The Health Technician Program Coordinator (Ophthalmology) performs difficult ophthalmic technical duties with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment in Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) or in facilities of lesser complexity where large ophthalmology services are found. The higher-level duties consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard and be performed at least 25% of the time.

Duties

The Program Coordinator is generally found in Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) facilities, or in facilities of lesser complexity levels where large ophthalmology services are found. Has full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of the clinic and may supervise all phases of a facility specialty program. Responsible for the overall technical and administrative oversight for operations within their program area to include coordination with multidisciplinary team members, as well as liaison with other sections that support ophthalmology care, such as Nursing Service, Telephone Care, Sterile Processing Service, Pharmacy, and Infection Control. Duties include, but not limited to: Promoting health education for patients and staff Patient care coordination Referral and consults Oversight of surgery scheduling and coordination Preceptor and mentorship of personnel Quality improvement activities Patient advocate Polytrauma liaison for all ophthalmology issues Participation in and coordination of approved research projects Performs other duties as assigned. The Program Coordinator will respond to the needs of the staff ophthalmologists. Independent work is an integral part of the position. The program coordinator 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 coordinator's assessment without rechecking the work. The coordinator uses methods, recognizes conditions that cause erroneous results or creates dangerous situations, and may independently troubleshoot clinic problems and complex instruments. The coordinator resolves differences that arise with patients, coordinates work with others as necessary and interprets policy. The program coordinator has full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of the clinic and may supervise all phases of a facility specialty program. The program coordinator is ultimately responsible to the Chief of Ophthalmology. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00AM-3:30PM Telework: Ad-hoc; at discretion of Supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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). 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: (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 healthcare 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). Grade Determinations: Minimal Qualification for Health Technician Program Coordinator (Ophthalmology) GS-11: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; competency assessments; performance evaluations; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions; Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within service; Advanced understanding of interdisciplinary issues and VA organizational structure to serve as liaison between eye care and other programs that would affect coordination of care, healthcare access, program evaluation, assessment and planning for future needs; and Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders, providers and managers. Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The Program Coordinator is generally found in Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) facilities, or in facilities of lesser complexity levels where large ophthalmology services are found. Has full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of the clinic and may supervise all phases of a facility specialty program. These duties include but are not limited to promoting health education for patients and staff; patient care coordination; referral and consults, oversight of surgery scheduling and coordination; preceptor and mentorship of personnel; quality improvement activities; patient advocate; polytrauma liaison for all ophthalmology issues, and participation in and coordination of approved research projects. Responsible for the overall technical and administrative oversight for operations within their program area to include coordination with multidisciplinary team members, as well as liaison with other sections that support ophthalmology care, such as Nursing Service, Telephone Care, Sterile Processing Service, Pharmacy, and Infection Control. Typically these duties include assigning and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; resolving problems which may interfere with patient examination or treatment; providing Health Technician (Ophthalmology) services in more complex and non-standard cases; evaluating new products and equipment and making recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations; participating as an instructor in the facility's clinical training program; making final decisions on selections based on recommendations from subordinate supervisors or leads. At this level, assignments include intra-facility, interfacility and interagency coordination of care, triage and coordination of urgent ophthalmic patients, program evaluation and analysis, budgetary issues and planning. Assures orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff and maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Plans and develops policies, procedures and goals, interprets, implements and educates staff on applicable VHA directives, handbooks, or other policies. Has overall responsibility for planning, assessing, and evaluating programs to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of healthcare within the facility, or coordination of non-VA care as appropriate. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/98 PART II APPENDIX G52 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 Charles George VA Medical Center 1100 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 US
• Name: Christina Trull
• Phone: 828-318-6521
• Email: [email protected]