Health Technician (Optometry)

Full Job Description

The Health Technician (Optometry is a member of the Optometry Clinic and aids the optometrists and the other members of the Optometry Clinic.

The position entails broad clinical and administrative responsibilities within the Optometry Clinic.

In the clinic, the incumbent will assist the attending optometrist in caring for the optometry patient.

The incumbent will also assist in the education of patients and contribute to the education of optometric interns and residents.

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and/or Education.

Experience. I possess six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.

OR Education.

I have successfully completed two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position.

OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry English Language Proficiency.

proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

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).All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required 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) They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) 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) If an HTA who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.(3) HTAs who are 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.(4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS 07: Experience Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 06) directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks.

(b) Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education.

(c) Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction. (d) Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.

(e) Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions. (f) Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment.

(g) Skilled in the use of health technologies for the facilitation.

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 07. Major Duties:

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Obtain an ophthalmic history of each patient to include his/her chief complaint and a history of their present illness.

In addition, obtain a history of the patient's past ophthalmic and medical history, past consultations, and a history of any allergies and/or present medications.

Obtain visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated), using a Snellen acuity chart (or equivalent) with glasses (if worn) and without glasses (or contact lenses) before they are seen by the optometrist and accurately record the results on a patient worksheet.

Use automated refraction equipment to obtain a working refraction for the patient. Evaluate pupillary function, ocular motility, and confrontation visual fields.

Perform Amsler grid testing, administer eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider (Optometrist), perform basic tonometry, estimate the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope, and administer basic color vision tests.

Measure corneal thickness, perform exophthalmometry, tear testing, and ocular imaging (e.g. ocular ultrasonography, optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and/or ocular angiography).

Analyze glasses prescriptions to determine the optical power of the patient's present lenses for the optometrist using a manual or automated lensometer.

Test patient visual fields using computerized threshold, non-threshold static and kinetic strategies for patients with glaucoma, neurologic disorders, retinovascular disorders and other conditions.

Obtain scans using optical coherence devices, corneal topography devices, and intraocular lens implant calculation devices. Perform fundus photography on patients.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0730 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Optometry)/PD000000