Summary

The Marion VA Health Care System is seeking a highly-skilled - dynamic Ophthalmology Health Technician to join our Eye Clinic team in the delivery of high-quality patient-centered care to our Veteran. Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists and Optometrists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care - and patient counseling.

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: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph3j - and Appendix G52
• 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: (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 health care 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)
• (1) 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
• (2) Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Ophthalmology) with the written requirement to obtain certification - the date by which the certification must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above - applicants must also meet the following grade-level requirements: GS-05 (Entry Level): None beyond the basic requirements listed above
• GS-06 (developmental level 1): One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 level
• AND In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• If the experience is not detailed in your resume - then it is recommended to update your resume and/or include a separate document that speaks to the below list of KSAs
• Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment
• Ability to obtain - document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record
• Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment
• and Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment
• GS-07 (developmental level 2): One year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level
• AND In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• If the experience is not detailed in your resume - then it is recommended to update your resume and/or include a separate document that speaks to the below list of KSAs
• Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology
• Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment
• Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing
• Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting
• and Ability to provide eye care patient education
• GS-08 (full performance level): Certification is required at this level - no exceptions
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level
• AND In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• If the experience is not detailed in your resume - then it is recommended to update your resume and/or include a separate document that speaks to the below list of 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
• Preferred Experience: Previous ophthalmology and/or optometry experience strongly preferred
• All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please see Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Qualification Standard - VA Handbook 5005/98 - Part II - Appendix G52 - dated February 7 - 2018 or visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08
• Physical Requirements: The work requires considerable lengths of standing - walking - and sitting with occasional bending
• Some assisting with patients and patient lifting is also required
• Manual dexterity - good vision and depth perception are necessary
• Flexibility is essential in the operation of several different devices requires the technician to sit opposite the patient and use one hand to support the eyelids in the static position while the body - head and other hand of the technician must be able to rapidly shift positions
• Many duties are performed in dark and sometimes small rooms where ventilation can be limited where the technician's eye is employed in this arrangement and the combination of static position and adjusting movements can be stressful and tiring
• The technician must be able to communicate with hearing impaired patients where speaking in a loud voice or using hearing assisted devices may be necessary.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Technicians perform duties appropriate to their grade and skill level
• Major duties at each level include - but are not limited to: GS-05 (entry level): This level performs limited routine assignments under daily direct supervision
• Deviations from unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or help
• Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure - pulse - and glucose levels
• Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings - mandatory educational in-services - quality control reports - systems redesign - and team / morale improvement
• GS-06 (developmental level 1): This level operates and monitors commonly used equipment performing basic screening procedures
• Assists ophthalmology staff by obtaining an accurate medical and ophthalmic history - measuring and recording visual acuity - administering anesthetic eye drops - performing basic tonometry - estimating the anterior chamber depth and recording a simple spectacle reading through automated lensometry
• Deviations from regular procedures - unanticipated problems - complex patients and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or assistance
• Some assignments at this level also include developmental duties involving more complex procedures performed under supervision
• GS-07 (developmental level 2): This level performs the following: 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
• 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
• Assists the ophthalmologist during minor ophthalmic surgical procedures and is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control procedures
• GS-08 (full performance level): This level performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures with responsibility for checking calibration of instruments prior to the procedure
• Responsible for obtaining patient physical history - to include chief complaint
• reason for visit
• pertinent signs/symptoms
• past history both ocular and general
• family history both ocular and general
• social history
• and review of medications and allergies - including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medications
• Accurately 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 - and prism in both plus and minus cylinder
• Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodation - and any abnormalities - including relative afferent pupillary defect
• Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter
• Instills eye medications (i.e. - drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilation - cycloplegic - or antibiotics
• Responsible for measuring intraocular pressure of the eye utilizing techniques - including Goldmann applanation tonometry
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8am to 4:30pm excluding Federal holidays
• Travel up to 25% to associated outpatient clinics required
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary & regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave / 13 days of sick leave/ 11 paid Federal holidays/year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth/adoption/foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - FT employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: Not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized