The Health Technician (Optometry) provides care in the Optometry Clinic located at the Central Alabama Health Care System, and is assigned to the Acute Care and Specialties Service Line at any of the Optometry Clinic locations. The primary purpose of the position is to provide outpatient Optometry services for Veteran patients in the Acute Care and Specialty clinical service.

Duties

Obtains, documents and records ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note Practices basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting Follows eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures Provides patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions Accurately enters into phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription or lensometer findings Performs patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, as well as, ability to transpose sphere, cylinder, and axis Provides basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests Maintains ophthalmic supplies and medications in the eye clinic Determines preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction Triages and manages eyeglass issues Performs accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near) Assists the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures Assists with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears Provides advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions Measures and records visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated), including any specialized visual acuity measurements Evaluates pupillary light responses and measure pupil size Determines the presence or absence of gross binocular vision Performs Amsler grid testing, administers eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist), performs basic tonometry and estimate the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope Properly reads a basic spectacle prescription using an automated or manual lensometer, obtaining accurate autorefractometry and keratometry measurements, performing confrontation and standard automated visual field testing and administering and scoring basic color vision tests Measures and records corneal thickness by pachymetry as well as performance of advanced corneal measurements, exophthalmometry, tear testing and ocular imaging Follows VA directives and polices and maintains a current BLS certification Possesses computer skills to access and input typed data on each patient into the computerized patient record system (CPRS) Attends mandatory trainings, such as, VA Voices, Own the Moment Complies with requirements in the specialty of Optometry, and must complete the required Talent Management System (TMS) courses timely Must be aware and compliant of VA SAIL metrics and VA Performance Measures Other duties may be assigned as needed by the Chief of Optometry, Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Acute Care & Specialties and/or Chief of Staff Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Functional Statement #50720 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (Optometry) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Experience and Education: Must meet one of the following experience and/or education requirements: 1. Experience: One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or health technician, OR 2. Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, OR 3. Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below:(a) Six months of experience in the healthcare field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; or(b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-04: Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-05: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-4. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function. (b) Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note. (c) Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting. (d) Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures. (e) Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws. GS-06: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-5. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions, to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) care. (b) Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the auto-refractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e., eyeglasses prescription) or lensometer findings, including sphere, cylinder and axis. (c) Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frame, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near) and proper segment height determination, as well as the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder and axis. (d) Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests. (e) Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms. GS-07: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level GS-6. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction. (b) Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g., measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.). (c) Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near). (d) Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures. (e) Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears. (f) Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions. Preferred Experience: One year of Optometric experience in a clinical setting. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. References: VA Handbook 5005/142 Part II Appendix G68

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 Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery 215 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36109 US
• Name: Reginald Young
• Phone: 704-638-9000
• Email: [email protected]