Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Full Job Description

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Surgical Care service, is currently recruiting for a Health Technician ( Ophthalmology) at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center.

The Health Technicians of Ophthalmology assists Ophthalmologists in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

Applicants 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 Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.

Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.

English Language Proficiency: Health Technicians ( Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402 9d) and 38 U.S.C 7407(d).

Experience and Education Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician; OR 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 Experience/Education Combination.

Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

Examples are listed below: Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or 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 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). Exception.

Non-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 Ophthalmologist.

The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified.

Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment. Grade Determinations.

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-5 (Entry Level) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-6 (Developmental Level 1) Experience.

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. Demonstrated 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 environment; Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record; Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment; and Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment.

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-7 (Developmental Level 2) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. Demonstrated 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 pharmacology; Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment; Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing; Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting; and Ability to provide eye care patient education.

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level) Experience. 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: Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting; Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology; Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye; Knowledge of optics; and Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8.

Preferred Experience: 1 year experience as an Ophthalmology Technician, certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA), IOL - Intraocular Lens Biometry experience, Fluorescein Angiography experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes, use of both upper extremities Use of both lower extremities, dexterity to handle small instruments, ability to lift 20 lbs.

Major Duties:

Clinical Responsibilities Clean and maintain clinic equipment.

Obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record; Use all ophthalmic equipment; Perform minor extraocular surgical assisting Provide eye care patient education.

Perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; Perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; Perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; Perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; Fit eyeglasses Troubleshoot eyeglasses Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory educational in-services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team and morale improvement.

Measures and records visual acuity, Estimates the anterior chamber depth Triages patient phone calls or requests; Ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies; Instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions; Accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses; Instills eye medications (drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, or antibiotics).

Performs basic color vision screening; Performs 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 cylinders.

Assists the ophthalmologist during minor ophthalmic surgical procedures and is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control procedures.

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 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 full refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter.

Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry. Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device.

Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. Performs external photographs and fundus photography.

Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve.

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.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

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 experience.

Parental 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 child.

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) Functional Statement #: PD58010A