Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

SummaryThis Health Technician (Ophthalmology) is located within the Optometry Service at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and supports Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling.QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyExperience and Education: ExperienceOne year of experience in a health care field - such as but not limited to nursing - medical assistant - or health technicianOR EducationTwo 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 degreeOR Experience/Education CombinationEquivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifyingExamples are listed below:(a) Six months of experience in the health care fieldand one year above high schoolOR(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 ForcesOR(c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical AssistingCertificationAll 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)ExceptionNon-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 OphthalmologistThe exception only applies below the full performance levelFor grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certifiedFailure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employmentMay 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: Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-5 (Entry Level) Experience or EducationNone beyond the basic requirementsHealth Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-6 (Developmental Level 1) ExperienceOne year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environmentAbility to obtain - document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical recordAbility to use basic ophthalmic equipmentand4Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipmentHealth Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-7 (Developmental Level 2) ExperienceOne year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA)In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacologyKnowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environmentAbility to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testingAbility to perform minor extraocular surgical assistingand Ability to provide eye care patient educationHealth Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-8 (Full Performance Level) ExperienceOne year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade levelDemonstrated 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 evaluationAbility to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lensKnowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assistingKnowledge of eye anatomy and physiologyKnowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eyeKnowledge of opticsand Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipmentPreferred Experience: 2-5 years experience as Ophthalmology Technician Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the positionMay require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushingMay be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employmentWork Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautionsthe area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilatedHowever - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.DutiesTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Ophthalmology Technicians support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counselingThe Full Performance Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures - assists during clinic-based surgical procedures - educates patients and legal representatives - assists with the education of medical students and residentsThe duties of the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) may include but not limited to: Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instrumentsObtains patient physical history - to include chief complaintreason for visitpertinent signs and symptomscurrent medication allergiespast ocular and general medical history both ocular and generalfamily history both ocular and generalsocial historyand review of medications and allergies - including current ocular prescription and non- prescription medicationsAccurately tests visual acuity at distance and near - with and without correction or with and without a pinholeMeasures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer - recording sphere - cylinder - axis - and prism in both plus and minus cylinderPerforms pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodationPerforms swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defectPerforms basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropterInstills eye medications (drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilating drops - cycloplegic drops - or antibiotics)Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques - including Goldmann applanation tonometryPerforms pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvaturePerforms intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent devicePerforms automated visual field testing using various perimetry machinesPerforms external photographs and fundus photographyPerforms optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment - retina and optic nervePerforms patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditionsAssists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery - including revision of wounds - biopsies of the eyelid lesions - cultures of conjunctiva - or corneareformation of anterior chamber - evacuation of hyphema - repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts - intra-vitreous injections - and laser surgical proceduresWork Schedule: Monday - Friday - 9:00 am - 05:30 pm - Subject to change based on the needs of the facilityRecruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesWhen 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 (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)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 per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experienceParental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a childChild Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time 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 $416.66Retirement: 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: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 580-00679-F580-00680-F580-00681-F580-00232-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized