This position is located is assigned to the Referral Coordination Team (RCT) aligned under the Referral Coordination Initiative Operations Manager under the Access and Scheduling Management Service. The Health Technician (Optometry) will establish and maintain professional relationships within the Referral Coordination Team and with other services and staff which will result in improved patient care.

Duties

The duties of this position are but not limited to the following: Ensures relevant information is communicated across specialty services, with an aim to provide Veterans with appropriate and timely care options.Identifies possible barriers to care with the Veteran, family and clinical care team to provide a team-based plan of care.Enhances the quality of clinical outcomes and Veteran satisfaction while offering the Veteran the opportunity to make an informed decision about their care.Reduces the average time it takes to schedule appointments, whether the appointment is in the VA's direct care system or in the community.Performs clinical triage of the referral (consult):a. Utilizes Magellan Clinical Guidelines the facility Service Line Agreements (SLA) and established Care Coordination Agreements (CCA) for determining medical necessity and appropriateness.b. Reviews Best Medical Interest (BMI) rationale, if selected.c. Runs the DST for Community Care eligibility.Coordinates with other specialties, as needed and identifies barriers to care and provide a team-based plan of care.Documents the availability and selection of VA Care options and modalities and Community Care options.Coordinates with other services and staff to ensure a warm hand-off for appropriate care options in areas such as Traveling Veteran Coordinator, Interfacility, and Care in the Community.Dispositions the specialty referral appropriately (consult). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Health Technician (Optometry) Consult Management Team/PD000000 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. Experience. One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work by demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field; OR, 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,Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:(a) Six months of experience 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. Licensure/Certification/Registration. None.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).Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(3) Health Technicians (Optometry) who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Health Technician (Optometry), GS-07 Full Performance Level Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): (a) 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. (b) 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.). (c) Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near). (d) Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures. (e) Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears. (f) Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions. Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of clinical experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/142, Part II, Appendix G68The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. 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 Salem VA Medical Center 1970 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, VA 24153 US
• Name: Tammy Myrie
• Phone: 901-663-6722
• Email: [email protected]