The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) assists ophthalmology staff by obtaining an accurate medical and ophthalmic history, measuring and recording visual acuity, administering anesthetic eye drops, performing basic tonometry, estimating the anterior chamber depth and recording a simple spectacle reading through automated lensometry.

Duties

Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs limited routine assignments under daily direct supervision. Deviations from unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or help. He/she obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and glucose levels. The incumbent participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory educational in-services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team and morale improvement. If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply CBST-12189475-24-TB Duties include but are not limited to: Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, & glucose levels. Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory education in -services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team morale improvement. Facilitates completion of telehealth patient encounter (asynchronous and/or synchronous) overseen by an Optometrist and/or Ophthalmologist. Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmic screening instruments. Obtains 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 genera; social history; and review of medication and allergies; including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medications. Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with and without a pinhole. Performs basic tonometry. Administers anesthetic eye drops. Estimates the anterior chamber depth. Records a simple spectacle reading through automated lensometry. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 502-00494-F / 502-00495-F / 502-00496-F / 502-00497-F EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Experience and Education: (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician. OR (2) 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 (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. 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). Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Ophthalmology) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) that provides care under the supervision of an Ophthalmologist. The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified. 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: GS5 (Entry Level): Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS6 (Developmental Level): Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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 4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). GS7 (Developmental Level): Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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 5. Ability to provide eye care patient education (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). GS8 (Full Performance Level): Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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 7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Preferred Experience: 5 Years as a Certified Eye Health Technician References: VA Handbook 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: May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.

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 Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 US
• Name: Teri Bankhead
• Phone: 2057719942
• Email: [email protected]