Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) perform functions such as technical clinical care to patients who have received care provided by Ophthalmologists for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems, complex patients, and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or assistance.

Duties

The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of the GS-8. At the entry level GS-5, GS-6 (developmental level), and GS-7 (developmental level 2) grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of the GS-8. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and the availability of funds. Clinical Responsibilities: Triages patient phone calls or requests; Check and perform calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments. Obtain patient physical history to include chief complaint reason for visit, pertinent signs and symptoms, current medication allergies, past ocular and general medical history, both ocular and general family history, both ocular and general social history, and review of medications and allergies including current ocular prescriptions and non-prescription medications. Accurately test visual acuity at distance and near with and without correction or with and without a pinhole. Measure eyeglass prescriptions using a manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder. Perform pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation. Perform swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect. Instill eye medications. Measure intraocular pressure with standard techniques. Perform pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature. Perform intraocular lens calculation. Perform automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. Perform external photographs and fundus photography. Perform optical coherence tomography. Perform patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions. Assist during clinic based ophthalmic surgery, including revision of wounds, biopsies of eyelid lesions, culture of conjunctiva or cornea, reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphema, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intra-vitreous injections, and laser surgical procedures. Schedule patient appointments, testing, procedures, and consults. Complete appropriate paperwork and computer entries. Ensure availability of medications, supplies, and equipment in a clinic area. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm 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 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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: A. United States Citizenship: You must be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) B. English 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. Education/or Experience: Experience: One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician. OR; Education: Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree. OR; Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below: Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school. OR; 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; Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting. NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts. 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. Select the option that best describes your education and/or experience requirement. 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. Grandfathering Provision: 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: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements. GS-5 (Entry Level): Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-6 (Developmental Level 1): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment. Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record. Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment; and Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment. GS-7 (Developmental Level 2): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology. Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment. Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting; and Ability to provide eye care patient education. GS-8 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye. Knowledge of optics. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment. Preferred Experience: Two-years experience as an Ophthalmology Technician; Certification preferred but not required to be hired. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G52 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System 975 Kirman Avenue Reno, NV 89502 US
• Name: Mari Hartman
• Email: [email protected]