U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Health Technician (Ophthalmology)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
This position is within the Ophthalmology department at the San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center or a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC). The Ophthalmology Health Technician plays a crucial role within the eye care team, overseeing and coordinating patient flow. Key responsibilities include training team members, effectively communicating with Optometrist/Ophthalmologist, ensuring compliance with best practices and protocols, and promoting a collaborative work atmosphere.
Duties
Conduct comprehensive initial interviews with patients to gather detailed medical and ocular histories, including current symptoms, previous treatments, family ocular history and currently prescribed medication. Identify possible unconventional problem areas that may affect the patient's overall well‑being. The information gathered is used for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient condition and care for patients ranging from 18 to geriatric.
Measure and record both corrected and uncorrected visual acuities, as well as the specifications of the patient's spectacles using a lensometer. Assess whether vision can be enhanced through minor adjustments to the lenses or the use of a pinhole device.
Evaluate and document the optical power of spectacles, including detailed assessments of contact lens parameters such as base curve, overall diameter, power, and tint specifications.
Measure and record the range of accommodation power; conduct refractometry using an automated objective refractometer; and perform tests for contrast sensitivity, color vision, ETDRS acuity, stereo acuity, glare sensitivity, and pupillometry. Conduct glare testing to evaluate visual acuity in cataract patients. Perform basic ocular motility assessments and administer cycloplegic and mydriatic agents for fundus examinations.
Assist physicians in conducting specialized procedures, including Visual Field Tests (VFT), corneal topography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), slit lamp photography, fundus photography, biometry, ultrasound A/B scans, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), fluorescein angiography, and both automated and manual keratometry readings, as well as intraocular pressure checks through tonometry.
Prepare and stock examining rooms to meet the providers' needs for patient care. Ensure that all materials, products, ocular drops, and ointments are current and not expired. Restock post‑operative documents required for patient education. Select and prepare the appropriate equipment for specific minor procedures to be performed in the clinic. Organize instruments, supplies, and equipment systematically, and verify that all equipment is functioning properly.
Maintain a sterile environment throughout the procedure.
Facilitate patient movement within the clinic to minimize delays and reduce duplication of efforts, thereby decreasing patient wait times.
Distribute and balance workload among staff technicians based on established workflows and job specializations.
Maintain awareness of the status and progress of tasks, making daily adjustments as needed according to priority, and seek assistance from supervisors for any issues that may arise, such as backlogs that cannot be resolved promptly.
Retrieve relevant clinical documents and images for the following day's clinic.
Provide training to less experienced staff technicians and stay updated on procedures, policies, and directives to answer any questions that arise.
By staying current with advancements in ophthalmic technology and practices, the senior technician enhances the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the department, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.
Seek necessary information or decisions from lead/supervisor when problems occur.
Additionally, complete other duties related to health technician responsibilities as assigned.
Work Schedule Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (or as determined by supervisor depending on needs of the service)
Telework Not Available
Virtual This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement # 08385-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Not Authorized
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Duties
Conduct comprehensive initial interviews with patients to gather detailed medical and ocular histories, including current symptoms, previous treatments, family ocular history and currently prescribed medication. Identify possible unconventional problem areas that may affect the patient's overall well‑being. The information gathered is used for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient condition and care for patients ranging from 18 to geriatric.
Measure and record both corrected and uncorrected visual acuities, as well as the specifications of the patient's spectacles using a lensometer. Assess whether vision can be enhanced through minor adjustments to the lenses or the use of a pinhole device.
Evaluate and document the optical power of spectacles, including detailed assessments of contact lens parameters such as base curve, overall diameter, power, and tint specifications.
Measure and record the range of accommodation power; conduct refractometry using an automated objective refractometer; and perform tests for contrast sensitivity, color vision, ETDRS acuity, stereo acuity, glare sensitivity, and pupillometry. Conduct glare testing to evaluate visual acuity in cataract patients. Perform basic ocular motility assessments and administer cycloplegic and mydriatic agents for fundus examinations.
Assist physicians in conducting specialized procedures, including Visual Field Tests (VFT), corneal topography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), slit lamp photography, fundus photography, biometry, ultrasound A/B scans, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), fluorescein angiography, and both automated and manual keratometry readings, as well as intraocular pressure checks through tonometry.
Prepare and stock examining rooms to meet the providers' needs for patient care. Ensure that all materials, products, ocular drops, and ointments are current and not expired. Restock post‑operative documents required for patient education. Select and prepare the appropriate equipment for specific minor procedures to be performed in the clinic. Organize instruments, supplies, and equipment systematically, and verify that all equipment is functioning properly.
Maintain a sterile environment throughout the procedure.
Facilitate patient movement within the clinic to minimize delays and reduce duplication of efforts, thereby decreasing patient wait times.
Distribute and balance workload among staff technicians based on established workflows and job specializations.
Maintain awareness of the status and progress of tasks, making daily adjustments as needed according to priority, and seek assistance from supervisors for any issues that may arise, such as backlogs that cannot be resolved promptly.
Retrieve relevant clinical documents and images for the following day's clinic.
Provide training to less experienced staff technicians and stay updated on procedures, policies, and directives to answer any questions that arise.
By staying current with advancements in ophthalmic technology and practices, the senior technician enhances the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the department, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.
Seek necessary information or decisions from lead/supervisor when problems occur.
Additionally, complete other duties related to health technician responsibilities as assigned.
Work Schedule Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (or as determined by supervisor depending on needs of the service)
Telework Not Available
Virtual This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement # 08385-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Not Authorized
#J-18808-Ljbffr