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Summary
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.
Qualifications
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
(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 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:
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
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
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: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 00000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Qualifications
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
(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 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:
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
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
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: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 00000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
#J-18808-Ljbffr