Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

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 be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. OR (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: 1 (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). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 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).

Grade Determinations

GS-05: None beyond basic requirements GS-06: 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: 1. Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment 2. Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record 3.

Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment 4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment. GS-07: 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: 1. Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology 2. Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment 3.

Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing 4. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting 5. Ability to provide eye care patient education. GS-08: 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: 1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation 2.

Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens 3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting 4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology 5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye 6. Knowledge of optics 7. 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 in the range of GS-05 to GS-08.

The Health Technician, Eye Care Center position at the Entry Level is a trainee in nature. The entry level performs limited routine assignments under daily direct supervision. Deviations from unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or help.

Major Duties include, but not limited to: Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including revision of wounds, biopsies of the eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea; reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphema, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intra­vitreous injections, and laser surgical procedures Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation.

Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect. Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter. Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments.

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 non­prescription medications.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:30am - 5:00pm Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized