Optometry Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) supports Optometrists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up, and patient counseling. The Health Technician (Optometry) performs a range of standard, but complex, and diagnostic procedures. The Health Technician (Optometry) may perform many "direct patient care services" under the supervision of Optometrists.

Duties

The Health Technician- Optometry will respond to the needs of the staff optometrist or other designated administrative supervisor who will maintain daily supervision and guidance. Independent work is an integral part of the position. The technician plans and carries out examinations in line with training and accepted practices, and independently makes recommendations about clinical situations, procedures, or changes to procedures in some situations. The providers must be able to accept the technician's assessment without rechecking the work. The technician uses methods, recognizes conditions that cause erroneous results or creates dangerous situations, and may independently troubleshoot clinic problems and complex instruments. The technician resolves most differences that arise with patients, coordinates work with others as necessary and interprets policy such is eligibility for prosthetic devices. The optometry technician is ultimately responsible to the Associate Chief of Specialty Care. Clinical Duties: Checks and performs calibration of technical optometric screening instruments. Triages and manage eyeglass issues. Triages and manage optometry clinic issues (measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.) Instills eye drops under the supervision of an optometrist. Verifies eyeglasses, as well as shapes or performs minor repairs as needed. Measures and accurately records visual acuity. Accurately assesses accommodation, near point of convergence, and ocular alignment. Determines a preliminary objective estimate of optical status of the eye (not to include final subjective refraction) Accurately evaluate pupillary light responses and measure pupil size Performs Amsler grid testing. Performs basic tonometry. Estimates anterior chamber depth using a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope. Performs and obtain accurate auto-refraction/keratometry measurements. Performs visual field testing and basic color vision testing. Performs depth perception testing. Performs external photographs and fundus photography. Measures and records corneal thickness, Ex ophthalmometry, tear testing, and ocular imaging. Performs retinal imaging. Performs optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment, retina, and optic nerve. Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions. Enters all consults to orders eyeglasses from Prosthetics to include local and community care orders. Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection, calibration, and maintenance of ophthalmic equipment. Assists with ophthalmic procedures performed by optometrist. Provides advanced patient education for eye and/or vision conditions. Administrative Responsibilities: Assists with management of optometry clinic operations. Acts as a liaison for the optometry clinic with Veterans and other service lines. Maximizes clinic function. Participates in completing projects to improve care or clinic function as assigned. Orders supplies and equipment, obtains quotes as needed. Assists with annual inventory. Reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering. Communicates with patients via phone and secure messaging. Manages voicemails, secure messaging, and faxes. Utilizes electronic health records for documenting Veteran care and workload capture. Quality Management Responsibility: Prepares and readies clinics for inspections. Completes required training and other required trainings assigned by Supervisor. Participates as requested in addressing related complaints/issues. Work Schedule: This is a Part Time Position. Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58621-O, 58622-O, 58623-O, 58624-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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: One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field OR Successful completion of two academic years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related to health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant or associate degree, or completion of an independent study course in an optometry related technician or assistant field OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below: Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge of optometry assistant theory and practices and general understanding of the health technician/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant related courses. Successful completion of a course for health care technicians or assistants, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training in a program given by the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or the U.S. Public Health Service, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis. OR Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of April 9, 2021 the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions Employees who are 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 Health Techs (Optometry) 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 re-entry to the occupation Grade Determinations: Health Technician - Optometry GS-4: Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-5: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws GS-6: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e., eyeglasses prescription) or lensometer findings, including sphere, cylinder and axis 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 Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms GS-7: Experience: One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 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.) Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near) Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions Preferred Experience: One year optometry tech/health tech experience preferred References: VA Handbook 5005/142, Part II, Appendix G68The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 7. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 4 to GS 7. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stopping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, boxes, equipment, and assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity.

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 Sheridan VA Medical Center 1898 Fort Road Sheridan, WY 82801 US
• Name: Maria Romero
• Phone: 970-263-5098
• Email: [email protected]