As part of the Surgical Service, the incumbent will independently perform diagnostic tests as a clinical service to physicians and provide them with technical information that will be used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in patients. The incumbent provides patient education, and acts as a liaison and information source for nursing staff, clerical staff, and medical staff. Incumbent must possess an understanding of the anatomy & physiology of the eye, disorders associated with them.

Duties

Major duties of this position include responsibility for day-to-day activity of Ophthalmology/Optometry clinics and other duties as assigned. Major Duties: Triaging; Present illness; past ocular and otolaryngology history including prior surgeries, laser trauma; Family history (glaucoma, macular degeneration); Systemic history (diabetes, autoimmune disease that affects the eye); Allergies, Ocular medications. Must possess skill/knowledge needed for conducting following exams; distance and near visual acuity, refraction, manual and automatic lens meter, schemer test, pupil evaluation, anterior chamber depth, tonometry, ocular motility, muscle balance, cover uncover test, position of gaze, steropsis, near point convergence and accommodation, fusion, confrontational visual field, tangent screen, exophthalmometry measurement, color testing, acuity testing by potential acuity meter, amsler grid testing, somnoplasty, laryngoscopy, cautery, esophageal bougies, and irrigation trays. Responsible for starting IVFAs for doctors to administer medication. Response for OM Eye Screenings. Needs the skills and knowledge to provide instruction of patients in the proper method of contact lens insertion, removal and care; assisting the Ophthalmologist/Optometrist in the fitting and modification of the contact lenses. Coordinate appointments and monitors for completion/reporting of outpatient testing associated with Pre-Surgical evaluation, Vascular lab, Diabetic Eye Screening, and Visual Field studies. The incumbent may be called upon to work in other areas of Surgery Service (i.e. Podiatry, Urology, General Surgery, Vascular, and Operating Room) as a floater in cases where there is a shortage of personnel due to scheduled leave or unscheduled leave. Performs highly skilled exams utilizing several ophthalmic/optometric instruments. Must possess experience and thorough knowledge in utilization of instruments. Administer eye drops, ointments and other medications as needed for preparation of patients for examination and/or testing. Needs skills to assist in patient care of changing dressings. Communicate to the patient their therapeutic regimen as prescribed by the clinic doctors. This may require consultation with family members as well. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Health Technician, Surgical Eye Clinics 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). Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointment 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. This exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade level at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified. Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in the VHA as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirements. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply; Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who were 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. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of the qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) 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 if re-entry to the occupation. 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 (Ophthalmology) GS-5 (Entry Level) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Health Technician (Ophthalmology) 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 all of 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. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment. Health Technician (Ophthalmology) 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 all of 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. Ability to provide eye care patient education. Health Technician (Ophthalmology) 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 all of the following KSAs for the GS-8 grade level: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-52 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: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonger 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. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Martinsburg VA Medical Center 510 Butler Avenue Martinsburg, WV 25405 US
• Name: Carrie Trenary
• Phone: 304-268-7780
• Email: [email protected]