This position is located at the Gainesville Optometry Clinic in Gainesville, Florida. The Lead carries additional responsibilities that involve the oversight of specific services within the NF/SG Optometry Service. The Lead will respond to the needs of the staff optometrists, performs assigned duties with considerable independence. Independently resolve most differences that arise with patients. Open to: Current Permanent Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA.

Duties

The lead health technician (optometry) leads three or more GS-7 health technicians (optometry) and assists with the technician oversight duties including making work assignments, monitoring work flow, providing input on performance, and maintaining efficient workflow. The individual demonstrates the ability to address patient complaints and/or concerns, as well as patient health technician (optometry) relationships. The health technician (optometry) oversees eye clinic reusable medical equipment (RME) disinfection activities, including research, ordering, and staff training to ensure RME competency. The health technician (optometry) provides staff education and training activities for all Optometry clinics in our service, including The Villages, Ocala, Gainesville, Lake City, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee, to ensure staff competency in eye and vision care duties and tasks. The position will be knowledgeable on VA policies and guidelines. The individual will provide assistance in all clinical areas to adhere to such guidelines. Preferred Experience: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) or Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) preferred. Prior Lead position preferred, Strong Leadership skills preferred. The incumbent would report to the Service Chief of Optometry or Associate Chief of Optometry during Service Chief's absence. Position will be assigned to the Gainesville Optometry Clinic and occasional travel to other Optometry clinic facilities throughout the NF/SF area. Incumbent must have a valid Florida Driver's license and complete and pass required courses to operate a government vehicle. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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 that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR (2) Education. 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 (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; or (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces.8 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. See chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Lead Health Technician (Optometry), GS-8 (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07 demonstrating the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to assign, coordinate and oversee health technician (optometry) daily duties, tasks and other responsibilities as appropriate. Ability to provide and/or monitor staff education and training activities, including interdisciplinary training as necessary. Ability to manage and oversee eye clinic RME disinfection activities that recommendations, ordering appropriate RME related supplies, as well as ensuring health technician (optometry) clinic staff RME competency. Ability to address and resolve patient complaints and/or concerns and addressing patient health technician (optometry) relationships. Ability to develop and train health technicians (optometry) to ensure competency in performance of eye and vision care duties, activities and tasks. References: VA Handbook 5005/142, Part II, Appendix G68 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged 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 is 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US
• Name: Rachyl Plasterer
• Phone: (717) 821-5687
• Email: [email protected]