Career Center

Summary

Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) has a high responsibility for support Ophthalmologists and Optometrists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. The Health Technician performs diagnostic procedures - assists during clinic-based surgical procedures - educates patients and legal representatives - assists with the education of medical students and residents. May perform direct patient care services under the supervision of Ophthalmologists.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• a
• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) b
• Experience and Education (1) Experience
• One year of experience in a health care field - such as but not limited to nursing - medical assistant - or health technician
• OR (2) Education
• Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate degree in a health care related degree
• OR (3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• Examples are listed below:(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 healthcare 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
• c
• 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)
• Loss of Credentials
• A Health Technician (Ophthalmology) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency
• Health 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)
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS a
• Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Practice
• To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with a health care field or knowledge - skills - and abilities related to the current occupation
• Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment in the health care field
• (2) Quality of Experience
• Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Health Technician (Ophthalmology) experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• (3) Part-time Experience
• Part time experience as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week
• For example - a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) employed 20 hours per week - or on a ½ time basis - would receive one full-time work week credit for each two weeks of service
• b
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment in section A - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-8 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level
• (b) Assignment
• This is considered to be the full performance level for this assignment
• The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at 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
• Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature
• Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using the IOL Master
• Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines
• Performance of external photographs and fundus photography
• Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment - retina and optic nerve
• Performs patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies
• Performs patient screening and telephone triage for immediate care
• 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 - intra-vitreous 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
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:1
• Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation;2
• Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens;3
• Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting;4
• Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology;5
• Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye;6
• Knowledge of optics
• and7
• Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/98 PART II APPENDIX G52 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08.

Duties

• Clinical Responsibilities The GS-8 level (Full Performance Level) is the full performance level for this assignment
• The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures
• In addition to the duties expected of the GS-7 level - the following clinical duties and responsibilities are expected at the GS-8 assignment i
• Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments
• ii
• 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
• iii
• Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near - with and without correction or with and without a pinhole
• iv
• Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer - recording sphere - cylinder - axis - and prism in both plus and minus cylinder
• v
• Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodation
• Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect
• vi
• Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter
• vii
• Instills eye medications (drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilating drops - cycloplegic drops - or antibiotics)
• viii
• Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques - including Goldmann applanation tonometry
• ix
• Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature
• x
• Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device
• xi
• Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines
• xii
• Performs external photographs and fundus photography
• xiii
• Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment - retina and optic nerve
• xiv
• Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions
• xv
• 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
• xvi
• Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care - including preoperative and postoperative instructions
• xvii
• Assists in the education and training of medical students - residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations
• xviii
• 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
• SUPERVISORY CONTROLS The GS-8 Full Performance Level Ophthalmology Technician will respond to the needs of the staff ophthalmologists and Optometrists - the supervisory technician or other designated administrative supervisor who will maintain daily supervision and guidance
• Independent work is an integral part of the position
• The technician plans and carries out examinations in line with training and accepted practices - and independently makes recommendations about clinical situations - procedures or changes to procedures in some situations
• The providers must be able to accept the technician's assessment without rechecking the work
• The technician uses methods - recognizes conditions that cause erroneous results or creates dangerous situations - and may independently troubleshoot clinic problems and complex instruments
• The technician resolves most differences that arise with patients - coordinates work with others as necessary and interprets policy such as eligibility for prosthetic devices
• The ophthalmology technician is ultimately responsible to the Ophthalmology Program Coordinator (if present) and the Chief of Ophthalmology
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8hr shifts starting at 7 - 7:30 - 8 or 8:30 - TBD by clinic needs
• Child 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 $416.66
• 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: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized