Health Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists and Optometrists in the eye clinic as part of the Surgical Care Line (SCL) providing a wide variety of detailed clinical and technical work.

Duties

The Health Technician, GS-6 operates commonly used equipment performing basic test and procedures. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems, complex patients and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or assistance. Some assignments at this level include developmental duties involving more complex procedures performed under supervision. The Health Technician will use a multidisciplinary approach to patient care working with Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, residents, students, other technicians, nurses, MSAs, other staff within the hospital setting to provide coordinated, patient centric, quality care. Clinical Responsibilities: Obtains basic medical and ophthalmic history, Measures and records visual acuity, Administers anesthetic eye drops, Performing basic tonometry (NCT and tonopen), Estimates the anterior chamber depth Records a simple spectacle reading through automated and manual lensometry. Performs basic automated visual field testing. Performs basic fundus photography of the posterior pole. Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina and optic nerve. The Health Technician, GS-7 performs a range of diagnostic and therapeutic tasks utilizing various ophthalmic equipment and instruments. The Health Technician will use a multidisciplinary approach to patient care working with Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, residents, students, other technicians, nurses, MSAs, other staff within the hospital setting to provide coordinated, patient centric, quality care. Clinical Responsibilities: Triages patient phone calls or urgent walk ins in conjunction with a provider; Ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies; Educates and instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions; Accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses; Administers eye drops including drops to dilate the pupils; Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, and axis; Performs autorefraction. Assists during minor ophthalmic surgical procedures and is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control procedures. The Full Performance Health Technician, GS-8 performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic and therapeutic tasks. The health technician assures efficient processes are in place for patient flow, clinical efficiencies, and patient satisfaction as developed by the Ophthalmology and Optometry Program Directors. The Health Technician will use a multidisciplinary approach to patient care working with Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, residents, students, other technicians, nurses, MSAs, other staff within the hospital setting to provide coordinated, patient centric, quality care. Clinical Responsibilities: Performs equipment inventory to maintain proper stock of exam room and clinic supplies. Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical history; family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies, including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medications. Accurately measures visual acuity at distance and near with and without a pinhole. Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder. Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation. Instills eye medications (drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, cycloplegic drops, or antibiotics). Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry. Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or corneal topography to determine corneal curvature. Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master. Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve. Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions. Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including but not limited to intra-vitreous injections and laser surgical procedures. Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions.. Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection following manufacturer's instructions and RME policies. Calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. b. English Language Proficiency. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d). c. Experience and Education (1) Experience. Six months of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician. OR (2) Education. One year above high school. OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces; or (c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting. d. Certification. All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). The COA certification is JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology). Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Ophthalmology) with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Credentials. A Health Technician (Ophthalmology) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirements. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) 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. (2) Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who were 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. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of the qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to 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 REQUIREMENTS: Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; 2. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; 3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting; 4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology; 5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye; 6. Knowledge of optics; and 7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment. Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-7 (Developmental Level 2) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology; 2. Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment; 3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing; 4. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting; and 5. Ability to provide eye care patient education. Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-6 (Developmental Level 1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment; 2. Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record; 3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment; and 4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment. References: VA Handbook 5005 /98, Part II, Appendix G52

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Brittaney Parks
• Phone: 361-277-5288
• Email: [email protected]