The Health Technician (Optometry) also known as the Healthcare Technician (HCT) - Teleretinal Tech (TRT) is a member of the Primary Care specialty team and within six months be able to work independently with indirect supervision in the delivery of quality care in the healthcare field. This team member will support the clinical needs of Veterans seen in the CBOC setting.

Duties

Duties include but not limited to: Develops and provides reporting procedures that identifies and analyzes inherent weaknesses in work and telehealth procedures. Coordinates and works with Biomed and IT staff for the installation and upgrade of hardware and software for all telehealth technologies. Serves as an imager and data manager for store and forward telehealth (SFT) clinical encounters including tasks such as capturing images, collecting data, transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) national guidelines. Takes measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for the cleaning of clinical equipment and the care environment while following all patient safety guidelines, protocols, and procedures. Ensures that patient privacy is protected by complying with all information security and patient privacy regulations. Receives and schedules requests for simple and complex intra-facility, and inter-facility telehealth appointments using an electronic resources-based scheduling system. Completes phlebotomy, EKG, Holter Monitoring, Doppler Studies, Ankle-Brachial Index test and Point of Care (POC) duties. Completes additional duties as assigned. Cover HT imager position in Associated Ralph H Johnson community outpatient clinics. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: This position may be telework eligible, based on the needs of the service. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51245F, 51246F, 51247F, 51248F 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. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Experience: One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating your ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field OR Education: Two years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related 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 Combination of Experience and Education: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below: a). Six months of 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. b). 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. 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: GS-04 Health Technician (Optometry) (Entry Level) None beyond the basic requirements listed above. GS-05 Health Technician (Optometry) (Developmental Level 1) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-05 do you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) AND GS-05 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume: 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-06 Health Technician (Optometry) (Developmental Level 2) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 do you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) AND GS-06 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume: 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-07 Health Technician (Optometry) (Full Performance Level) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06) AND GS-07 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume: 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: 2-3 years HCT experience; 1-3 years of primary care/ambulatory care/outpatient services experience; 2-3 years of teleretinal experience References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G28 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-04 to GS-07. 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. There will be occasional travel between assigned CBOC and other CBOC's associated under the main hospital (Ralph H Johnson).

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 Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Kunita Snead
• Phone: (404) 476-0994
• Email: [email protected]