The Program Coordinator for Ophthalmology in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) supports Ophthalmologists in clinic with diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. The Program Coordinator (Ophthalmology) performs difficult ophthalmic technical duties with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment. The Program Coordinator has full responsibility for scheduling all ophthalmology surgeries for all specialties.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Clinical Responsibilities (75% of time): The Ophthalmology Program Coordinator in a Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) Facility or a facility with a Large Ophthalmology Service has full responsibility for scheduling all ophthalmology surgeries for all ophthalmology specialties, including cataract surgery, retina, glaucoma, cornea, and oculoplastics. This also includes All perioperative concerns and issues Ordering medications Scheduling postoperative return to clinic orders Arranging overnight stays, coordinating 24 hr observations stays, Comanaging preoperative care and referrals with SEU Adding urgent cases on OR schedule vii. Cancelling surgeries Monitoring OR case load, time to book Referrals to social work as appropriate to arranging surgical care Managing Ophthalmology OR schedule for all days of the week Administrative Responsibilities (15%): Managing the day to day activities of the clinic and may supervise all phases of a facility specialty program. Duties include : Promoting health education for patients and staff; Patient care coordination; Managing referrals and consults, Quality improvement activities; Polytrauma liaison for all ophthalmology issues, and participation in and coordination of approved research projects. Assigning and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; Resolving problems which may interfere with patient examination or treatment; Evaluating new products and equipment and making recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations; Making final decisions on selections based on recommendations from subordinate supervisors or leads. Intrafacility, interfacility and interagency coordination of care, triage and coordination of urgent ophthalmic patients xiv. program evaluation and analysis, budgetary issues and planning Assures orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff and maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Plans and develops policies, procedures and goals, and interprets, implements and educates staff on applicable VHA directives, handbooks, or other policies. Overall responsibility for planning, assessing, and evaluating programs to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of healthcare within the facility, or coordination of non-VA care as appropriate Supervisory Responsibilities (10%): Provides technical and administrative supervision to a unit of currently six health technicians and one Lead Health Technician (GS-9),The incumbent authorizes leave and oversees the time and attendance of all staff; Responsible for quarterly skills testing and evaluation of performance of technicians. They will create performance improvement plans to help improve skill sets and recommend remediation or changes of work load based on skill assessment; Supervisory authority to assign work load based on the capability of the technician and the needs of the clinic; Interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointments, promotions, and reassignments to unit positions; identifies and provides for training needs; and finds ways to improve production of increase the quality of work within the clinic area; Oversees/maintains all stock levels of ophthalmic mediations and supplies necessary for the function of the clinic. This includes working with pharmacy to ensure all medications are available to providers on the floor and assisting providers in creating easy access to equipment for minor procedures and lasers; Trains other health technicians, instructs and orients student trainees/new Eye Clinic employees in VA policy, computer usage (with the various order/entry packages), and in utilization of eye clinic equipment; works with Chief of Eye Care to create educational opportunities for the technicians. Collaborates closely with the Chief Nurse, Perioperative Services and Chief of the Eye Care Service, MAS Supervisor, and surgical nurses to assure compliance with all relevant VA directives, handbooks and regulations and to assure good customer service; Familiar with current regulations and guidelines related to Joint Commission requirements, HIPPA compliance, VA Performance Standards, and Advanced Clinical Access guidelines; Monitors clinic flow and activity throughout the day to insure clinic cleanliness and security at all times. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-$:00pm Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. Experience and Education: 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. 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). 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). 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: Health Technician Program Coordinator (Ophthalmology), GS-11: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level. GS-10 level experience includes: Ability to work independently to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within the service; Ability to develop policy, manage equipment requests, and provide workload analysis in Ophthalmology Service; Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team members, managers and other departments; and Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; competency assessments; performance evaluations; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; competency assessments; performance evaluations; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions; Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within service; Advanced understanding of interdisciplinary issues and VA organizational structure to serve as liaison between eye care and other programs that would affect coordination of care, healthcare access, program evaluation, assessment and planning for future needs; and Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders, providers and managers. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. References: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G52 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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 Nebraska-Western Iowa HCS - Omaha 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 US
• Name: Kira Kuhn
• Phone: 3193380581 X636737
• Email: [email protected]