials
• (c) Ability to identify the diagnosis and dysphagia risk factors in the medical record to assist the SLP
• (d) Ability to identify the components of dysphagia monitoring
• (e) Knowledge of linguistic parameters such as semantic - syntactic and phonological categories - to assist in creating therapeutic stimuli and home programs
• (f) Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology and/or speech-language pathology
• 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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Primary responsibility is for patient care - supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures - patient charting and patient education
• Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties
• Direct patient care duties may include - but not limited to the following: Greeting and escorting patients Provide patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting Non-diagnostic otoscopy
• Cerumen management Taking earmold impressions Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• cochlear implant/BAHA troubleshooting and repair Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers Performing listening checks on hearing aids Electroacoustic analysis of devices
• Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids
• and activating remote controls Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• Ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• Prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory
• The Health Technician assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency - following the audiologist's plan of care
• Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm - M-F Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 61480F/61506F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized