Lead 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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language: Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

02Certification

Certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).

03Experience

One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician OR Education: Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate degree in a health care field OR Combination of Experience and Education: Equivalent combination of experience and education is 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language: Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

04Certification

Certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).

05Experience

One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician OR Education: Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate degree in a health care field Grade Determinations:GS-09 (Advanced Level) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08) ANDGS-09 Knowledge, skills, and abilities that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume: Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities of a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work, etc.

Ability to communicate effectively to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels. Ability to assist in Health Technician (Ophthalmology) development, outcome management, and strategic planning. Ability to act as liaison between Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.

06Preferred Experience

Leadership experience in Technology-based Eye Care ServicesReference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS*9Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment, or assisting patients.

The work requires above-average agility and dexterity. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include, but are not limited to: Performs pupil evaluation, recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation, and performs the swinging light test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect.

Performs advanced color vision testing of the entire visual spectrum to detect complex color vision defects such as monochromats, dichromats, and anomalous trichromats Performs refractometry utilizing retinoscopy to determine spectacle prescription. Measures eyeglass prescriptions using a manual lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder.

Performs A-scan ultrasonography, including intraocular lens calculations, using immersion A-scan on eyes with complex pathology such as corneal scarring, irregular and/or high astigmatism, zonular weakness, high refractive error that requires multiple alternative calculating formulas. Performs B-scan ultrasonography to identify intraocular masses or abnormalities.

May assist as scrub technician in main OR surgical procedures, set up of sterile fields, operation and maintenance of phacoemulsification and vitrectomy units, cryosurgery, endolaser units, all of which require a thorough understanding of complex instrumentation and the ability to troubleshoot problems quickly and efficiently during surgical procedures and care of instruments.

Assists with the microbiology testing of patients with sight-threatening ocular infections, preparing instrumentation and media for intraocular biopsy and/or culture. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not eligible Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 62397F