This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Network 6 (VISN 6), at the VA Clinic in Wilmington, NC. Incumbent will support Eye Care Providers (Ophthalmologists & Optometrists) in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient education. The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) GS-08 (Full Performance Level) performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures.
Basic Requirements: 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. 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). 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's 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 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). Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirements. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements 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) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance(journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who were 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) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of the qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) 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 reentry to the occupation. Foreign Education: To 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. programs. Grade Determinations: Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level) Experience: Must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. 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; and 7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment. 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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, adequate auditory perception, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially extended periods of computer use, virtual care equipment use, sitting and/or standing. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are verbally combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must meet Employee Health mandates as a condition of employment.
Duties and responsibilities for this position include, but not limited to the following: Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology instruments prior to the procedure. Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical history; 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. 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. 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/Healthcare Technology Management and Office of Connected Care Help Desk. Instills eye medications (e.g., anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, artificial tears, ocular hypotensive/pressure lowering agents, cycloplegic, or antibiotics). Accurately performs basic refractometry based on an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter. Assists with appropriate frame selection and measurement. Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques (e.g., rebound or applanation tonometry). Accurately performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature. Accurately performs confrontation visual field assessment. Accurately performs automated visual field testing. Accurately performs external photographs and fundus photography. Accurately performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina, and optic nerve. Accurately provides education subsequent to formal diagnosis by provider or symptoms that necessitate timely education for eye and systemic health. Understanding of advanced ocular diagnostics including OCT, fundus and external photography, visual field testing, image middleware/eye PACS systems (e.g., Forum) and how the clinical information is transferred across the network to VistA Imaging and middleware/eye PACS system. Based on program guidelines, performs medical record review, screening, and triage to the appropriate eye care delivery model including, but not limited to, telehealth appointments, in-person comprehensive eye appointment, subspecialty eye appointment, and community care. Accurately performs triage and identifies the correct eye care modality for the patient. Support training needs for other staff in TeleEye program. The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) administratively reports to the Eye Technician supervisor and is responsible for day to day spoke site TeleEye clinic operations. The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) supports and assists the clinical needs of the CRH VA Eye Care provider (Ophthalmologist or Optometrist), CRH Optometry Chief, CRH TeleEye Supervisor, or other designated supervisor maintaining daily CRH clinical supervision and guidance. Accuracy is an integral part of the position. The providers must be able to accept the technician's collected information without rechecking the work. Integrity is also a non-negotiable and critical part of the position. The providers must be able to trust the technician's judgement on patient triage. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Telework: AdHoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required