The incumbent serves as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) in Surgical Service at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. The incumbent plans and carries out examinations in line with training and accepted practices, and makes recommendations about clinical situations, procedures or changes to procedures in some situations. The incumbent responds to the needs of the staff ophthalmologists or other designated administrative supervisor who will maintain daily supervision and guidance.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical history both ocular and general; family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies, including current ocular prescription and non­prescription medications Tests visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with and without a pinhole Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, in minus cylinder Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter Instills eye medications ( drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, cycloplegic drops, or antibiotics) Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master, Lenstar or equivalent device Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines Performs external photographs and fundus photography Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including revision of wounds, biopsies of the eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea; reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphema, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intra­vitreous injections, and laser surgical procedures Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Variable based on the needs of the service) Functional Statement #: 84410-O 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. 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 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 appointed 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. The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels 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. 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-8: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Experience at the GS-7 level includes but is not limited to: triages patient phone calls or requests; ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies; instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions; accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses; administers eye drops to dilate pupils; performs basic color vision screening; performs visual field testing (using Amsler grid or automated equipment). Performs basic imaging testing such as corneal topography; external photography; performs basic ocular testing such as pachymetry, tear production with test strips, glare testing, stereo acuity, contrast sensitivity, potential acuity meter, measuring spectacles using both automated and manual lensometry and transposing cylinders. The employee assists the ophthalmologist during minor ophthalmic surgical procedures and is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control procedures. Performs autorefractor to determine spectacle prescription. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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; and Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G52 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: The Incumbent must have dexterity & agility to handle fragile eyeglasses & contact lenses as well as microscopic instruments. The work is at times sedentary; and ambulation between various examination/treatment rooms is also required. The work requires some physical exertion such as lifting and assisting wheelchair patients into chairs positioned in front of the cameras. It is also required that the angiographer be able to operate the cameras with one hand while holding the patients' eyelids open with the other. The incumbent will also frequently spend extended periods standing and bending over in the Eye Clinic. The employee will also need to frequently lift light to moderately heavy cameras, camera accessories, and imaging equipment. The work area is pleasant but at times noisy due to the volume of waiting patients. Occasionally, it Is necessary to deal with disruptive patients. Risk normally associated with an Eye Clinic/hospital/direct patient care are present. The primary working environment is the Eye Clinic. Within that environment, the photographer will be working with patients who have serious and communicable diseases such as AIDS, TB, Hepatitis C, and herpetic lesions. The position will require extreme care and special knowledge about the seriousness and transmission of these and other diseases. During these encounters the employee must take safety precautions, such as gloving and masking, in dealing with these patients.

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 VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System 10701 East Boulevard Cleveland, OH 44106 US
• Name: Robert Gallimore
• Phone: (910) 494-1305
• Email: [email protected]