The position Health Technician (Audiology & Speech Language Pathology) (HTASLP) is located in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Service (ASPS), Audiology Section, in the VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS). The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology.

Duties

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 audiology or speech-language pathology licensure. Support functions encompass clinical and administrative duties. Responsibilities include but are not limited to supporting patient care diagnostic and treatment procedures, documenting patient care activities, completing patient education, managing clinical and office supplies, and repairing hearing aids. This position functions at the full performance level for the Health Technician (Audiology & Speech Language Pathology) position. Under supervision of a licensed audiologist or speech-language pathologist, the incumbent performs a full range of duties and is responsible for day-to-day clinical support services of staff speech-language pathologists and audiologists at the assigned location. The incumbent may receive guidance from more experienced staff members and may provide guidance to less experienced staff members but requires minimal direct supervision. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to: Clinical duties include, but are not limited to: - greeting and escorting patients - provides primary level troubleshooting and repair of speech language pathology equipment and assistive communication devices for patients who are experiencing problems. - performs maintenance services for speech pathology equipment and devices, such as changing batteries, sanitizing equipment and replacing broken parts. - maintains clean, disinfected, instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces. Follows SOPs related to infection control and reusable medical equipment (RME). - assists Speech Pathologists during MBSS including providing test foods to patients, positioning and cueing patients, determining patient 02 level via pulse oximetry, etc. - appropriately and effectively sets-up all procedures for completion of modified barium swallow studies (MBSS) including confirming evaluations w/ providers, arranging patient transport, radiology technician scheduling, equipment set-up, suction unit set-up, test food preparation and all other aspects of the procedure. - tears down equipment post MBSS, employs proper sanitizing procedures, properly disposes of barium contrast, monitors barium contrast, test food and accouterment supplies and restocks as needed. - appropriately and effectively sets-up all procedures for completion offiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) including confirming evaluations w/providers, equipment and endoscope set-up, suction unit set-up, test food preparation and all other aspects of the procedure. - learns and employs appropriate RME procedures for pre-cleaning and transport of endoscopes to/from FEES procedure and disinfection post procedure. - assists Speech Pathologist during FEES procedure by assisting with patient instruction and positioning, feeding the patient test foods, saving/storing examination results, breaking down and sanitizing the test area and equipment prior to transport. Administrative duties include, but are not limited to: - managing office supplies - maintaining appropriate levels of clinical supplies in all patient care rooms - managing clinical supplies through Omnicell and quarterly ordering procedures - assuring that all clinical supplies have current use date - tracking loaner stock and hearing aid inventory - verifying order upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly VANCHCS October 2014 - packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories - processing ROES transactions (e.g. certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs) - responding to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions - assisting patients, visitors, and other requesting information - managing infection control and patient safety for the audiology and speech-language pathology clinic - maintaining clean, disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces in the audiology and speech-language pathology clinic - reprocessing reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 4:00PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: HTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 3.Experience and Education: 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 Education: Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position. OR 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. Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date (May 13, 2021) of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. If an HTA who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. HTAs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs Grade Determinations: HTASLP, GS-04 1. Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. 2. Assignment: This is an entry level developmental position. The HTASLP at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist or SLP. The assignment of this position includes but is not limited to assisting the audiologist or SLP with patient assessment and 4 treatment. The health technician will adhere to audiology and speech- language pathology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition of RME and radiation safety. The health technician maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system 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 with regard to date of expiration; maintaining proper levels of mailing and shipping supplies; preparing mailing/shipping requests for items including but not limited to: hearing aid and hearing assistive technology repairs, ear mold orders and return for credit items; and maintaining loaner hearing aid HTASLP, GS-05 1. Experience: One year 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 four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation. 3. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck. (b) Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing. (c) Knowledge of basic hearing technologies and speech-language pathology needs. (d) Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines. (e) Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories. (f) Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing. HTASLP, GS-06 1. 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. 2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy and structures and functions of the oral mechanism. (b) Knowledge of medical terminology as it relates to speech-language pathology and audiology for communication, swallowing impairments and hearing impairments. (c) Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding devices such as hearing aids, hearing assistive technologies, and communication devices for patient care. (d) Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software. (e) Knowledge of prosthetic items and communication devices and supplies commonly prescribed by the speech-language pathology staff and assist with ordering and tracking process. (f) Ability to prepare supplies and equipment for speech, language, voice and/or swallowing evaluation and treatment. (g) Ability to document and code patient procedures. 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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Alina Martinez
• Phone: 916-843-6716
• Email: [email protected]