Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. At the Advanced Level, Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs difficult ophthalmic technical duties with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at the advanced level performs difficult ophthalmic technical duties with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment. In addition to the duties expected of the GS-8 level, the following clinical duties and responsibilities are expected at the GS-9 Advanced Telemedicine Technician assignment: a. Ability to educate patients about specific ocular disease processes once diagnosis provided by the provider. b. Understanding of advanced ocular diagnostics including OCT, fundus photographs, HVF, image middleware systems (e.g. Forum) and how the equipment/images are transferred across the network to Vista Imaging. c. Ability to review medical records and triage patients to the appropriate eye care delivery model including, but not limited to, telemedicine appointments, in-person comprehensive eye appointment, subspecialty eye appointment, and community care. d. Ability to triage patient issues over the phone and identify the correct eye care delivery method that the patient should utilize. e. Facilitate interactions between community care, non-eye providers, and eye providers (both telemedicine and in-person), and the patient. f. Serve as a backup technician to work up telemedicine patients to maintain access if there is a need. g. Performs thorough preparatory cleaning of ocular imaging equipment and critical reusable medical equipment used in eye telemedicine sites. h. Responsible for assessing competency and performing training of other eye telemedicine technicians at the local, regional, and national level. i. Assist in implementation of eye telemedicine sites across the nation with regard to image workflow and connection of cameras to the VA network. j. Perform site visits to implementing eye telemedicine site across the country to build relationships with the local staff, especially community care staff. k. Receive and appropriately triage CPRS alerts and notify providers of the alerts that require their attention. l. Promote the reading workflow of the eye providers, including, but not limited to, registering patients in CPRS for reading, connecting providers to patients, connecting providers to community care team or outside providers for urgent consults. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Tour of duty subject to change based on agency needs. Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD54218F 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: 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 (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). English Language Proficiency. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in section A, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Health Technician (Ophthalmology) GS-0640-9 (Advanced) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-8 grade level Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of advanced clinical optics, advanced ocular motility, advanced diagnostic testing, and microbiology testing; Knowledge of ophthalmic surgical instruments; Knowledge of appropriate preparatory cleaning of reusable medical equipment; and Ability to assist in ophthalmic surgical procedures performed in the main operation room Preferred Experience: TECs experience preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005/98 Part II Appendix G52, HEALTH TECHNICIAN (OPHTHALMOLOGY) QUALIFICATION STANDARD. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Michael Walsh
• Email: [email protected]