Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

SummaryOphthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. The Full Performance Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures - assists during clinic-based surgical procedures - educates patients and legal representatives - assists with the education of medical students and residents.QualificationsBasic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyExperience and Education: Experience: One year of experience in a health care field - such as but not limited to nursing - medical assistant - or health technicianOR 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 degreeOR Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifyingExamples are listed below: Six months of experience in the health care fieldand one year above high schoolor 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 Forcesor Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical AssistingCertification: 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)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)Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: For the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-8 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade levelAssignment: This is the full performance level for this assignmentThe Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures with responsibility for checking calibration of instruments prior to the procedureResponsible for obtaining patient physical history - to include chief complaintreason for visitpertinent signs/symptomshistory both ocular and generalfamily history both ocular and generalsocial historyand review of medications and allergies - including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medicationsPerforms pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodation - and any abnormalities - including relative afferent pupillary defectInstills eye medications (i.e. - drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilation - cycloplegic - or antibioticsPerforms patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergenciesAssists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery - including revision of wounds - biopsies of the eyelid lesions - cultures of conjunctiva - or corneareformation of anterior chamber - evacuation of hyphema - repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts - intra-vitreous injections - and laser surgical proceduresEducates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care - including preoperative and postoperative instructionsAssists in the education and training of medical students - residents - and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliationsEnsures proper cleaning and disinfectioncalibration - maintenance - backup - annual inventory and ordering of instruments - supplies - and equipmentobtains quotes as neededand reports needed repairs to biomedical engineeringDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 1Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation2Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens3Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting4Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology5Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye6Knowledge of opticsand 7Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipmentPreferred Experience: Must have current Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) through JCAHPO The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-08Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertionIt may involve frequent bending - reaching and stretching to set up and take apart equipment - assisting and positioning patientsDuties require above average dexterity.DutiesFUNCTIONS: Clinical Responsibilities The GS-8 level (Full Performance Level) is the full performance level for this assignmentThe Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic proceduresIn addition to the duties expected of the GS-7 level - the following clinical duties and responsibilities are expected at the GS-8 assignment: iChecks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instrumentsiiObtains patient physical history - to include chief complaintreason for visitpertinent signs and symptomscurrent medication allergiespast ocular and general medical history both ocular and generalfamily history both ocular and generalsocial historyand review of medications and allergies - including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medicationsiiiAccurately tests visual acuity at a distance and near - with and without correction or with and without a pinholeivMeasures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer - recording sphere - cylinder - axis - and prism in both plus and minus cylindervPerforms pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodationPerforms swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defectviPerforms basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropterviiInstills eye medications (drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilating drops - cycloplegic drops - or antibiotics)viiiMeasures intraocular pressure with standard techniques - including Goldmann applanation tonometryixPerforms pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvaturexPerforms intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent devicexiPerforms automated visual field testing using various perimetry machinesxiiPerforms external photographs and fundus photographyxiiiPerforms optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment - retina and optic nervexivPerforms patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditionsxvAssists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery - including revision of wounds - biopsies of the eyelid lesions - cultures of conjunctiva - or corneareformation of anterior chamber - evacuation of hyphema - repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts - intra-vitreous injections - and laser surgical proceduresxviEducates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care - including preoperative and postoperative instructionsxviiAssists in the education and training of medical students - residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliationsxviiiEnsures proper cleaning and disinfectioncalibration - maintenance - backup - annual inventory and ordering of instruments - supplies and equipmentobtains quotes as neededand reports needed repairs to biomedical engineeringWork Schedule: TBD Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 58627F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized