Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

DetailsPosted: 01-May-26Location: Iowa City, IowaCategoriesAllied HealthInternal Number: 867354600SummaryOphthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. The 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 residents.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: Six months of experience in the health care fieldand one year above high schoolor 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 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 employmentFailure to Obtain CertificationIn all cases - the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointmentAt 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 deadlineFailure 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 employmentLoss of CredentialsA Health Technician (Ophthalmology) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employmentForeign EducationTo be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programsPhysical RequirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language ProficiencyHealth 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).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-5 (Entry Level) Experience or EducationNone beyond the basic requirementsGS-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 equipmentand Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipmentGS-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 educationGS-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 equipmentReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Preferred Experience: Ophthalmology All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application packageWe will not make assumptions when reviewing applicationsFailure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualificationIt is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application packageThe full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-5 through GS-8. 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)Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this positionQuestions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.DutiesTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to - the following: Support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counselingPerforms 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 residentsMay perform many \"direct patient care services\" under the supervision of OphthalmologistsPerforms the following: triages patient phone calls or requestsensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate suppliesinstructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructionsaccurately measures - compares - and evaluates pupillary responsesadministers eye drops to dilate pupilsperforms basic color vision screeningperforms visual field testingPerforms basic imaging testing such as corneal topographyexternal photographyperforms 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 cylindersThe employee is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control proceduresPerforms autorefractor to determine spectacle prescriptionEnsures proper cleaning and disinfectioncalibration - maintenance - backup - annual inventory - and ordering of instruments - supplies - and equipmentobtains quotes as neededand reports needed repairs to biomedical engineeringWork Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedCreate a Job Match for Similar JobsLogoAbout Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health AdministrationThe Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.Connections working at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health AdministrationMore Jobs from This Employerhttps://careercenter.ascls.org/jobs/22243602/health-technician-ophthalmology