The Health Technician (Dispensing Optician) works as a member of the Eye Care Service, Operative Care Division under the supervision of the Supervisory Optician at the Portland, OR VA Medical Center. The Eye Care Service provides comprehensive outpatient and surgical eye & vision care, and low vision rehabilitation services to eligible veterans with approximately 50,000 patient visits annually.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/10/2025. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. You MUST possess at least one year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of Health Technician (Optician) position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal Service. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Assisting patients in the selection, proper fitting and ordering of standard or safety eye wear frames; educating patients on ophthalmic lens materials, designs, and frames; properly using and maintaining ophthalmic instrumentation and equipment; measuring interpupillary distances, optical centers, and multi focal or progressive addition lens segment heights; adjusting, repairing and fitting eyewear; responding to telephone, electronic and in-person inquiries; and documenting all patient care activities in the electronic patient record. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position AND the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major duties include but are not limited to: Provides direct patient care services related to patient education, selection, ordering, verification, troubleshooting, adjustment and repair of ophthalmic lenses and eyewear. Educate the patient on the lens materials, lens designs, frames, tints and coatings. Measures interpupillary distances, optical centers, and multifocal or progressive addition lens segment heights. Assists patient in the selection and ordering of proper fitting standard or safety eyewear frames. Properly adjusts eyeglasses for comfortable fit and proper alignment of optical centers and segment heights for optimal visual performance. Repairs broken or defective eyeglasses. Triages patient concerns by manual or automated lensometry verification and troubleshooting protocol. Initiates and monitors scheduling of patients for special procedures and specialty clinics. Counsels the patient and family with reference to preventive care, outpatient care, and the use of prescribed treatment and drugs. Receives and directs patients, answers routine inquiries and makes referrals. Responds to patients' telephone, electronic and in-person inquiries in a timely manner. Performs supervised routine and advanced technical procedures to provide optometrists and ophthalmologists with information and data necessary to assist with delivery of comprehensive eye and vision care services. Cares for patients and sets up and gives treatments that require auxiliary equipment. Monitors patients for adverse reactions and takes corrective action based on established policy. Properly and clearly documents all patient care activities in patient's electronic patient record. Safely moves and positions patients before, during and after eye examinations and procedures. Performs more advanced technical procedures under the supervision of staff optometrists and ophthalmologists. Performs additional tasks as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm PST Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Optician)/PD20589A Physical Requirements: The work requires an ongoing mix of sitting, standing, walking, bending, and carrying light weight items. Many of the positions major duties require a high degree of manual dexterity and accuracy. All patient care activities require PC keyboard and mouse use for data entry in the electronic patient record. Occasional heavy lifting will be required, particularly for patient transfers. In some instances, interaction with patients, caregivers, and staff can become Intense, and the employee may be placed in a position of stress.